Best Web Design in Coon Rapids, MN (2026)

Web Design for Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Coon Rapids is a large northern suburb of Minneapolis in Anoka County, named for Coon Creek and the raccoons that 19th-century settlers hunted at its mouth. With about 63,600 residents it is Minnesota's 15th-largest city and the second-largest in Anoka County, anchored by the Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River and thousands of acres of regional parkland. The city's name has repeatedly drawn renaming proposals because "coon" doubles as a racial slur.

AppWT works with Coon Rapids, MN businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Coon Rapids

History. Settlers were drawn to the area by Coon Creek, named for the many raccoons hunted at its mouth in the 1800s; the land was part of Anoka Township, organized in 1857. The Red River Ox Cart Trail crossed the area beginning in 1835, linking military and trade routes. In 1881 the first non-agricultural industry arrived when a brickyard (later the Anoka Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company, whose "Clay Hole" became a local landmark) opened. The Coon Rapids Dam was constructed on the Mississippi River between 1912 and 1914 by the Mississippi Power Company; dam workers boosted the local economy and pushed the population past 1,000 for the first time. The community incorporated as a village in October 1952 and as a city in June 1959; the dam was transferred to the Hennepin County Park Board in 1969 and now anchors a regional park.

Local economy. A residential Twin Cities suburb, Coon Rapids is the seventh-largest suburb in the metro area and second-largest city in Anoka County, with 63,599 residents in the 2020 census. Top employers include Mercy Hospital (Allina Health, about 1,860 workers), Anoka-Hennepin School District #11 (about 1,238), Mary T Inc. (about 1,120), and precision manufacturer RMS Company (about 672). The city is the corporate headquarters of retailer HOM Furniture and of ECM Publishers. It is served by the Northstar Commuter Rail line, with Coon Rapids-Riverdale and Coon Rapids-Foley stations linking to downtown Minneapolis.

Culture and community. Notable natives include NHL forward Riley Tufte, a Dallas Stars first-round draft pick, and PWHL Minnesota Frost forward Claire Butorac, former captain of the Minnesota State Mavericks women's team. Country musician Rockie Lynne is also associated with the city. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is based in Coon Rapids, giving the suburb a higher-education anchor. Ice hockey is a strong local tradition, reflected in the city's production of professional players.

What makes Coon Rapids distinct. Residents proposed renaming the city in 1968, 1986, 2006, and 2021 because "coon" is used as a racial slur, floating alternatives such as "Rapids" and "Raccoon Rapids." The city literally renamed itself for the dam: Anoka Township became Coon Creek Rapids, later shortened to Coon Rapids, after the dam was proposed. The Coon Rapids Dam originally generated hydroelectric power, helping electrify Anoka County before being converted to a park and recreation feature.

Coon Rapids Landmarks and Local Life

• Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park - built around the concrete gravity dam on the Mississippi River about 12 miles north of downtown Minneapolis, spans roughly 446 acres and hosts wildlife including mink, beaver, deer, hawks, osprey, turtles, and river otters
• Bunker Hills Regional Park - home to the Bunker Beach water park
• Cenaiko Lake and Crooked Lake - popular fishing and recreation spots
• The Riverdale commercial district - a major retail hub in the northwest of the city