Editing Coon Rapids, Minnesota (section)

==History==
In 1835, the [[Red River Trails|Red River Ox Cart Trail]] was laid to establish military and trade connections between Minneapolis and Anoka. The first industries of Coon Rapids sprung up around the road, including the prominent Anoka Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company, founded by Dr. D.C. Dunham in 1881. The clay excavation site – known locally as the “Clay Hole” – is one of the lasting reminders of Coon Rapids’ industrial history. Today, the vital Red River Ox Cart Trail is known as Coon Rapids Boulevard and remains an important commercial corridor for the city.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hatler|first1=C|title=The Brickyards of Coon Rapids|url=http://forgottenminnesota.com/2013/09/the-brickyards-of-coon-rapids/|website=Forgotten Minnesota|access-date=July 23, 2015}}</ref>

In 1912, construction began on the [[Coon Rapids Dam]] and the influx of laborers and engineers increased the city's population to over 1,000 for the first time. Completed in 1914, the dam functioned as a regional power source for the [[Northern States Power Company]] until it was sold to the Hennepin County Park Board in 1969 and incorporated into the [[Three Rivers Park District|Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title=City History|url=http://www.coonrapidsmn.gov/415/City-History|website=City of Coon Rapids|access-date=July 23, 2015}}</ref>

When the dam was built, Anoka Township renamed itself Coon Creek Rapids, later shortened to Coon Rapids. In 1959, the Village of Coon Rapids voted to incorporate as a city and the City of Coon Rapids was born. The city's population increased from 14,000 in 1959 to more than 62,785 in 2022, making it the [[List of cities in Minnesota|15th largest city in Minnesota]].