Battle Lake, MN

Battle Lake is a small town located in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The population was 2,812 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

The town was founded in 1856 and named for Battle Creek, Michigan. The first settlers were farmers who grew crops and raised livestock. In 1885, the Northern Pacific Railroad came through the area and started to develop the land for farming and lumber production. By 1900, there were enough people living in Battle Lake that a post office was established.

In 1906, a dam was built on Battle Creek to create Battle Lake reservoir which provided water power for local businesses and helped spur development in the town. In 1912, a hotel opened called The Grand Hotel which became an important landmark in Battle Lake. In 1924, another hotel called The White House opened which also became an important landmark in the town.

During World War II, many men from Battle Lake served in the military including members of the 101st Airborne Division who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day as part of Operation Overlord . After World War II ended, many veterans returned home and started new businesses including several auto dealerships which helped make Battle Lake one of Minnesota's fastest growing towns during the 1950s and 1960s .

Today, there are still many businesses located in downtown Battle Lake including several restaurants , banks , clothing stores , hardware stores , gas stations , hair salons , car dealerships , and more . There are also several parks located throughout the town including Memorial Park which features a pond with fishing opportunities as well as playgrounds , tennis courts , basketball courts , baseball fields , and more .