Industrial Development - New industry made possible by growing rail connections
The industrial infrastructure and downtown that developed as result of the timber mills allowed Anoka to easily transition into other emerging industries. Agricultural trade and processing would become Anoka's "bread and butter." The maturation/mechanization of farms near the Twin Cities, combined with the establishment of a national rail network, opened the door for these industries. Farms near cities had been settled for a few generations; allowing the accumulation capital necessary to begin commercial farming (in addition to their current subsistence activities). Growing rail connections enabled these maturing farms to capitalize on their new potential to operate for profit. Between 1870- 1890 strong rail trade connections between the Twin Cities and Chicago were established. Rail expansion within the Twin Cities hinterland and along the Twin Cities-Chicago corridor consumed 5% of the total iron and steal production in the United States. This established the first convenient trade connections between the Twin Cities’ hinterland and the nation. |
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During 1890 & 1920, in addition to maintaining strong connections to older industrial centers (i.e. Chicago), the Twin Cities became the focus of both transcontinental and intra Upper Midwest rail traffic. Anoka's industrial growth and activity peaked in the late Railroad Era. |
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| The map below shows the strength of rail connections between the Twin Cities and other regions of the Upper Midwest in 1920. Thickness of the line indicates volume of mail traffic carried by train between locations. Mail traffic at the time was a prime indicator of the degree of economic trade and connectedness between places. | |
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