Anoka, MN Real Estate

Median Income $65,309

Median Age 33.43

Population 44,162

	Median Temperature
	January	HI 19°	LO 1°	July	HI 80°	LO 60°

	School Test Scores
	Elementary: Champlin Franklin Lincoln Oxbow Creek Ramsey Washington Wilson Park View Early Childhood Center Peter Enich Kindergarden Center		Middle: Fred Moore Jackson Sandburg		High: Anoka Senior Champlin Park Crossroads West Campus Pact Charter S T E P S T E P Secondary Tech Education Prog Teen Pregnancy Program
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The city of Anoka is located approximately 20 minutes from Minneapolis, an easy commute. First settled by immigrants in 1844, by the mid-1850s, Anoka had become a milling town due to the confluence of the Rum and Mississippi Rivers. Anoka became a city in 1878. The name was derived from two Indian words. The native Dakota used "A-no-ka-tan-han," meaning "on both sides", or "from both sides," referring to its location on the banks of the Rum River. The Ojibwa used "On-o-kay," meaning "working waters." The city was plagued with five major fires between 1855 and 1884 that impeded the its progress. The worst fire occurred in the downtown area in 1884 and destroyed 86 buildings from the Rum River to Third Avenue.

Anoka has two claims to fame. One is that it was the first city in the United States to volunteer forces to fight for the Union in the Civil War. This came about because Alexander Ramsey, Minnesota's governor in 1861, was in Washington, DC when Fort Sumter was fired upon. He immediately offered a regiment to the War Department and telegraphed former governor Willis Gorman and Lieutenant Governor Ignatius L. Donnelly back in Minnesota that same morning.

Anoka also considers itself to be the birthplace of Halloween (celebrations), first holding a celebration in 1920 in order to dissuade trouble-making kids from pulling pranks.

Today, Anoka is charming and growing community with many social, cultural and natural amenities to offer her residents. There is an historic downtown district featuring unique shops and boutiques as well as traditional shopping at Riverdale Center, and many city and neighborhood parks featuring the usual suspects: playground equipment, horseshoe pits, ball fields, and picnic areas. There are also several river and trail corridors in various stages of planning and implementation throughout the city.

Anoka hosts a large festival that draws visitors from around the metro: Riverfest features 200 exhibitors/vendors, live music, food, family activities, a classic car show, boat rides, ghost tours, and the "Anoka Idol" competition. Indoor entertainment can be found at your local bowling alley, and your local watering hole in Anoka is Durkin's Pub Incorporated, featuring bar food, friendly bartenders and a casual atmosphere. Otherwise, head towards Blaine or Coon Rapids for even more dining and retail options.

Many of the homes in the area are older, starting around the early 1900s. Walk-out Ramblers and split levels are featured prominently, as are some two-story Colonial and Craftsman designs. There are some older neighborhoods under lovely, huge shade trees, as well as newer subdivisions. Town homes and condos are available in this area, and there are several opportunities to "invest" in a property and watch it improve and appreciate under your careful watch-this might be a prudent investment in a city as close to the metro area as Anoka, which promises to see more growth in the future.

In October 2008, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Anoka, MN was $145,330. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.

Search for Anoka homes for sale, Anoka real estate agents, or recent Anoka home sales using ZipRealty's real estate tools. Get complete access to all available homes for sale on the MLS in Anoka and the surrounding areas. ZipRealty lowers the cost of buying or selling a home in Anoka by giving home buyers 20% of our commission and saving home sellers up to 25% in selling commissions. With experienced, local Anoka real estate agents who know the area, ZipRealty can help anyone find the home of their dreams.

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