Nowthen History
In 1869, the current Nowthen area broke off from St. Francis Township and became known as Burns Township. The city was formerly known under the name of Burns Township until 2008, when it officially became the City of Nowthen. The name "Nowthen” was coined by the town's first postmaster, James Hare, who had the habit of saying "Now, then” in conversation and in letters. Covering 36 square miles, Nowthen is located in the northwest corner of Anoka County. We neighbor Elk River, Oak Grove, Ramsey, and St. Francis. There are three different school districts the students in Nowthen may attend: Anoka-Hennepin, Elk River, or St. Francis. Students may also attend Preschool through eighth grade at St. John Lutheran Church and School.
Looking for outdoor fun? Play some baseball, softball, basketball, or soccer at Memorial Park! The basketball court recently had pickleball courts outlined on it, so you can pack your net and paddles and play a game! If sports aren’t your thing, have fun swinging around the playground. Cool off in the summer months at Twin Lakes Park, where there is a maintained beach, boat access, fishing pier, picnic pavilions, beach volleyball, soccer fields, a softball field, and a playground.
Nowthen established its own Fire Department in 2021 and hired Chief Rob Miller in January of 2025. In the past year, 5 firefighters were trained and certified as EMTs, which is a huge accomplishment for the volunteer-based firefighters! A brand new tanker truck was delivered to the department in August, which had been in the works for 4 years. Check out more information about the Nowthen Fire Department every week on the City Facebook Page for “Nowthen Fire Friday.”
The city does not have its own police department, but rather contracts with the Anoka County Sheriff's Department. There are wonderful deputies who serve the area on a rotation.
Nowthen's Commercial Districts consist of businesses, including two bars and restaurants, a pizza place, a convenience store, garden nurseries, a cabinet shop, mini storage, auto repair shops, and a variety of other businesses. Nowthen is a perfect location if you are looking for a place that still feels like the country, but isn't too far from more populated areas like Elk River, Anoka, Coon Rapids, and the Twin Cities. Nowthen has a 5-acre average minimum for our buildable lots, which means you have lots of room to roam, garden, hobby farm, etc, without the onlooking of close neighbors.
Nowthen has some wonderful annual events that all the residents look forward to. The Nowthen Heritage Festival is the fourth Saturday of September every year and has wonderful attractions, including a pancake breakfast, carnival games, live music, food trucks, and a top-notch firework display at dusk. The best part is, it is a free event! Visit the Nowthen Heritage Festival Website for more information. Another fun event is the Nowthen Threshing Show, put on by the Nowthen Historical Power Association. It is always the third weekend of August. The show attracts thousands from surrounding communities due to the unique exhibitions, food, entertainment, and demonstrations. The Nowthen Threshing Show is the perfect place to see hundreds of rare and historic antique tractors, small engines, steam engines, trucks, cars, and tools all in one place! Visit the Nowthen Threshing Show Website for more information.
Come stop by the Nowthen Farmer's Market every Thursday in the summer to late fall, held in central Nowthen. It is all volunteer-run and features baked goods, décor, locally grown produce, and crafters. The market's mission statement is "To provide fresh, locally grown produce and locally made products to our community for their enjoyment, and to promote healthy lifestyles as well as provide an environment for community involvement.”
For a small community, Nowthen has many opportunities to offer residents and visitors alike. We look forward to seeing you in Nowthen, where it still feels like country.
8188 199th Avenue NW
Nowthen, MN 55330
763-441-1347
info [at] cityofnowthen.gov (info[at]cityofnowthen[dot]gov)