Forest Lake, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Forest Lake is a city in Washington County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 18,375 at the 2010 census
. It is located on Minnesota's 94th largest lake (not including Lake Superior
).
Interstate 35
and U.S. Routes 8
and 61
are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
The separation of highways 35W and 35E (from Interstate 35), just south of Forest Lake, is commonly called the Forest Lake Split.
The Forest Lake Split was the scene of the August 11, 2003 death of Herb Brooks
, coach of the gold medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team (Miracle on Ice
). The Forest Lake Split was represented in the original 1970 opening title sequence for the Mary Tyler Moore Show, when the "St. Paul to the left/Minneapolis to the right" sign was shown. The only interstate system location for such a sign was at the Forest Lake Split.
was organized on March 11, 1874; The first one-room school was built that same year, which stood at the present day location of city hall. The city of Forest Lake was incorporated on July 11, 1893 with 175 residents. In 2001, the city annexed the former Forest Lake Township.
Forest Lake was known as one of the major summer resort areas of the upper Midwest in the late 1800s/early 1900s. The village had numerous hotels, including the Marsh Hotel, on North Shore Drive, which was host to U.S. President Grover Cleveland
and future U.S. President William McKinley
, as well as many world dignitaries. The steamship Germania sailed the Forest Lake chain of lakes in the late 1800s, and was a major tourist draw.
Minnesota's first Boy Scout troop was formed in Forest Lake in July of 1910. This was one of the first officially chartered Boy Scout troops in the United Sates.
President
William Howard Taft
considered Forest Lake for his 1911 summer residence.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Forest Lake was known as the turkey capital of the world. The official national Thanksgiving turkey for President Harry S. Truman
at the White House
came from Forest Lake in 1946 and 1948.
The world's first floating heliport
was built in Forest Lake in 1956.
Forest Lake has been known as the 4th of July capital of Minnesota since the mid-1960s.
The Forest Lake Marching Band was rated in the top five high school bands in the United States twice in the 1960s.
Forest Lake was the site of the 1968 World Outboard Power Boat Racing Championship.
Forest Lake was the site of the 1970, 1971 and 1972 U.S. International Snowmobile Championships.
The Forest Lake City Marching Band, formed in 1981 by Forest Lake High School alumni Steve Hursh and Brian Tolzmann, and directed by long-time Forest Lake High School director Rollin Nelson, was a seven-time state, six time Midwest region and 1985 national champion open class band. Willard Scott
, popular NBC
television personality, called the band, "The best band he'd ever seen" during a 1985 broadcast.
Forest Lake was known as the bass capital of Minnesota during the 1960s and 1970s, with the official Minnesota bass opener taking place at Forest Lake several times.
The ice fishing contests held on Forest Lake in the mid-1990s were reported to be the largest in the country.
, Paramahansa Yogananda
, while visiting Forest Lake in 1927, appears in the book "Songs of the Soul".
An episode of actor Lee Marvin
's television series, "The Lawbreakers", entitled "The Minneapolis Story", was filmed in Forest Lake in November, 1963.
The Hitching Post Motel, one mile (1.6 km) north of downtown Forest Lake, was featured in the 1996 Academy Award-winning movie Fargo (film)
. That is where William H. Macy
's character, Jerry Lundegaard, is captured by police at the end of the film.
There is a scene in the 1999 motion picture, Drop Dead Gorgeous (film), (which is about a Minnesota beauty pageant), in which one character yells at "Miss Forest Lake".
Portions of the 2012 independent film, "Lumpy", starring Justin Long
, Shelly Long, Tyler Labine
, Addison Timlin
and Jess Weixler
were filmed in Forest Lake early in 2011. One of these shooting locations was at the Forest Motel, near downtown Forest Lake.
of 2010, there were 18,375 people, 2,805 households, and 1,744 families residing in the city. The population density
was 510.4 people per square mile (1321.95/km²). There were 7,508 housing units at an average density of 2.44 people. The racial makeup of the city was 94.66% White, 1.06% African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races
, and 1.72% from two or more races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.34% of the population.
Median household income for 2009 was $64,515. Per capita income for 2009 was $30,464.
of 2000, there were 6,798 people, 2,805 households, and 1,744 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,620.8 people per square mile (626.4/km²). There were 2,897 housing units at an average density of 690.7 per square mile (267.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.18% White, 0.40% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 2,805 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is a county established in 1849 in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 238,136. Its county seat is Stillwater.-History:...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 18,375 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. It is located on Minnesota's 94th largest lake (not including Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
).
Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
and U.S. Routes 8
U.S. Route 8
U.S. Highway 8 is a United States Highway that runs primarily east–west for , mostly within the state of Wisconsin. It runs from Interstate 35 in Forest Lake, Minnesota to US 2 at Norway in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the border with Wisconsin. Except for the short freeway...
and 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
The separation of highways 35W and 35E (from Interstate 35), just south of Forest Lake, is commonly called the Forest Lake Split.
The Forest Lake Split was the scene of the August 11, 2003 death of Herb Brooks
Herb Brooks
Herbert Paul Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States' men's hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980...
, coach of the gold medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team (Miracle on Ice
Miracle on Ice
The "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
). The Forest Lake Split was represented in the original 1970 opening title sequence for the Mary Tyler Moore Show, when the "St. Paul to the left/Minneapolis to the right" sign was shown. The only interstate system location for such a sign was at the Forest Lake Split.
History
Forest Lake began as a stop for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. The first train reached Forest Lake on December 23, 1868. The lake was so named for the abundant timber that lines its shores. Forest Lake TownshipTownship (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
was organized on March 11, 1874; The first one-room school was built that same year, which stood at the present day location of city hall. The city of Forest Lake was incorporated on July 11, 1893 with 175 residents. In 2001, the city annexed the former Forest Lake Township.
Forest Lake was known as one of the major summer resort areas of the upper Midwest in the late 1800s/early 1900s. The village had numerous hotels, including the Marsh Hotel, on North Shore Drive, which was host to U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
and future U.S. President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
, as well as many world dignitaries. The steamship Germania sailed the Forest Lake chain of lakes in the late 1800s, and was a major tourist draw.
Minnesota's first Boy Scout troop was formed in Forest Lake in July of 1910. This was one of the first officially chartered Boy Scout troops in the United Sates.
President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
considered Forest Lake for his 1911 summer residence.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Forest Lake was known as the turkey capital of the world. The official national Thanksgiving turkey for President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
came from Forest Lake in 1946 and 1948.
The world's first floating heliport
Heliport
A heliport is a small airport suitable only for use by helicopters. Heliports typically contain one or more helipads and may have limited facilities such as fuel, lighting, a windsock, or even hangars...
was built in Forest Lake in 1956.
Forest Lake has been known as the 4th of July capital of Minnesota since the mid-1960s.
The Forest Lake Marching Band was rated in the top five high school bands in the United States twice in the 1960s.
Forest Lake was the site of the 1968 World Outboard Power Boat Racing Championship.
Forest Lake was the site of the 1970, 1971 and 1972 U.S. International Snowmobile Championships.
The Forest Lake City Marching Band, formed in 1981 by Forest Lake High School alumni Steve Hursh and Brian Tolzmann, and directed by long-time Forest Lake High School director Rollin Nelson, was a seven-time state, six time Midwest region and 1985 national champion open class band. Willard Scott
Willard Scott
Willard Herman Scott, Jr. is an American media personality and author best known for his television work on NBC's The Today Show and as the creator of the Ronald McDonald character.-Early years:...
, popular NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television personality, called the band, "The best band he'd ever seen" during a 1985 broadcast.
Fishing
Forest Lake has a high population of northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye, and lots of pan fish (blugill, crappie, and perch). It also holds muskie, while the numbers are relatively low, the average size is becoming quite large, making for a trophy fishery. The city hosts an annual ice fishing tournament known as Fishapalooza.Forest Lake was known as the bass capital of Minnesota during the 1960s and 1970s, with the official Minnesota bass opener taking place at Forest Lake several times.
The ice fishing contests held on Forest Lake in the mid-1990s were reported to be the largest in the country.
Media
The first newspaper, The Enterprise, was printed in 1903. It was changed in 1907 to The Forest Lake Advertiser and later to The Forest Lake Times, in 1916 as it remains to this day. The Forest Lake Press is another local paper.Pop Culture References
A poem, entitled "To The Aurora Borealis", written by world-renowned Indian yogi and guruGuru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda , born Mukunda Lal Ghosh , was an Indian yogi and guru who introduced many westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book, Autobiography of a...
, while visiting Forest Lake in 1927, appears in the book "Songs of the Soul".
An episode of actor Lee Marvin
Lee Marvin
Lee Marvin was an American film actor. Known for his gravelly voice, white hair and 6' 2" stature, Marvin at first did supporting roles, mostly villains, soldiers and other hardboiled characters, but after winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual roles in Cat Ballou , he landed more...
's television series, "The Lawbreakers", entitled "The Minneapolis Story", was filmed in Forest Lake in November, 1963.
The Hitching Post Motel, one mile (1.6 km) north of downtown Forest Lake, was featured in the 1996 Academy Award-winning movie Fargo (film)
Fargo (film)
Fargo is a 1996 American dark comedy-crime film produced, directed and written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Frances McDormand as a pregnant police chief who investigates a series of homicides, William H...
. That is where William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
's character, Jerry Lundegaard, is captured by police at the end of the film.
There is a scene in the 1999 motion picture, Drop Dead Gorgeous (film), (which is about a Minnesota beauty pageant), in which one character yells at "Miss Forest Lake".
Portions of the 2012 independent film, "Lumpy", starring Justin Long
Justin Long
Justin Jacob Long is an American film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the Hollywood films Galaxy Quest, Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball, Live Free or Die Hard, He's Just Not That into You, Drag Me to Hell, and Youth in Revolt, and his personification of a Mac in Apple's "Get a...
, Shelly Long, Tyler Labine
Tyler Labine
Tyler Sean Labine is a Canadian actor. His brothers Kyle Labine and Cameron Labine also work in the entertainment industry.-Life and career:Labine was born in Brampton, Ontario...
, Addison Timlin
Addison Timlin
Addison Timlin is an American actress. She appeared as Sasha Bingham in season four of Californication.-Career:...
and Jess Weixler
Jess Weixler
Jessica "Jess" Weixler is an American actress, best known to date as the lead in the comedy-horror film Teeth and the comedy The Big Bad Swim...
were filmed in Forest Lake early in 2011. One of these shooting locations was at the Forest Motel, near downtown Forest Lake.
Landmarks
- The Tin Man (the old Forest Lake water tower) was dismantled on November 9, 2006.
- Lakeside Park (Located on the northwest side of the lake.)
- The original 1940s manufacturing site for the Toni Home Permanent was a former one-room schoolhouse located at Garen, MinnesotaGaren, MinnesotaGaren is an abandoned townsite in Washington County, Minnesota.- History :Garen was a town just south of Forest Lake, Minnesota. It was located on present U.S. Route 61 and 190th Street. Garen South School in District No. 72 opened in 1893. It had 5 grades: A, B, C, D, and E...
, off Highway 61, just south of Forest Lake. It was destroyed by fire in February of 1951. - Just north of the Hitching Post Motel was the site of a Minnesota Highway Department historic marker which had this inscription: "Through this point from southeast to northwest extended the Indian Boundary as defined by the Prairie du Chien Treaty of 1825 as surveyed and marked by the government. To the south was Sioux country, to the north, Chippewa, but neither tribe paid much attention to the line."
- Forest Lake is home to Minnesota's biggest black ash tree, which stands near Sunrise Creek, on North Shore Drive. The tree, which has held the title since 1998, stands 65 feet (19.8 m) tall and has a 47 feet (14.3 m) crown spread.
Other Places of Interest
- Just outside Forest Lake is the Wildlife Science Center, an internationally-known research and education facility that studies numerous wildlife species, specializing in wolves Wildlife Science Center has the largest captive population of privately maintained wolves in the United States.
- Forest Lake is home to the 23000 acres (93.1 km²) Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. At the time of its creation the area was said to have the most diverse wildlife population of any urban area of the United States
- Forest Lake is home to St. Croix Forge, the leading horseshoe manufacturer in North America.
- Running Aces Harness ParkRunning Aces Harness ParkRunning Aces Harness Park is 5/8 mile harness horse racing track that is located in Columbus, Minnesota. The park also has a card room. The park opened in April 2008. The live races season runs from June to August.-External links:*...
is five miles (8 km) from downtown Forest Lake. - Lamprey Pass Wildlife Management Area is located along I-35, two miles (3 km) from downtown Forest Lake. This site is the oldest known Native American settlement in the state of Minnesota, containing Hopewell culture burial grounds that are believed to date back more than 2,000 years.
Demographics
2010 data
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 18,375 people, 2,805 households, and 1,744 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 510.4 people per square mile (1321.95/km²). There were 7,508 housing units at an average density of 2.44 people. The racial makeup of the city was 94.66% White, 1.06% African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.72% from two or more races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.34% of the population.
Median household income for 2009 was $64,515. Per capita income for 2009 was $30,464.
2000 data
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,798 people, 2,805 households, and 1,744 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,620.8 people per square mile (626.4/km²). There were 2,897 housing units at an average density of 690.7 per square mile (267.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.18% White, 0.40% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 2,805 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
Notable natives
- William Rush MerriamWilliam Rush MerriamWilliam Rush "Spooky" Merriam was an American politician. The son of Minnesota House Speaker John L. Merriam, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1883 and 1887 and was the Speaker of the House in 1887. He served as the 11th Governor of Minnesota from January 9, 1889 to January...
, who served as Governor of Minnesota from 1889 to 1893, was a summer resident of Forest Lake, and major property owner on the North Shore Drive area of Forest Lake. Merriam was responsible for convincing Congress to establish the U.S. Census Bureau. He was also the largest financial contributor to the construction of Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake in the late 1800s. - Patrick J. Towle, area grocer who was the founder of Log Cabin SyrupLog Cabin SyrupLog Cabin Syrup is a brand of pre-packaged syrups owned by Pinnacle Foods.Log Cabin syrup was introduced in 1887. Grocer Patrick J. Towle, who lived in the village of Forest Lake, Minnesota, named the syrup in honor of his childhood hero, President Abraham Lincoln, and his childhood in a log...
, lived in Forest Lake early in the 20th century. - Bernard "Bud" Nygren, a 1936 graduate of Forest Lake High School, was, in 1946, the first person to ever score points for any Los Angeles pro sports franchise, when he scored a touchdown for the Los Angeles DonsLos Angeles DonsThe Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the now defunct All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 that played in the Los Angeles Coliseum....
of the All-America Football Conference. - Dr. Lysle Peterson, who is credited with creating the world's first complete computer model of the human circulatory system, as well as the first modern method of recording arterial blood pressure, is a 1938 graduate of Forest Lake High School. He was also instrumental in establishing the methods of testing the effects of G-forces on astronauts for NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. - Helen Fowler, who inspired the character Margaret in the famous Maud Hart LovelaceMaud Hart LovelaceMaud Hart Lovelace was an American author best known for the Betsy-Tacy series.-Early life:Maud Palmer Hart was born in Mankato, Minnesota to Tom Hart, a shoe store owner, and his wife, Stella . Maud was the middle child; her sisters were Kathleen and Helen...
book series, Betsy-TacyBetsy-TacyThe Betsy-Tacy series is a collection of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace between 1940 and 1955. The books are written at progressively more difficult reading levels as the characters age. They follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her friends and family from the time that Betsy turns five...
, was a resident of Forest Lake during the middle of the 20th century. Fowler was Lovelace's sister. - Arne CarlsonArne CarlsonArne Helge Carlson, Sr. is an American politician and the 37th Governor of the state of Minnesota.-Early years, education and family:...
, former Governor of Minnesota, is a former resident of Forest Lake. - Walter MondaleWalter MondaleWalter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
, former vice president of the United States, is a former resident of Forest Lake. - Clarence W. "Scotty" Fenton, one of the nine-member gun crew of the USS Ward (DD-139)USS Ward (DD-139)USS Ward was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I, later APD-16 in World War II...
, that fired America's first shot of World War II (December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor), lived in Forest Lake. - Gangsters Ma BarkerMa BarkerKate "Ma" Barker was the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang from the "public enemy era", when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the U.S. Midwest gripped the American people and press...
, John DillingerJohn DillingerJohn Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
, Baby Face NelsonBaby Face NelsonLester Joseph Gillis , known under the pseudonym George Nelson, was a bank robber and murderer in the 1930s. Gillis was known as Baby Face Nelson, a name given to him due to his youthful appearance and small stature...
and George "Bugs" Moran lived in Forest Lake from time to time during the 1930s. - Brothers Eddie and Roy Shipstad, founders of the Ice FolliesIce FolliesShipstads & Johnson Ice Follies was a touring ice show featuring elaborate production numbers, similar in concept to Ice Capades. It was founded in 1937 by Eddie Shipstad, Roy Shipstad, and Oscar Johnson, who also skated in the show. In later years, Olympic skaters such as Donald Jackson, Barbara...
, the first touring ice skating show, were summer residents of Forest Lake for much of their lives. - Ruth McGowan, half of the world-renowned husband/wife McGowan and Mack figure skating duo, which appeared with James StewartJames StewartJames Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
and Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
in the motion picture The Ice Follies of 1939The Ice Follies of 1939The Ice Follies of 1939 is a 1939 motion picture directed by Reinhold Schünzel, and starring Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Lew Ayres and Lewis Stone...
, was a resident of Forest Lake, and she died there in 2001 at the age of 92. - Jerry Richert, member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, was a resident of Forest Lake.
- Former Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
quarterback Jack TrudeauJack TrudeauJack Francis Trudeau is a former professional American football player and current morning show co-host on Fox Sports Radio. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2nd round of the 1986 NFL Draft. A 6'3",...
was born in Forest Lake in 1962. - Former WWE world champion pro wrestler Nora GreenwaldNora GreenwaldNora Kristina Greenwald , better known by her ring name Molly Holly, is an inactive American professional wrestler. Greenwald is best known for her appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment .Greenwald began her professional wrestling career in WCW, where she...
(aka Molly Holly) was born in Forest Lake and is a 1996 graduate of Forest Lake High School. - Actor Jim Lichtscheidl, stage (Guthrie Theatre) and film (Factotum (film)Factotum (film)Factotum is a 2005 film directed by Bent Hamer, adapted from the novel of the same name by Charles Bukowski. The script also makes use of poems published in What Matters Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire and The Days Run Aways Like Horses Over the Hill as well as some of Bukowski's notebook...
), (A Serious ManA Serious ManA Serious Man is a 2009 dark comedy written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film stars Michael Stuhlbarg as a Minnesota Jewish man whose life crumbles both professionally and personally, leading to questions about his faith...
) is a 1988 graduate of Forest Lake High School. - Two-time Tony Award nominated actor Christopher SieberChristopher SieberChristopher Sieber is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Kevin Burke in Two of a Kind starring Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen and Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical. Christopher studied acting and musical comedy at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City...
(SpamalotSpamalotMonty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways, especially in its parodies of Broadway theatre...
and Shrek the Musical) is a 1988 graduate of Forest Lake High School. - 1986 All-Big 10 and Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
running back Rick Bayless (football)Rick Bayless (football)Richard Allen Bayless was a college football player for the University of Iowa from 1984-1987. He was an honorable mention All-American at running back in his junior season in 1986...
is a 1983 graduate of Forest Lake High School. - Karla Hult, reporter for KAREKAREKARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
television in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN grew up in Forest Lake and graduated from Forest Lake High School in the class of 1991 . - Former Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
lineman Adam HaayerAdam HaayerAdam John Haayer is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.Haayer also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and St. Louis...
is a 1996 graduate of Forest Lake High School. - Al Bergstrom, who founded the iconic Al's BreakfastAl's BreakfastAt a width of ten feet , Al's Breakfast is reportedly the narrowest restaurant in the city of Minneapolis. Al's Breakfast is crammed into a former alleyway between two much larger buildings and is located in the city's Dinkytown neighborhood near the University of Minnesota...
in Minneapolis, was a resident of Forest Lake, and died there in 2003, at the age of 97.