Cohasset (population 2,556) is located on Highway 2 just west of Grand Rapids. It is the second largest city in Itasca County in population, but the largest in area, measuring 36 square miles. The city's name, which means "big water," suits this city which includes all or part of nine lakes and two large backwaters of the Mississippi River.

There are 560 acres dedicated for industrial parks, the City of Cohasset Industrial Park and the Boswell Energy Park, developed by Minnesota Power's subsidiary, Rainy River Corporation. Children attend Cohasset Elementary School and Grand Rapids schools.

City Government:

City Hall: 218-328-6225. 305 NW First Ave., Cohasset, MN, 55721. City Halls hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The council meets the second and fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m., in the City Hall.
Web site: www.cohasset-mn.com

Major Employers: Minnesota Power (Boswell Plant) (328-5711), Rajala Construction (328-5717), NORTRAX Equipment Co. (326-9427), JAMA Inc., Industrial Lubricants (328-0602, 328-6604), Keller Fence (999-5509, 328-5504), ASV (328-5103, Lakes Sate Tree Service.

Recreation: Tioga Beach Park, located on Lake Pokegama for swimming, picnicking, accessible fishing pier; Portage Park softball diamond, football and soccer fields, handicapped accessible playground, all season rink for inline skating in the summer and ice skating in the winter with warming house; all purpose fields and paved walking trails provides access to WMA; Pokegama Dam Recreation Area, camping; and Wildlife Management Area (access from Pokegama Dam Recreation Area), hiking trails.

Festivals and Events: Blackwater Barge Festival last weekend of June at Portage Park- games, craft fair, music, canoe race, Fire Hall open house.

Utilities: Minnesota Power (24-hours at 1-800-228-4966), Lake Country Power (326-6671), Grand Rapids Public Utilities (326-7024, emergency after hours 326-4806), municipal water, sewer and natural gas (328-6225 or 328-0179), natural gas emergency (1-800-620-1748), Mediacom (1-800-332-0245), Paul Bunyan Telephone (246-8228, 1-888-246-8228), Qwest (administrative 1-800-879-4357, residential 1-800-244-1111, business 1-800-603-6000).