DEER RIVER

Deer River (population 903) is located in western Itasca County on Highway 2. Deer River has a rich history in the development of the logging industry as it served as the southern terminal of the Minneapolis and Rainy River Railroad, which supplied the northern logging camps of Itasca Lumber Company. Today, the city still is a large timber-producing center and continues as a center for services to the western portion of the county. It is home to the White Oak Rendezvous conducted in August. Children attend Deer River schools.

City Government:

City Hall: (246-8195) P.O. Box 70, Deer River, MN 56636. City Hall hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Minnesota License Bureau hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The council meets the second and fourth Mondays at 6 p.m. at City Hall. E-mail: drcity@paulbunyan.net

Business: 78 businesses, 15 retail, two financial institutions.

Major Employers: Rajala Timber (246-8277), Rajala Lumber (246-8149), Willie Transport (246-2277), Trout Post and Pole (246-8165), Gibbs Wild Rice (246-8505), Deer River Wild Rice (246-2713), Deer River Hired Hands (246-8182), Deer River Folio (246-8871), Deer River HealthCare Center (246-2900), Deer River Schools (high school 246-8241, elementary school 246-8860), Northern Star Co-op Services (246-8296), White Oak Casino (246-9600), White Oak Inn & Suites (246-9400).

Recreation: City park- softball, tennis, playground picnicking, skating rink; Moose Lake Park beach; White Oak Society campground; Blueberry Hills nine-hole golf course; cross-country ski trails, snowmobile trail to Grand Rapids; wayside rest, high school football, softball and baseball fields, community softball field.

Civic Monuments: Itasca Lumber Company House.

Festivals and Events: White Oak Rendezvous: White Oak 1798 Fur Post, live entertainment, voyageur encampment, arts, crafts and contests, black powder shooting contest, conducted the first weekend of August. Deer River Wild Rice Festival, first weekend after July 4.

Utilities: Minnesota Power- city (245-2150), Lake Country Power- rural (326-6671), Aquila (1-800-303-0752, 24-hour emergency 1-800-303-0357), Paul Bunyan Telephone Cooperative, telephone, DSL phone and Internet (246-8228), city services for water and sewer (246-8195), Deer River Cablevision (246-8770).