City of Marine on St. Croix: A Brief History

In 1838, Marine on St. Croix was founded with the name Marine Mills. The city was the location of the first commercial sawmill on the St. Croix River. Illinois lumbermen David Hone and Lewis Judd built the sawmill in order to cut white pine. Their hometown was Marine, Illinois, which is what they named the mill after. In 1839 the operation began on the mill and went until 1895. The sawmill was powered by water and then steam. Today, the Marine Mill is a historic site run by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Settlers began to arrive from mainly Sweden as well as Ireland, Germany, and England in the late 1840s. Farming was the primary occupation for these settlers who grew wheat and rye. A flour mill was opened by James Gaskill in 1855.

In 1841, a road from Stillwater to Marine was opened. The Marine ferry opened in 1856 and was in operation for 100 years.

To accommodate settlers, the city began to develop. A hotel, company store, brewery, blacksmith shop, general store, and cafe were all present. In 1853, the first school was established in the city.

Today, Marine on St. Croix is a charming town with the look of a New English Village. Locals take pride in their history, with the Stone House Museum, Marine Mill Site, among others.

If you have any questions regarding the city of Marine on St. Croix, or if you would like to sell or buy a house in the area, please feel free to give TwinCitiesPropertyFinder.com or call 1-800-909-1953.

Please note: I don’t handle rentals or property management. I work with buyers and sellers, and that’s where I can help you most.

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