City of St. Francis

Located along the Northern Edge of Anoka County, the City of St. Francis is a community that is still able to provide its residents with that small town feel while in the shadow of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.

St. Francis has been able to blend rural and city living into a unique community of nearly 7,500 people. Some of the most common factors that have lured people to this Northern Anoka County Community, is the scenic areas along the Rum River, the realization of living in the country and having one's own hobby farm yet close enough to enjoy what the metropolitan area has to offer. While not a boom town, St. Francis has seen its share of growth over the years.  An even mix of urban style residential lots and large acreage hobby farms has provided the city with a number of quality housing developments.

If the outdoors are important in your life, the St. Francis area has a variety of recreational opportunities available.  The beautiful Rum River provides an exceptional opportunity for the canoeing and fishing enthusiast.

Located within the heart of St. Francis, the Rum River North County Park provides easy access to the river.  If dipping a paddle or wetting a line is not your idea of fun, you may want to visit one of our City Parks or take in golfing at The Ponds Golf Course.  Located in St. Francis and Oak Grove, just minutes north of Highway 10, The Ponds Golf Course is one of the most enjoyable, challenging and affordable golf courses in the Twin Cities northern metro suburbs. It offers 27 challenging holes set amidst some of the northern suburb's most picturesque natural surroundings. Equipped with a full service restaurant/bar, it is perfect for tournaments and even hosting. Once referred to as Otona, St. Francis has seen a transition from being a small sawmill town of old to a center for several state of the art operations.  Northland Screw Products and Temperature Specialists are two examples of previous home based operations that have flourished in the Northern Anoka County business climate.

Additional Commercial and Industrial Development has also occurred along Highway 47 as a result of two industrial parks developed by the City. The City of St. Francis also serves as a small regional commercial center for Northern Anoka County and Southern Isanti County.  The Highway 47 corridor provides for many prime commercial sites that serve both the local economy and commuter traffic.  The Bridge Street commercial corridor serves as a local commercial area for the local economy and the students who attend the St. Francis Middle School and St. Francis High School.  Both schools are located along this corridor, which makes this area highly conducive for those businesses that cater to the teenage consumer. St. Francis is served by Independent School District #15.  The school district is supported by a population of more than 26,000 that covers over 165 square miles and annually educates nearly 6,000 students and employs nearly 1,000 people. They service the communities of St.  Francis, East Bethel, Bethel, Oak Grove, portions of Andover and Nowthen, as well as portions of Athens, and Stanford townships.  ISD 15 has three elementary schools (K-4), one middle school (5-8), and one high school (9-12).  The last five years has seen a number of school construction projects that have expanded the availability of space for class rooms at the high school and junior high as well as additional gymnasium/lockers and a 650 seat performing arts center, with the most recent expansion of the high school completed in the summer of 2008. Population projections continue to forecast a growing residential community and an expanding student population.  With this growth has become a renewed commitment to quality education opportunities for all learners.  To get more information or for a tour, contact the ISD 15 School District Office at 763-753-7040 or visit their website at www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us For more information on the demographics of St. Francis, go to  www.metrocouncil.org

Effective September 1, 2008 through the end of December, the City of St. Francis is testing a pilot program on their new 4-day, work  week.  New Hours are:  Monday-Thursday, 7:00 am-5:30 pm (closed  Fridays & Holidays).  For more information, Visit our website at www.stfrancismn.org

Important Phone Numbers