A "Fair And Lovely" Place

An estimated 41,101 people reside in Chisago County. Settled by European immigrants in the 1850s, the Chisago Lakes Area name was derived from “ki chi saga,” a Native American reference to the “fair and lovely” natural surroundings. The communities are replete with historic landmarks and welcoming atmospheres. Lindstrom is the largest city in the Chisago Lakes Area. A statue of the fictitious characters Karl Oskar and his wife, Kristina stands in Lindstrom to symbolize the Swedish peasants who settled in the Chisago Lakes Area.

Center City is the county seat. Founded in 1851, it was the first permanent Swedish settlement in Minnesota. Chisago City was permanently platted in 1892 and incorporated in 1906. Shafer is a city in transition from rural to urban, and was noted as Minnesota's fifth fastest growing city in 1990. Recent infrastructure improvements are meeting the demands of the city's expanding industries and growth. A Chisago County Veteron’s Memorial was dedicated in 2005 and is adjacent to the Chisago Lakes Area Information Center on Highway 8 in Lindstrom.