May 27, 2008 1:37 pm US/Pacific
Minn. Town To Be Officially Named 'Nowthen'
NOWTHEN, Minn. (AP) ―
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Nowthen was never meant to be the name of the post office at an intersection in northern Anoka County. (File)
AP
The residents of a community north of the Twin Cities want to keep the name the first local post office was given by mistake, even if it's a bit strange.
Nowthen was never meant to be the name of the post office at an intersection in northern Anoka County.
During the 1890s, community leader James Hare created a list of possible names and wrote, "Nowthen, one of these ought to do."
Historians say the post office came to be known as Nowthen. The building is no longer there, but the township that surrounds its former location will soon become the city of Nowthen.
"It's a name no one else has and a name we're proud of," said resident Harvey Greenberg.
The area has been part of Burns Township since the mid-1890s, according to history books, but Nowthen still appears on signs and maps. You can still find Nowthen Park, Nowthen Plumbing and Nowthen Alliance Church.
Residents considered calling the town Burns, but they didn't want people to confuse it with Burnsville, the southern Twin Cities suburb.
"I think that was probably the single biggest reason 'Burns' didn't even make it in the second round of discussion -- because of the confusion," said Corrie LeDoucer, Burns Township clerk.
An administrative law judge has ruled that Burns Township can become a city, LeDoucer said. An election will be held June 30 for mayor and City Council. Nowthen the city will become official on July 8, when the elected officials are sworn in.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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