Elk River Apartments and Rentals

The community slogan for Elk River is “Powered by Nature,” a true sentiment to the way of life in the small town. Located in Sherburne County just 35 minutes northwest of downtown Minneapolis, Elk River experiences a four-season climate to ideally take advantage of all the natural scenery at its best. During the winter months, Elk River residents experience an average temperature of 26 degrees with an estimated 35 days of snow. The average temperature in the summer months is around 81 degrees.

Elk River apartments for rent are near all that nature has to offer. During the winter, residents enjoy sledding, skating, skiing, snowboarding and ice fishing. Summer months are spent hiking, biking, fishing, golfing and swimming. Since the town is situated along the Mississippi River, the natural landscape is unlike any other.

With easy access to the intersection of Highways US10 and 169, Highway 101, Interstate 94, its very simple for residents of Elk River to get to St. Paul or Minneapolis. It’s no wonder the population of Elk River has spiked from 11,220 in 1990 to about 23,200 today, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 1851, Ard Godfrey of Maine saw the potential of water power in Elk River and built the first dam in Lake Orono, which extended from the dam to Orono Cemetery Point. By the end of the 19th century, settlers realized the potential for agriculture in the area and began using the fertile land for potato farms. The area grew rapidly, around the same time that railroads replaced rivers as a major source of transportation. After an ice storm caused destruction to the Orono dam, a new dam was built with hydropower giving the town power in 1916.

Since then, Elk River has always been a hub for power and in the late 1980s, Great River Energy’s power plant was converted to a burn refuse derived fuel, helping give the town the name of Energy City by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative in October 1997. Today, Elk River is on the cutting edge of energy efficient technologies.

In Shelburne County, the main source for jobs comes from service production. Transportation, wholesale and retail services provide many residents with jobs, while construction and manufacturing provides jobs for many as well. The top employers in the county include the local school districts, county government and medical services. Wal-Mart and Great River Energy are two other major providers for jobs in the area.

Many rentals in Elk River are occupied by students attending the Elk River campus of the Minnesota School of Business or Globe University. The Anoka-Hennepin Technical College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College are both within 15 miles of Elk River, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and St. Cloud State University are within 40 miles.

Since residents of Elk River have all the amenities of an urban metropolis and natural wonders, the cost of living is 15 points higher than the national average, according to Best Places. The cost of food is rated at 12 points higher and utilities are 2 points higher.

According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, apartments in Elk River average $784 per month depending on the location of the apartment.

There are plenty of attractions in Elk River to keep any occupied year-long. Not only is the town close to all the amenities of downtown Minneapolis, the area boasts two golf courses, Elk and Mississippi Rivers, Lake Orono and 44 community parks. The parks in Elk River span nearly 900 acres and include miles of trails, a splash fountain, gazebo and amphitheater.

Events throughout the year include Oktoberfest, Elk River Lions Club Car Show and Swap Meet and a photography exhibit.

To find an Elk River apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.