Forest Lake is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, located 27 miles northeast of Saint Paul, and 29 miles northeast of Minneapolis. The population was 20,611 at the 2020 census.
History
Forest Lake began as a stop on the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. The first train reached Forest Lake on December 23, 1868. The lake was so named for the abundant timber that lines its shores. Forest Lake Township was organized on March 11, 1874. The first one-room school was built that year at the former location of city hall (220 N. Lake Street). The city of Forest Lake was incorporated on July 11, 1893 with 175 residents. In 2001, the city annexed the surrounding former Forest Lake Township.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ; is land and is water.