Crookston is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is the county seat of Polk County. The population was 7,482 at the 2020 census. It is part of the "Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area" or "Greater Grand Forks". Crookston is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Crookston. The Crookston area was traversed by trappers and traders, including Ojibwa and Lakota, Métis, and European settlers, between 1790 and 1870. A branch of the Red River Trails passed nearby; it was used by fur traders between the 1840s and 1870s. Crookston first saw settlement by non-Indian people around 1872. It was the site of a federal land office by 1876 and sited on a portion of the Great Northern Railway that began operation by 1880. The town was incorporated on April 1, 1879. Soon Scandinavian, French-Canadian, and German immigrants began populating Crookston. At one point, eight different railroad lines reached the town, and it became a center of commerce and manufacturing.
Crookston is a friendly, safe, progressive community located on the banks of the meandering Red Lake River. Our town is located in the heart of Northwestern Minnesota, filled with a rich history and inviting people. We take pride in our ample opportunities for retail shopping, lodging, dining, and recreation. Downtown features historic architecture combined with opportunities for the future, catering to a wide array of business activities and shopping destinations. You can indulge in chocolate-covered treats and fragrance-filled beauty items as you wander the friendly stores. Our Grand Theatre was once boasted as the country’s longest continuously running theatre, where you can take in a movie, or rent the entire theater for a private event or screening. Other fun spots to check out during your visit include the Polk County Museum, our seasonal golf course, and a multitude of parks and trails.
Our local Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce and Crookston Visitors Bureau have done an excellent job in maintaining up-to-date information for visitors to our community. We encourage you to take a closer look at what Crookston has to offer in order to get the most out of your time spent with us.