History of Devils Lake

History of Devils Lake. . , Situated mostly on Sections 33 and 34, in Township 154, Range 64, Devils Lake was established by H. M. Creel in 1882. Originally known as Creelsburg, Devils Lake was incorporated in 1884 and secured a connection to James J. Hill's great northern Railroad Line to Minneapolis. The area “boomed” as American, Canadian and European immigrants poured into the area and established an economy based largely on agriculture. The boom was triggered by the combination of free (or inexpensive) farmland, the development of new strains of spring wheat especially suited to the area's climate and the particular demands of flour millers, and the opening of rail transportation to the Minneapolis flour mills. In 1883, the original plat and additions of the City of Devils Lake covered 1,137 acres compared to the almost 4,500 acres the city covered in 2020. , Throughout its history, the city of Devils Lake has been greatly influenced by the nearby lake of the same name. In Devils Lake's early days, the elevation of the lake was high enough to support the establishment of steamboat transportation which helped facilitate the quick growth of the region. Owned and operated by Edward Heerman, the Minnie H transported freight and passengers from the train depot in Devils Lake to Minnewaukan and Fort Totten. The Minnie H operated in the area from 1883 until 1908 when declining lake levels made maritime transportation obsolete. , The city of Devils Lake has had a proud history, influenced and strengthened by the many adversities its early settlers faced in their efforts to establish a healthy and prosperous community. For over a century, Devils Lake has been the economic, cultural, religious, medical and educational center for the entire Lake Region. Using the perseverance of the early settlers as a model, the City of Devils Lake will continue to expand and grow, broadening the importance of Devils Lake as an economic and social hub for the surrounding communities. Working together, we can continue our proud legacy long into the future and ensure Devils Lake will continue to play a vital role in not only the Lake Region, but all of North Dakota.