Industry
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A series of rapids once dropped 55 feet over six miles along this section of river, forcing canoe portages and preventing boats from traveling upriver. The largest falls plunged 20 feet over 100 yards. These rapids provided natural power for sawmills and helped spur the growth of St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls. Construction of a hydroelectric dam began in 1904 and finally subdued the river, leaving all but the last stretch of rapids below the Highway 8 bridge buried beneath the lake or flowage behind the dam. Minneapolis General Electric began generating power in 1907 to meet growing demand.
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St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin · United States
