Dassel is a town of 1,472 located in eastern Meeker County along Highways 15 and 12. Dassel was plotted in 1869 and named for railroad official Bernard Dassel.
Sauk Centre is a town of 4,550 people located in western Stearns County along Highway 71 and Interstate 94. It is the home of the Stearns County Fair and is near many lakes including Sauk Lake, which is north of town.
Big Lake is a city of 11,686 located in Sherburne County along Highway 10 just east of Becker and west of Elk River. Big Lake was originally called Humboldt until 1867. It features two prominent lakes with Big Lake and Mitchell Lake in the city limits.