Area Community Guide • March 2026
ALMELUND / AMADOR TOWNSHIP
37475 Park Trail, Almelund, MN 55012 Town Clerk: 651-583-3108 Email: AmadorTownship @ gmail. com Web: www. amadortownship. com
Almelund is an unincorporated village within Amador Township. Both are in Chisago County and governed by a three-member board of supervisors that meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p. m. at the Amador Town Hall, 37562 Park Trail, Almelund. Updated meeting information and upcoming events are on the township website: amadortownship. com
Town departments include parks and fire departments. Officials include supervisors Lin Strong( chair), Clay Larson, and Gene Fisk; clerk, Janine Schifsky and treasurer, Bob Linder.
HISTORY
The area has a long history beginning with French explorers who traded with the Chippewa and Sioux Indigenous tribes before Swedish Immigrants arrived in the 1870s. To the north and east of the township is the St. Croix River, used as the main mode of transportation for the Indigenous tribes and early fur traders.
Arrowheads and spear points found in the farm fields during the early 1900s evidenced the many battles waged in the area between the Sioux and Chippewa tribes. Land in what is now known as the Amador Township first became available for sale after the Indian Treaty of 1837.
Dr. Carmi P. Garlick was one of the Yankee land speculators to settle the area in the 1840-1850 era. He left for the California Gold Rush in the 1850 and 1853 and on his return he named the village he platted along the St. Croix River named“ Amador” after a county where he panned for gold in California. The name“ Amador” is Spanish for“ lover of gold.” Swedish immigrants soon arrived by river steamboat and flatboat and followed trails to the Amador area, which quickly grew as a Swedish community with a Spanish name.
Garlick built a sawmill along the St. Croix River that was never completed due to the financial crisis of 1857. After this loss he moved to Osceola, Wis. where he practiced his profession until 1864 when he enlisted as a surgeon of the 35th Wisconsin during World War I. He was honorably discharged with a medical disability in February 1865, and died the next June in Milwaukee.
Although nothing remains of the original village of
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Amador except a basement here and there, it once consisted of several homes, a ferry, hotel and other business. This area is now located in Wild River State Park.
John Almquist founded the village of Almelund in 1887 after learning that a Lutheran church was being constructed by Swedish immigrants at the crossroads between Taylors Falls and North Branch. The village founder built a general store that stood 30 years before burning down in 1911.
FESTIVALS
About 1200 people live in the township which celebrates three well-known festivals each year.
People come from all over the Midwest for the Almelund Threshing Show. The show is sponsored by the Almelund Threshing Company. The celebration occurs the second weekend in August from Friday to Sunday. The event features vintage tractors and old farm equipment plus displays of traditional threshing methods. Visitors enjoy a large flea market, demonstrations of glass-blowing and many hand-crafts. They can also visit a blacksmith shop, general store, Clover Blossom School and the former Chisago County Court House with numerous displays and entertainment. More at www. almelundthreshingco. org or call 651-583-2083.
2) On the second weekend in September, the largest Snowmobile Swap Meet in the USA, the Sno Barons Snowmobile Club Hay Days, is held at 38740 Oriole Avenue in North Branch. Hay Days features grass drags, vendors and promotional events. The event draws thousands of visitors from all over the world. For more information call 763-274-0235 or www. snobarons. com
3) Amador hosts the Almelund Apple Festival the third Sunday in September, 11 a. m.-4 p. m., at the Amador Heritage Center in Almelund. This festival introduces history to children with different types of music, rides in a Model T Ford, demonstrations, historic and quilt displays along with arts and crafts vendors. The Friends of the Amador Heritage Center sponsor the event and welcome volunteers to help with the project.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Almelund Fire-Rescue Squad provides protection for Amador Township along with portions of Sunrise, Chisago Lakes and Shafer Townships. The Fire Department has well-trained volunteers, many of whom also serve as first-responders. The department is led by Chief Kevin Johnson.
The Chisago County Sheriff’ s Department provides law enforcement and protection services, and the county manages zoning.
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