History of Hill City
The sincerity of the words written by Gaylord Huntley, Publisher of Volume 1, Number 1, of the first newspaper dated May 5, 1910, Hill City News, was matched only by the tenacity which characterizes our Hill City forebears.

The charming City of Hill City owes its very existence to the beauty that surrounds it. In 1900, Al Wandel came to burn the meadows for the Hill City Realty Company. When Al arrived, about all that suggested a future village was the Miller Bros. Logging camp of 7 log buildings situated on Morrison brook (near what is now the intersection of Highways 169 and 200). The Realty Company composed of James Harper, James Gill, and E.L. Buck originated promotion of this area. They laid out the original nine-block plat of the town site.

Hill Lake is named for the prominent hill in the township. The Ojibway called the area "Pikwadina" or "Piquadinaw", which translated to "it is hilly".

Functioning under Hill Lake Township, Hill City seceded and officially incorporated on March 8, 1910.

Bridging the past with the future, Hill City maintains its beauty and its pride. Along with it, without deterring from the small-town atmosphere is the progression of an active community. The friendliness that abounds here will always make you feel right at home.

If you would like more information on the history of Hill City, please visit:
www.rootsweb.com/~mnaitkin/hill_city.htm
(website will open in a new window)
 

Mayor
Lonnie Lee

Council Members
Larry Baker
Lori Konerza
Scott Martin
Keith "Mike" Olson

Clerk/Treasurer
Diana Gillson

City Government
City Hall Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Fridays - Closed

City Hall
111 Henrietta Avenue
PO Box 160
Hill City, MN 55748

Phone:(218) 697-2301
Fax number (218) 697-2401
E-Mail info@hillcitymn.com
 

Monthly Meetings
Council Meetings are held on the second (2nd) of every month at 6:00 PM in the Woodland Bank Meeting Room located at 152 Lake Avenue.  For more information please call (218) 697-2301.

Emergency Services
Hill City Fire Department: 911
Hill City Police Department: 911
Med's 1 Ambulance: 911

Hill City Police Department
Police Chief: Jeff Madsen
111 Henrietta Avenue
Hill City, MN 55748
(218) 697-8210

Hill City Fire Department
Fire Chief: Steve Villebro
111 Henrietta Avenue
Hill City, MN 55748
(218) 697-8101

Hill City Fire Department Business Meeting's are on the first Monday of the month and Training is held on the third Monday of the Month at 7:00 p.m. located at 111 Henrietta Avenue.

Hill City First Responder's meet the third Tuesday of month at 7:00 p.m. located at 111 Henrietta Avenue.

Independent School District #2
Hill City School
500 Ione Avenue
Hill City, MN 55748
(218) 697-2394

A community partnership proud to be unique and personal; dedicated to life-long learning and educational excellence.

Hill City Chamber of Commerce
For Chamber information contact:
Dave Lange - President
PO Box 51
Hill City, MN 55748
(800) 519-6939
hillcitymn@yahoo.com

Community Events
Wild Game Feed - February
Fire Department Annual Fish Fry - mid April
Easter Egg Hunt - The Saturday before Easter
Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks

Area Churches
Hill City Assembly of God
Hill City Baptist Church
St. John's Catholic Church
Trinity Lutheran Church
United Methodist Church

Recreation
The City of Hill City has four parks maintained by the City and available for public use.

Don Beerbower Veteran's Memorial Park
Don Beerbower was a local boy who was shot down in World War II.

The Don Beerbower Veteran's Memorial Park area includes seven picnic tables, a fountain, a cement circular area with sidewalks to the memorial, shrubs and perennials, and three flags: United States, Minnesota and POW/MIA.

A Cobra helicopter (the kind of aircraft that flew in Vietnam) sits on the east end of the park on concrete pillars and the memorial is on the south end. The memorial includes the names of 994 Aitkin County veterans, etched in black granite, from wars and peacetime going back to the Civil War.

Bear Park
Located on Highway 169 and Ione Avenue with a gazebo. The walking trail also runs parallel to Bear Park.

Ben's Park
A small park with a swing set is located on Lake Avenue across from the post office.

Hill Lake Park
Swimming and sun bathing can be enjoyed in the sparkling water and sandy beach. This beautiful, wooded area was donated to the City in September of 1921 for the specific purpose of being a park for the City residents and tourists to enjoy.

Hill Lake Park includes rest rooms with shower facilities, picnic shelter, playground, beach, fishing dock and boat landing. It has 10 campsites with electrical hookup and 30 tent sites available.

Call City Hall at (218) 697-2301 for the nightly charge for the camping.

Fishing
Hill Lake is 907 acres, approximately 4 ½ miles in length. Some of the fish that can be caught in Hill Lake are: Walleye, Crappies, Northern Pike, Bluegills, and Large and small mouth Bass.

Snowmobiling
Hill City and surrounding areas have 150 miles of trails, with an ambitious, active snowmobile club located within the City. For more information call Hilltop Sports (218) 697-8188.

To enjoy watching or participating in the excitement of snowmobile racing go to Park X located at Quadna Resort 1 mile South of Hill City. Park X sponsor's WPSA (World Snowmobile Association) races including X Game qualifiers, National races, Regional Races, Sno-cross racing and much more.

Golf
Quadna Hills is a beautiful 9-hole course located at the South end of Hill Lake at Quadna Resort.

Walking/Hiking/Biking Trail
This 3.8-mile trail includes a paved walkway through the City to Quadna Resort. An addition to the trail will tentatively be approved for construction in 2004.

Hunting
Hill City sits in the middle of four main deer hunting blocks. An average of two to three deer per square mile is harvested in the Hill City area.

Two wildlife management areas border two sides of Hill City. They are Little Hill located six miles West with 1,500 acres and Moose-Willow, located three miles South with 1,800 acres. Both provide good pools for goose and duck. Hunting for ruffed grouse is also a popular sport in the Hill City area.