Bottineau Boulevard: the new County Road 81

Public input leads to new name

In January of 2003, the Hennepin County board invited the public to suggest new names for the County Road 81 in order to give the corridor a long-deserved identity. More than 400 respondents submitted ideas. The Northwest Corridor Partnership endorsed Bottineau Boulevard from among the most suggested names. The Hennepin County board approved the name change in late 2004.

The Northwest Corridor Partnership then changed its own name to Bottineau Boulevard Partnership.

Bottineau Boulevard's history

Pierre Bottineau was among the first settlers of the area that became Osseo and Maple Grove. He was a famous frontiersman whose presence both attracted investment and soothed lingering tensions between whites and the Dakota Sioux, who ceded the land to the United States but continued to traverse it for trade and hunting.

County Road 81 evolved from an Indian path that helped connect the sacred lands around the Chain of Lakes and St. Anthony falls with the game-rich areas of the Red River Valley in the state’s northwest corner.

Over its long history, the vital route’s name has changed time and again. While recorded history does not reveal what the Indians who once traveled the route might have called it, white settlers identified the road by any number of different names, including Bottineau Road, Osseo Road, Jefferson Highway, Crystal Lake Avenue and Broadway. The roadway eventually became State Highway 169, then was re-designated as County Road 81.

Though road signs have changed to “Bottineau Boulevard,” County Road 81 will retain its numerical designation in the county road system. Likewise, frontage roads will continue to bear their existing names.

More Info

Bottineau Boulevard: the new County Road 81 (Mar. 10, 2005)

		Questions and comments

North Hennepin Community College Ann Wynia, President North Memorial Medical Center Dave Cress, CEO Scherer Bros. Lumber Co. Peter Scherer, President Target Corporation Mike Logan, Sr. Group Manager, Government Affairs Wells Fargo Bank Kelly J. Gosz President, Twin Cities Banking City of Brooklyn Park Mayor Steve Lampi City of Crystal Mayor RaNae Bowman City of Maple Grove Mayor Mark Steffenson City of Minneapolis Council Member Barb Johnson City of Osseo Mayor John Hall City of Robbinsdale Mayor Mike Holtz Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat Metropolitan Council Council Member Tony Pistilli North Metro Mayors Association Phil Cohen	Bottineau Boulevard: the new County Road 81 Public input leads to new name In January of 2003, the Hennepin County board invited the public to suggest new names for the County Road 81 in order to give the corridor a long-deserved identity. More than 400 respondents submitted ideas. The Northwest Corridor Partnership endorsed Bottineau Boulevard from among the most suggested names. The Hennepin County board approved the name change in late 2004. The Northwest Corridor Partnership then changed its own name to Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Bottineau Boulevard's history Pierre Bottineau was among the first settlers of the area that became Osseo and Maple Grove. He was a famous frontiersman whose presence both attracted investment and soothed lingering tensions between whites and the Dakota Sioux, who ceded the land to the United States but continued to traverse it for trade and hunting. County Road 81 evolved from an Indian path that helped connect the sacred lands around the Chain of Lakes and St. Anthony falls with the game-rich areas of the Red River Valley in the state’s northwest corner. Over its long history, the vital route’s name has changed time and again. While recorded history does not reveal what the Indians who once traveled the route might have called it, white settlers identified the road by any number of different names, including Bottineau Road, Osseo Road, Jefferson Highway, Crystal Lake Avenue and Broadway. The roadway eventually became State Highway 169, then was re-designated as County Road 81. Though road signs have changed to “Bottineau Boulevard,” County Road 81 will retain its numerical designation in the county road system. Likewise, frontage roads will continue to bear their existing names. Copyright 2005 Bottineau Boulevard Partnership \| Contact Us	More Info Bottineau Boulevard: the new County Road 81 (Mar. 10, 2005) Archives