Warroad, Minnesota

Warroad is a city in Roseau County, Minnesota, United States, at the southwest corner of Lake of the Woods. The population was 1,781 at the 2010 census. Warroad was incorporated in 1901.

Minnesota State Highways 11 and 313 are two of the main routes in the community.

History

The name Warroad seems to come from the practice of Indian tribes using the location, which is now the town, as a route to war upon each other. In the 20th century, the town had a strong commercial fishing industry, which gradually turned to sport fishing and tourism. For many years, commercial boats provided regular service to the islands and to Kenora, Ontario at the north end of Lake of the Woods. Several flying services carried sport fishermen and tourists to lodges and fishing camps in Lake of the Woods until economics and increasing regulations drove them out of business. Warroad is known for the great fishing on Lake of the Woods.

Warroad, called "Hockeytown USA", is also noted for its strong hockey tradition. The Warroad High School program has earned four men's state championship titles ('94, '96, '03, '05) and two women's ('10, '11) in the past 20 years, and has produced NHL and Olympic players. No U.S. Hockey team has won a gold medal without a player from Warroad on the roster. Another important piece of Warroad hockey history is the Warroad Lakers amateur team that existed from 1947 to 1997.