This Minnesota Town Is One Of The Most Peaceful Places To Live In The Country

According to recent uniform crime report data from the FBI, Canby is one of the most peaceful towns in Minnesota - and probably the whole country! The data show that Canby is one of only four towns of 1,000 or more people that reported almost no crime in 2019 (the most recent year for which crime report data is available). The other towns were Rushford, Silver Bay, and Benson. So, what makes the western Minnesota town of Canby so peaceful? Let's find out.

Canby was established in 1874 when a general store was built on a parcel of land where the town of almost 1,700 now sits.

That same year, the store added a post office and called itself "Canby." Today, the charming town's historic downtown is anchored by the 1939 Canby Theater and other beloved local establishments.

The 1891 Lund Hoel House Museum is a key piece of the town's history, and probably the best known attraction in the town.

The museum is open to visitors on a seasonal basis and is a great source of local pride.

Historic sites in Canby include the Lundring Service Station, which, like the Lund Hoel House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

P.K. Egans Family Restaurant has been a local institution for decades.

Visitors to the area also give this beloved eatery an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Just south of town, you'll find Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie.

It's a restored remnant of the tallgrass prairie for which the area is known - and which gives Canby its motto: "Gateway to the prairie."

The Del Clark Reservoir is a favorite place for locals to unwind after work or school, and on weekends.

How could you not feel some inner peace with views like these?

Clearly, a sense of history and broad-based community pride help to keep the peace in Canby. After spending time in the community, we hope you find Canby to be as peaceful as the statistics imply! While in this part of the state, be sure to check out Camden State Park, as well. It's a little over half an hour southeast of town, and it's home to a surprising forested valley that cuts through the region's rolling prairie.

Have you visited Canby? Let us know what you did and what you thought of your experience in the comments.