The Up-and-Coming City in Minnesota That’s Perfectly Sized

Red Wing is a small city on the Mississippi River southeast of the Twin Cities. Over recent years, this bustling community has seen steady growth while maintaining its vibrancy. If you ask me, I think Red Wing is an up-and-coming Minnesota city that's "just right" in many respects, from size and location to its history and proximity to the incredible natural beauty of Minnesota's Bluff Country.

You'll find Red Wing about an hour southeast of St. Paul on the banks of the Mississippi River. This historic town is home to around 16,700 people, and with all its red brick exteriors, it looks like something right out of a Norman Rockwell painting—especially in winter.

In the mid-19th century, settlers arrived by steamship to farm on land that belonged to the Mdewakanton band of Dakota. Today, in fact, the Prairie Island Indian Community, a federally designated reservation, lies mainly within the city limits of Red Wing.

Nevertheless, the city sprang up, as did important institutions and industries. Hamline University, the state's oldest college, was founded in Red Wing in 1854—two years before Minnesota statehood. It relocated to St. Paul in the 1870s, following a decline in enrollment due to the Civil War. Capitalizing on the area's rich clay deposits, the company now known as Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery was established in 1877, and the brand is recognized and collected around the world.

Even more renowned, however, is the respected Red Wing Shoes brand, which was founded in the city in 1905. Still going strong, the headquarters and a good portion of the company's manufacturing facilities remain in Red Wing.

In 1946, a former Red Wing Shoes employee, Paul Riedell, founded Riedell Shoe, Inc., in Red Wing. Today, Riedell is a leading manufacturer of ice and hockey skates, as well as roller skates. It, too, continues to call Red Wing its home.

Tourism is also a big deal in Red Wing. A truly beautiful city with historic charm, folks flock to the community for weekend getaways at the St. James Hotel, which was built in 1875 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or Frontenac State Park on the Mississippi River bluffs just south of town. Red Wing is also a popular destination for weddings and leaf peeping. And few towns do the holidays as well as Red Wing. No matter when you go or what you go for, though, don't pass up a stop at the amazing Hanisch Bakery.

Getting to Red Wing is pretty straightforward: It sits at the intersection of U.S. Routes 61 (the Great River Road) and 63. Plus, two daily Amtrak trains run between Chicago and St. Paul and make stops at Red Wing—so you don't really have an excuse not to visit. Plus, you get to enjoy the incredible beauty of Minnesota's Bluff Country along the way.

Towns in the Land of 10,000 Lakes don't get much more charming than Red Wing, and with all it's got going for it, I think this up-and-coming Minnesota city is definitely worth keeping an eye on. What are some other thriving, perfectly-sized cities in the North Star State? We'd love to hear about your thoughts and your favorites over on our Nomination page.

Are you ready to plan your next adventure in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? If so, head over to Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner and give it a spin—you might be surprised by what it comes up with.