According to The Brooklyns, A History of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, in an attempt to increase the timber available for construction and firewood, the Timber Act of 1873 was enacted whereby:

"a settler could acquire 160 acres of land by planting ten acres of it in trees. When making a final proof on a tree claim at the end of eight years, there had to be 675 living trees on each of the 10 acres."

The entry fee was $14, but no residency was required. One can wonder if this strategy was successful, as prairies by their nature do not support easy or significant tree growth.

The Monticello, a steamboat, made regular voyages along the river from Minneapolis to Anoka. This side-wheeler was often delayed for hours by the rocks of Coon Rapids 

National History 1870-1879