About the region

The lakes and woods of "Cuyuna County" have been home to Native Americans for almost 10,000 years. For hundres of years prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area served as a border between the Dakota (Sioux) and the Ojibwe (Chippewa) tribes.

The 1600s brought contact with European explorers and fur traders - primarily along canoe routes and portages between the Lake Mille Lacs area and the Upper Mississippi. By the mid-1800s, European settlement and logging and railroading had begun.

The village of Deerwood was established as a railroad stop in the 1860s, and shortly thereafter, settlers, (including suerveyor named Cuyler Adams and his dog Una - hence "Cuyuna"), discovered iron ore.

Each new mine seemed to spawn a new town, and by 1920, the area was booming, attracting waves of immigrants, primarily from Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe. Their strong work ethic and positive attitudes created the community of Cuyuna Range communities that underpins the Medical Campus in Crosby today.

Iron ore wasn't the only natural resource. The areas lakes, woods, wildlife, and natural beauty quickly began to attract tourists. The industry continues to thrive today.

Two world wars and America's booming industrial power drew heavily on Cuyuna Range iron ore resources, and by the 1950s mining was playing out. Underground water filled the huge old mine pits. The woods began to reclaim the massive pit-side slag heaps.

The economic ramifications were dire, but the region-wide sense of community - what local folks still call, "That old 'Can-do' Ranger spirit," remained strong. People rolled up their sleevesand built a new economy based on light industry, agriculture, tourism and, yes, health care. It is no coincidence that the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center opened it's doors in 1957.

Today, the region boasts spectacular natural beauty. The old mines pits and surrounding area have become a new resource, a recreation area that attracts not just traditional hunters, fishers, snowmobilers and ATV'ers, but hikers, campers and nature lovers of all types.

Located just two hours north of the Twin Cities, the region offers all of the attractions and activities (shopping, museums, concerts, dining, etc.) and all the benefits of small town Minnesota life.

And booming technology has secured the Crosby medical community a place within the virtual medical community.

Blue lakes. Tall trees. Great doctors. Quality of practice meets quality of life on the Medical Campus in Crosby.

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Rewarding practices. Rewarding lives.

For Family Practice physician Monica Goodwin, Crosby's Medical Campus, Medical Community, and small town quality of life have proven to be richly rewarding.

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