Artifacts suggest that humans have inhabited the Red Lake area for at least
2,000 years. Approximately 200-300 years ago the Cree and Sioux Nations were
supplanted by the Ojibwa as the predominant people in the area.
The first non-native people to live in the Red Lake District were fur
traders in the employ of the Northwest Company and the Hudson's Bay Company
as early as 1786.
The district reached international prominence when gold was discovered in
1925 and the Rush of '26 was on. The town of Red Lake itself is situated on
Howey Bay, named after Lorne Howey, one of the original prospectors to find
gold. It grew to service the Howey Mine, the Hasaga Mine and others.
In 1998, the six small communities of the Red lake District formally
amalgamated into the Municipality of Red Lake. The 5 additional communities
sprang up adjacent to the different gold mines in the area.
Madsen, a community seven miles southwest of Red Lake, is the site of Madsen
Goldcorp Mine. Starrat Olsen, two miles beyond Madsen, grew around the mine
of the same name. Cochenour, 4 miles northeast of Red Lake, was the site of
the Cochenour Willan gold mine.
McKenzie Island, a short boat ride from Cochenour, was home to the Gold
Eagle Mine and the McKenzie Red Lake Mine. Balmertown, two miles east of Red
Lake, has two producing gold mines. Placer Dome North America Campbell Mine
and Goldcorp Mine (formally Dickenson) are the major employers in the area.
The area has gained a reputation for stability with new mines replacing old,
the increase in the forest industry and the development of a growing tourist
industry.
The various communities have all the necessary facilities to provide a safe
and enjoyable vacation. Services include hospital and medical facilities,
dentists, pharmacy, restaurant, grocery stores, hotels, liquor and beer
outlets, service stations and major automobile dealerships, department
stores, banks, marine dealers, building supply centers and numerous small
businesses to cater to your every need.