North Branch, MN

North Branch is a Chisago County city at the junction of Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highway 95. Its name comes from the north branch of the Sunrise River, and it became a township in 1861 before incorporating in 1881. That mix of river name, highway access, and old township roots still fits the place. North Branch feels like a growing north-metro edge city, with schools, retail, commuters, and rural land all meeting between the Twin Cities and east-central Minnesota lake country.