Mallard, Minnesota facts for kids

View of Main Street around 1909

Mallard is a place in Clearwater County, Minnesota, United States, that used to be a town but is now abandoned. It is located in Itasca Township. The closest town to Mallard is Alida, Minnesota, which is to the north.

History of Mallard

The village of Mallard got its name from a nearby body of water called Mallard Lake. It officially became a town on December 30, 1902. Mallard even had its own post office, which operated from 1902 until 1924.

Mallard grew mostly because of the lumber industry. This means people cut down trees to make wood products. The town helped support many lumber camps in the area. In 1901, a company called the Red River Logging Company built a special train track, called a rail spur, that went through Mallard.

At its busiest, Mallard had many different businesses. There was a bank, a drug store, a dentist, a butcher shop, and general stores where people could buy things. It also had a restaurant, a barber shop, two hotels, and places to keep horses (livery stables). In 1907, the town even had its own newspaper called "Mallard Call."

However, after the logging industry slowed down around 1911, the train tracks were removed. This caused Mallard to start shrinking, and eventually, it became an abandoned town.