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            Lake Elmo started with a single farm in 1852. In its early days, the city’s commercial center, which grew up around the railroad station, boasted a store, saloon, a grain house, a blacksmith, and a wagon repair shop. Lake Elmo gradually lost its importance as an agricultural center, but began to see residential growth. Today, much of the area is still farmland, giving it a very rural feel. The city has limited the suburban development overtaking much of Washington County. However, Lake Elmo is planning for strong growth over the next 20 years.