The towns of the Red Lake district originated with the sole purpose of supporting mineral extraction. The discovery of gold in 1925, and the subsequent Goldrush of 1926 thrust the Red Lake area to international prominence. Towns sprang up alongside mines as new deposits were discovered and development began. This ultimately led to a district of communities which comprises six towns: Red Lake, Madsen, Starrat Olsen, Cochenour, McKenzie Island, Balmertown. There are presently two operating mines in the area: Placer Dome Campbell Mine and Goldcorp (formerly Dickenson Mine). Visitors to the community will often hear the names of some of former mines... Madsen Mine... Howey Mine... Hasaga Mine... Starrat Olsen Mine... Cochenour Willan Gold Mine... Gold Eagle Mine... McKenzie Red Lake Mine...
Early woodland operations developed to supply fuel and timber for the local mines. They expanded to supply lumber for both the mines and the towns that grew around them. Today, the industry is nationally integrated with most lumber supplied from elsewhere and much local harvesting dedicated to pulpwood - but local operations continue to provide timber for area mines.
The Municipality of Red Lake is situated in some of Canada’s most scenic boreal forest. Artficacts suggest that humans have been travelling to and through the Red Lake area for more than 2,000 years. More recently (much more recently), the construction of Highway 105 enabled easy access to the district. About twenty years after the Gold Rush of 1926 brought prospectors from all over the world, the Highway probably allowed the start of a second ”Rush” - of tourists. Thousands of tourists come each year to the area to fish, hunt, or simply to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Whatever your outdoor pleasure - fishing (and ice fishing), hunting, camping, boating, snowmobiling, swimming, sailing, golfing, tennis, photography - you are sure to find Red Lake to be the perfect tourist destination.