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Route History for US 2 in Minnesota

• In 1926, the route US 2 now generally follows was numbered as MN 8. At this time, MN 8 followed the path of what is now US 53 through Duluth, then what is now County Route 8 to Floodwood. Near Cass Lake, MN 8 followed what is now County Route 151. Through Bemidji, MN 8 followed what is now Paul Bunyan Drive SE and MN 197. Between Bagley and Marcoux, MN 8 followed what is now County Route 4, County Route 201, and County Route 6 to Fosston, then County Route 1, County Route 31, and County Route 8 to McIntosh. Between Mentor and Marcoux, MN 8 followed what is now County Route 45 and MN 32. In East Grand Forks, MN 8 followed what is now Business US 2. Most of MN 8 was improved (not paved) in 1926, except between Duluth and Martins, which was paved, between Deer River and Bena, which was dirt, and between Lengby and Erskine, which was dirt.
• By 1935, the entire route was paved and had been renumbered US 2. The route entered Duluth via the Arrowhead Toll Bridge, then followed Lesure Street, Central Avenue, Cody Street, Worden Street, West Gate Boulevard, Gulbranson Road, and Boundary Avenue to Proctor. From Proctor, US 2 followed what is now County Route 13 and MN 194. Between Cass Lake and Bemidji, US 2 followed what is now County Route 150 and County Route 8 to Bemidji, then MN 197 through Bemidji. The rest of US 2 in Minnesota followed the same path it does today, except in East Grand Forks, where it followed what is now Business US 2.
• By 1968, US 2 was rerouted to its current path between Cass Lake and Bemidji, then followed what is now Paul Bunyan Drive SE and MN 197 through Bemidji.
• Between 1975 and 1978, US 2 was rerouted to its current path through Duluth, and its current path around East Grand Forks.
• By 1980, US 2 was rerouted to its current path around Bemidji.

Key to Abbreviations for Route Numbers:

• US - US Highway
• MN - Minnesota State Highway

External websites of interest:

• Additional historical information about US 2 in Minnesota can be found on the Minnesota Highways website.

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