Sterling Forest
In 1937 the Town of Sterling started what became a 4000 acre Town Forest with the purchase of tax forfeited land in the Sterling Barrens. We provide some of the documents associated with the Town Forest and some of the history. Essentially it was a revolt by the Town residents against Polk County taking over most of the west sand barrens and zoning people living there out. After a failed vote in 1936 for Sterling Town to buy land, it passed in 1937 and the forest had its start. At the time, the land was selling for about $1/acre.
In 1986, the Town Board thought that selling some of the land to pay for road equipment was a good idea. There was resistance to that and a referendum held that held 88-54 that no land should be sold.
A monument was placed at the corner of River Road and Evergreen Av commerorating the 1937 beginning of the Sterling Town Forest.