About Us

The City of Backus is located in the heart of Central Minnesota lake country on the shores of Pine Mountain Lake.  Backus was a thriving hub of logging operations on  the railroad when it was founded in approximately 1870, named after E.W. Backus of the Backus and Brooks Lumber Company. 

Today, Backus is a small community with a population of around 250.  The railroad has been converted into the Paul Bunyan State Recreational Trail which connects the cities of Brainerd to the south and Bemidji to the north.  Backus area residents enjoy celebrating during "Cornfest" on the second Saturday of  August.  "Oldtimer's" weekend used to be celebrated each Memorial Day weekend for several decades but is now held in conjunction with Cornfest.