Forest Lake is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States, located 27 miles northeast of Saint Paul.

[5] Forest Lake began as a stop on the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad.

The first one-room school was built that year at the former location of city hall (220 N. Lake Street).

The city of Forest Lake was incorporated on July 11, 1893 with 175 residents.

In 2001, the city annexed the surrounding former Forest Lake Township.

21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.