Lake Crystal is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States, established in 1869.

In 1853, two families from small towns near Ithaca, New York, left their homes and traveled west.

Robinson and Hunt arrived and came upon the three nearby lakes, Loon, Crystal, and Lily, and marveled at their beauty.

They returned for their families and headed back to settle in the Lake Crystal area.

Webb settled in the Judson Township, while Thorne took a claim on Crystal Lake.

Hunt built a brick house in 1869 that was torn down in the mid-1900s, where Holy Family Catholic Church is today.

[6] The railroads' engineer, General Judson W. Bishop of Saint Paul, named the town after nearby Crystal Lake.

It took years to recover; only in 1882 were good quantities of wheat again marketed at the local grain elevator.

This rail line connected Lake Crystal to Garden City, Vernon Center, Amboy, Winnebago, Blue Earth, and Elmore.

[11] Also in 1887, All Angels Episcopal Church was built on the corner of Main and Howard Streets; it was torn down in 1964.

In 1890 the United Methodist Church was built on the corner of Humphrey and Crystal Streets.

The Boat Club also launched a steamship, the New Era, which is believed to have sunk near the lake's south shore.

[14] In 1898, space was made for a new electric light plant between the Graif Flour Mill main building and engine room.

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church was constructed in 1899 on the corner of Prince and Crystal Streets.

The present-day First Presbyterian Church was built in 1937 on the corner of Prince and Crystal Streets.

Zion Lutheran Church moved to its present site on the corner of Robinson and Crystal Street in 1957.

In 1995 a new water tower was built between Hunt and Lincoln Streets which was painted tan, and is still in use today.

A public recreation center was built on the corner of south Main Street and 510th Avenue in 2000.

In the early 2000s the Lily Lake Estates, Crystal Creek, and Nathan Street housing developments began, or were under construction.

POET Biorefining built a new ethanol plant about two miles west of town along Highway 60 in 2004.

In 2005, multiple houses were demolished near the intersection of Main Street and Highway 60 and replaced by Kevin's Market Grocery Store.

United Methodist Church sold its building, and built a new one on the corner of Main Street and 510th Avenue, renaming it Cornerstone UMC in 2015.

[24] On August 8, 2016, a storm severely damaged the 57-year-old Crystal CO OP Elevator, which was demolished within the following months.

The watertower was repainted light blue in 2018.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has an area of 1.72 square miles (4.45 km2), all land.

Crystal Lake is the largest and sits in the center of town, providing access to a fishing pier, public landings, and warm and cold water sports.

Loon Lake has public and private landings and access to cold and warm water fishing.