The conference derives its name from 6 of the original 8 member schools being located within 10 miles from the Mississippi River.

The M8 was formed in 2004 with eight charter members: Becker, Big Lake, Buffalo, Cambridge-Isanti, Monticello, Princeton, Rogers and St. Michael-Albertville (STMA), and began play in the 2005-2006 school year.

Elk River High School entered the M8 as a competitor in the sport of football in 2010 and Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld High Schools joined the conference for football in the fall of 2012.

The inaugural Cross Country Championship meet was held at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker.

The 2009 and 2017 meets were hosted my Monticello at Vintage Golf Course and Lake Bertram Regional Park, respectively.

The North Wright County co-op that includes Monticello has reached the girls state tournament twice in 2011 and 2013.

Chisago Lakes has also made the girls state tournament three times, once in 2004 as part of a co-op with Pine City and in 2010 and 2012.