The route runs across Minnesota from west-central to northeast; connecting Fergus Falls, Brainerd, and Duluth. At the western terminus of MN 210, upon crossing the Red River, the roadway becomes ND 210 and feeds into ND 13. MN 210 is 228 miles (367 km) in length.
The portion of MN 210 in Aitkin County is officially designated the "Dale Wayrynen Memorial Highway".[3] This same designation is also signed on MN 210 in Carlton County from Cromwell westbound to the county line with Aitkin County.
MN 210 was authorized on July 1, 1949 between then-US 61 (now MN 45) in Carlton and MN 23 in Duluth,[1] acting as an eastern extension of US 210. Circa 1955, the highway was expanded on the west end of US 210, replacing former MN 3 from Staples to the North Dakota state line at Breckenridge.[6][7] The original eastern segment was subsequently renumbered as part of MN 39 in 1956.[7][8]
When US 210 was removed in 1970, the highway was redesignated MN 210. The historic original route of MN 210 between Carlton and Duluth was changed back at this time as well.[9][10]
MN 210 runs along the original mainline of the Northern Pacific Railway as built westward from Carlton to Staples. Between Henning and Breckenridge, the highway runs along a former branch line of the Northern Pacific Railway. Most of the branch line has since been abandoned.
The western section of the highway, between Breckenridge and Fergus Falls, was originally part of Minnesota Constitutional Route 3. Between Fergus Falls and Henning, the highway was part of Constitutional Route 36. The section between Carlton and Motley was part of Constitutional Route 2.[11]
MN 210 from Carlton to Motley, the eastern portion of the present day highway, was originally part of U.S. Route 210 from 1926 to 1970. During 1970, US 210 was decommissioned from Carlton to Motley and re-designated MN 210 that same year.[9][10]
In the 1934 numbering plan, US 210 from Carlton to Motley was slated to be re-designated as U.S. Route 208. The road was almost re-numbered because of a routing change in its parent road (US 10). Ultimately, US 10 was routed along former US 10N. US 208 was shown on some maps in the mid-1930s running from Carlton to Motley, but the number was not officially commissioned or signed, and US 210 kept its number.
^ abMinnesota Legislature. "Chapter 663-H.F. No. 1792". Session Laws of Minnesota for 1949. Earl L. Berg, Commissioner of Administration. pp. 1177–85. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
^ abMinnesota Department of Transportation (September 6, 2011). Statewide Trunk Logpoint Listing(PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation.
^Rand McNally and Company; Minnesota Office of Railroad Commissioners (1886). Official Railroad Map of Minnesota (Map). [1:760,320]. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company. OCLC37047373. Retrieved August 30, 2020 – via Minnesota Historical Society.
^ abcMinnesota Department of Highways (1970). Official Road Map (Map). 1:1,137,760. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Highways. §§ B12-M11. OCLC5673160, 80405240, 70295993. Retrieved December 1, 2010 – via Minnesota Digital Library.
^ abcMinnesota Department of Highways (1971). Official Road Map (Map). 1:1,137,760. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Highways. §§ B12-M11. OCLC5673160, 80405240, 45785565. Retrieved December 1, 2010 – via Minnesota Digital Library.
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