Minnesota State Highway 361 is a highway

Highway

A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

 in east-central Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

, which runs from its interchange

Interchange (road)

In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...

 with Interstate 35

Interstate 35 in Minnesota

In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 35 is a highway in southeast, east-central, and northeast Minnesota. The route runs north–south from the Iowa state line through the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; where it splits into Interstates 35E and 35W; and ends in the city of...

 in Rush City

Rush City, Minnesota

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,079 people, 844 households, and 524 families residing in the city. The population density was 990.3 people per square mile . There were 908 housing units at an average density of 292.9 per square mile...

, and continues briefly east and then north to its northern terminus at its intersection

Intersection (road)

An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...

 with State Highway 70

Minnesota State Highway 70

Minnesota State Highway 70 is a highway in east-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 65 in Brunswick and continues east to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where it becomes Wisconsin Highway 70 upon crossing the St...

 in Rock Creek

Rock Creek, Minnesota

Rock Creek is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,628 at the 2010 census. Portions of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is located within Rock Creek....

. The roadway is part of the former alignment of U.S. Highway 61

U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota

U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....

. Highway 361 is 7 miles in length.

Route description

Highway 361 serves as a north–south route in east-central Minnesota between Rush City and Rock Creek. The route runs through Chisago and Pine

Pine County, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,530 people, 9,939 households, and 6,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 15,353 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...

 counties. The roadway is also known as 4th Street on its east–west section in Rush City and as Forest Boulevard for the remainder of its length to Rock Creek. Highway 361 parallels Interstate 35

Interstate 35 in Minnesota

In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 35 is a highway in southeast, east-central, and northeast Minnesota. The route runs north–south from the Iowa state line through the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; where it splits into Interstates 35E and 35W; and ends in the city of...

.

History

Highway 361 was established in 1969 to maintain unmarked Minnesota Constitutional Route 1 through the cities of Rush City, Rock Creek, and Pine City

Pine City, Minnesota

Pine City is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census. Pine City is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Pine County...

 after U.S. Highway 61

U.S. Route 61 in Minnesota

U.S. Highway 61 is a highway in southeast and east-central Minnesota, which runs from the River Bridge over the Mississippi River at La Crescent and continues north to its northern terminus at its junction with Interstate 35 at the city of Wyoming....

 was moved to Interstate 35. The section of Highway 361 between Rock Creek and Pine City was turned back to Pine County maintenance in 2003, and was renumbered Pine County Highway 61. Its previous northern terminus from 1967 to 2003 was at its intersection with old State Highway 324

Minnesota State Highway 324

Minnesota State Highway 324 was a highway in east-central Minnesota. It was a short spur route from Interstate 35 to Pine City. The route was turned back in 2003 and is now known as Pine County Road 7, which was already in existence west of Interstate 35 but was extended over the old route of...

 in Pine City, now marked as Pine County Highway 7.

Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Roads intersected
Chisago	Rush City Rush City, Minnesota As of the census of 2010, there were 3,079 people, 844 households, and 524 families residing in the city. The population density was 990.3 people per square mile . There were 908 housing units at an average density of 292.9 per square mile...	0.074	, CR 1 (Rush Lake Road) west
		0.488	CR 39 north, CR 54 south (Fairfield Avenue)
		1.415	south, CR 55 (Rushseba Trail) east
	Rushseba Township	3.187	CR 40 east
		3.690	CR 3 (530th Street)
Chisago / Pine County Line		4.581	Chisago CR 52 west, Pine CR 105 east (540th Street)
Pine Pine County, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 26,530 people, 9,939 households, and 6,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 15,353 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...	Rock Creek Rock Creek, Minnesota Rock Creek is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,628 at the 2010 census. Portions of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is located within Rock Creek....	5.649	CR 104 east
		6.650	CR 109 west, CR 2 east
		7.281	east-west, (Forest Avenue) north