The motorists in Hankinson enjoy the availability of SR 11 and CR 15, both of which meet CR1 in the Eastern extremities of the town.

Although many settled in the area around Hankinson before the formation of the town, not until the bankrupt Northern Pacific railroad started selling the benefits of land ownership in the 1870's did the town take hold. An investor purchased land on the shores of Lake Elsie where he built his mansion and planned for a town. The town did have a general store, a blacksmith shop, a post office and a school. The railroad had other ideas and ran their rails to the North of this location and started a town. The town has a new Community center and Hankinson park which occupies eight full city blocks and Lake Elsie park. Besides all the facilities in the larger park for outdoor activities the park is home to the “Caboose” museum which is in a Soo Line Caboose, built around 1906, housing historical information and additional locomotive equipment.