These pioneers set out to set up new communities in the virtual frontier. Now, more than 50 libraries serve as Web hubs for their local settlements. The communities we live in have changed over time. But no matter the size of the tallest building, no matter how advanced the infrastructure, they grew to that size from humble beginnings: a fur-trading post, a tribal settlement, or an explorer's encampment. If this is true of our physical communities, it's just as true of our virtual ones. Rarely does an online network spring into being overnight; it takes time, work, and effort from all the people invested in its success. NorthStarNet is no exception. This article covers the following topics: (1) The Beginning: 1995-2001; (2) Making Progress: 2001-2003; (3) Our Status Now: 2003-2005; (4) The Future: 2005-?; and (5) The Benefits of Belonging to NorthStarNet.