County of the Week – Goodhue

Goodhue County, Minnesota

Founded: Goodhue County was established on the 5^th of March 1853.

History:

• Goodhue County was named after James Madison Goodhue who was the first newspaper editor(Minnesota Pioneer) in Minnesota.
• The Goodhue County seat is Red Wing.
• Lake City is the “Birthplace of Water Skiing”, for it is here Ralph Samuelson invented the sport.
• Lac de Pleurs (Lake of Tears) was the name Father Louis Hennepin gave Lake Pepin after witnessing his Sioux captors mourning near the lake over the death of the chief’s son.
• In 1864 State Legislature allowed Lake City to create a port market for grain, thus allowing the city’s economy to improve greatly bringing in a little over 1.5 million dollars in 1866.    

Places to be:

• Water Ski Days in Lake City is held on June 22^nd to 24^th of every year and offers a wide variety of activities.
• Celebrate Lake City’s local apple economy during Jonny Appleseed days held October 6^th the 7^th.
• Spend a summer day on Lake Pepin, for it’s often referred to as one of the best sailing lakes in the nation. 
• Enjoy taking part in a wide variety of activities on July 1^st when Red Wing celebrates the Sesquicentennial.
• Red Wing Hosts River City Days at Bay Point Park and Levee Park on August 2^nd to the 5^th offers everything from Sylvander’s Tennis Tourney to free live music.

Sites to see:

• Located in the county, Lake Pepin is 21-miles long and is the widest spot on the Mississippi River.
• Near the Mississippi River at Red Wing stands Barn Bluff a lone, high, and level-crested bluff that can be seen for miles up and down the river.
• Walk through the largest small-craft municipal harbor on the Mississippi in Lake City. 
• Explore the 13 mile long Douglas Trail, for it offers outstanding rural scenery.
• Stop in Zumbrota to see Minnesota’s only remaining original covered bridge.
• Red Wing’s historic train depot in Levee Park is a very attractive site which doubles as the cities visitor center.  

Population: As of the 2000 censes, the population of Goodhue County is 44,127.  

Cites:

• Bellechester
• Cannon Falls
• Dennison
• Goodhue
• Kenyon
• Lake City 
• Pine Island 
• Red Wing*
• Wanamingo
• Zumbrota

* largest city

Area: 764 square miles

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January 4, 1970

January 4, 1970

William E. Colby was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served as the director of the C.I.A. for 3 years under presidents Nixon and Ford.

Thanks to Miss Gesme’s class at Cornelia Elementary in Edina for the research on January’s Day in History.

Thanks also to Minnesota’s Learn and Serve America Service Learning Program for their help.