August 16, 1914

Grant and Stevens Counties are devastated after 1.5 mile wide tornado passes through.

Thanks to Duluth Public Schools for the research on September’s Day in History.

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

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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County of the Week – Freeborn

Freeborn County, Minnesota

Founded: Freeborn County was established on the 20^th of February, 1855.

History:

• The county seat is located in Albert Lea.
• Freeborn County is often referred to as the “Southern Gateway of Minnesota.”
• Agriculture is the main staple in the counties economy and is considered to be a highly productive center for trade.
• Named after William Freeborn a territorial settler.

Places to be:

• Every summer the Freeborn County Fair hosts “The Best Six Days of Summer.”
• Helmer Myre State Park offers many outdoor recreational activities, such as, hiking, biking, camping, wildlife watching, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and canoeing.
• When the snow falls one can cruise the 250 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the county.
• Spend a summer day in any of Freeborn County’s 38 city parks.
• If your looking for a enjoyable day out on the water, you wont be disappointed with Geneva Lake, Albert Lea Lake, Fountain Lake, Freeborn Lake, Bear Lake or Twin Lakes.

Sites to see:

• Take in part in a public tour of 20 historical buildings at Pioneer Village.
• Gain knowledge of the county by visiting the Freeborn County Museum.
• Albert Lea offers many sites to see for all ages, including the Aquatic Center, Audubon Science Center, Greibrok’s Toy Tractor Farm, and the Storylady Doll and Toy Museum.

Population: Beautiful lakes and rich soil are just a couple of reasons why 33,000 people call Freeborn County their home.

Cites:

• Albert Lea*
• Alden
• Clarks Grove
• Conger
• Emmons
• Freeborn
• Geneva
• Glenville
• Hartland
• Hayward
• Hollandale
• Manchester
• Myrtle
• Twin Lakes

* largest city

Area: 720 square miles

County of the Week – Fillmore

Fillmore County, Minnesota

Founded: Fillmore County was established March 5^th, 1853.

History:

Fillmore County was named after President Millard Fillmore who served his presidency from 1850 to 1853.

The county seat is located in Preston, the shire town of Fillmore County.

The city of Chatfield is split between Fillmore and Olmsted County.

This part of the state lies in the driftless area, for it was ice free during the last ice age.

Many farms call Fillmore County home including Good Earth Village and Dream Acres.

At the time of statehood, Fillmore County had the highest population.

Laura and Almanzo Ingalls Wilder attended the Methodist Church in Spring Valley in 1890 and 1891.

Harmony is home to the largest Amish community in Minnesota.

Places to be:

· Each August Dream Acres holds a summer camp for kids.

· Self-guided tours around historic downtown areas.

· The city of Preston hosts the Fillmore County Fair every July.

· Rushford Days in the city of Rushford, July 16^th – 22^nd.

· Stop in Harmony and discover the Niagara Cave, for it was voted one of the top ten caves in the country.

Sites to see:

· Deer Creek Speedway

· Forestville State Park

· Good Earth Village

· Historic Bluff Country

· Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

· Mystery Cave State Park

· Washburn-Zittleman House Museum

· Root River State Trail

· Niagara Cave

Population: As of the 2000 census, there were 21,122 people calling Fillmore County home.

Cites:

· Canton

· Chatfield

· Fountain

· Harmony

· Lanesboro

· Mabel

· Ostrander

· Peterson

· Preston

· Rushford Village

· Rushford

· Spring Valley*

· Whalan

· Wykoff

* largest city

Area: 865 sq. miles (553,082 acres)

 

Information gathered by Andrew Ferguson

County of the week-Douglas County

Douglas County, Minnesota: 

Founded: It was founded it the year 1858-The first year Minnesota became a state
History:
• Named for Senator Stephen A. Douglas, who aided in the county’s establishment
• Alexandria and Osakis Township were established at the very first meeting
• All the county’s land was claimed by 1869, mainly by European immigrants
• The County is well known for the Kensington Runestone, man believe that it’s a record of Viking explorer visits in the 14th century
• The Runestone if on display at the Runestone museum in Alexandria

Population: There are about 35,500 people who call Douglas County their home

Cities:
• Alexandria
• Brandon
• Carlos
• Evansville
• Forada
• Garfield
• Kensington
• Millerville
• Milton
• Nelson
• Osakis

Area: 720 sq. miles

Thank to http://www.co.douglas.mn.us/updated_pages.htm for providing the information

Information gathered by Laura Baratto, Sesquicentennial Fellow

County of the Week – Dakota

Dakota County
http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/About/Overview/default.htm

Founded: It was founded it the year 1849
History:
• Prior to the European settlement, Dakota county was a part of an expansive territory of the Dakota tribe
• Lands west of the Mississippi river became annexed from France to the Unite States in 1805 because of the Louisiana Purchase
• Dakota county became one of the nine original counties created by the Minnesota territory legislature in 1849
• Dakota county holds3 of the 4 major rivers draining from the State of Minnesota
• The development of the county has had tremendous influence from the proximity to the rivers

Population: There are approximately 400,000 people residing in Dakota county. It grew by about 30% between the year 1990 and 2000

Cities:
Apple Valley
Burnsville
Eagan
Farmington
Hastings
Inver Grove Heights
Lakeville
Lilydale
Mendota
Mendota Heights
Northfield
Rosemount
South St. Paul
Sunfish Lake
West St. Paul

Area: 593 sq. miles

Recreational opportunities:

County Fair
 Lebanon Hills regional park
 Spring Lake Park
 Big Rivers Regional Trail
Dakota woods dog park
 Parks
 Crystal Lake beach

Thank to http://www.co.dakota.mn.us for providing the information

Information gathered by Laura Baratto, Sesquicentennial Fellow

County of the week

 

History:
• It became the 83rd county in Minnesota on December 20, 1902
• The name “Clearwater” comes from the Ojibwe word “gawakomitgweia”
• The county is the home to the Mississippi river, which lies inside of Itasca state park

Population:
• about 8,500 people reside in Clearwater county

Cities:
• Bagley
• Clearbrook
• Clearwater
• Elbow Lake
• Gonvick
• Leonard
• Shevlin
• Portions of the Red Lake and White Earth Indian reservations

Events and things to do:
• Clearwater Historical society October 3, 2007
• Key Ingredients: America by food in Shevlin MN
• Visit the Clearwater RV park

Information gathered by: Laura Baratto

Thanks to http://www.co.clearwater.mn.us for providing the information

Chisago County

Chisago County is another beautiful place in Minnesota to visit!

History:
• First organized on September 1, 1851
• The name comes from the Chippewa Indian word “Ki-Chi-Saga”, which means “Fair and Lovely Lakes”
• First county election was October 14, 1851
• Taylors Falls was chosen as the county seat

Population:
• About 49,000 people

Cities:
• Center City
• Chisago City
• Harris
• Lindstrom
• North Branch
• Rush City
• Shafer
• Stacy
• Taylors Falls
• Wyoming

Events:
• Karl Oskar Days is held there every year in Lindstrom
• Rush City Music Festival August 18-19
• Ki Chi Saga Days August 24-26
• Classic Car show September 22
• Fall Harvest Festival Art Craft Fair September 22-23

Information gathered by: Laura Baratto

Thanks to http://www.co.chisago.mn.us/content.aspx?Id=E1141189-FACA-44FE-A94C-DA5A6C4B8148 for providing the information!

Cass County

History:

• First created in 1851
• Named after Lewis Cass of Michigan he was the territorial governor, a U.S. Senator, Secretary of war as well as Secretary of state
Cities:
• Backus
• Boy River
• Cass Lake
• Cyphers
• Hackensack
• Longville
• Pillager
• Pine River
• Pontoria
• Remer
• Wabedo
• Walker

Population:
• Around 29,000 people

Upcoming Events:
• Lakes Bluegrass festival August 23-26
• Moondance Jam July 9-12 2008 (tickets on sale in August)

Recreation Sites:
• Cass Lake
• Leech Lake
• Hackensack
• Cass county museum

Carlton County

Another fun county worth visiting is Carlton county!

History:

• Carlton County was established in 1857
• The county was named after Rueben B. Carlton, one of the earliest settlers in the are
• Well known for the tragic fire of 1918

Population:
• Over 30,00 residents, including over 3,200 people of the Fond du Lac Reservation
•
Major Towns:
• Largest is Cloquet
• Moose Lake
• Barnum
• Cromwell
• Kettle River
• Scanlon
• Thomson
• Wrenshall
• Wright

Upcoming Events:
• Labor day Celebration & Parade in Cloquet, Sept. 3, 2007
• Relay for life in Moose Lake, Sept. 7-8, 2007

Attractions:
• Black Bear Casino
• Southgate Bowl
• Premiere theatres
• Black Bear gold course
• Pine Hill golf course
• Pine Valley Snow tubing hill
• Sandstone Area Country Club
• Superior Whitewater rafting

Information gathered by: Laura Baratto

Thanks to http://www.co.carlton.mn.us/ for providing the information