Rice County, Minnesota History

Contributed by Jo Ann Scott

Faribault is a city in Rice County Rice County, Minnesota in Shieldsville Township ... The population was 20,818 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rice County. History : Faribault is regarded as one of the most historic communities in Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota Territory was an organized territory [i] of the United States [i] from March 3 [i], 1849 Prior to 1745, the area was primarily occupied by the Wahpekute band of Dakotah. Shortly thereafter, the tribe was driven south after several clashes with Ojibwa The Ojibwa, Aanishanabe or Chippewa are the largest group of Native Americans over territory. The city’s namesake, Alexander Faribault, was the son of a French-Canadian fur trader and a woman of the Dakotah tribe. He is credited with fueling most of the early settlement activity in the area beginning in 1826, when he established a fur trading post on the banks of the Cannon River The Cannon River flows from Tetonka Lake near Waterville to Red Wing . By 1834, the trading post had grown in popularity and been relocated to the junction of the Straight River and Cannon River, the site of modern-day Faribault. The young Alexander Faribault used his knowledge of Dakotah language and culture to improve relations with the displaced Wahpekute and even helped the tribe to resettle in the area. This relationship was instrumental in ensuring the success of the trading post and allowing safe travel to the area for settlers. The aptly-named Alexander Faribault House was built in 1853 by Alexander Faribault at a cost of $4,000. The house is considered the oldest framed structure in the area, and still stands in its original location near the southeastern edge of Faribault’s historic downtown district. The years that followed the construction of this first building brought unprecedented growth, development, and economic prosperity for the young settlement. Spurred by the completion of the area’s first steam-powered sawmill in early 1854, the year that followed would bring Faribault from a sleepy settlement of 20 buildings to a bustling town with more than 250 buildings. Historians attribute Faribault’s impressive growth during this period to a number of important milestones which arrived between 1855 and 1856, including the creation of new roads connecting to other settlements and trading posts in Iowa The City of Faribault was platted in 1855 and granted a home-rule charter in 1872. Additional Historical Resources • Faribault Heritage Preservation Commission • Preserving Faribault’s Past • Faribault Lives and Times • Faribault, Our Community Notable Institutions Several state-run institutions are located in Faribault, including a prison , and the Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and for the Blind, including the State Library for the Blind. On the bluffs overlooking the Straight River and the town of Faribault, Shattuck-Saint Mary's Shattuck-Saint Mary's Shattuck-St Mary's School is in an Episcopal Church. (source: wikipedia)

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