what was the first settlement in minnesota

Who was the first person to settle in Minneapolis?

Early Settlers. Stevens arrived in the Minnesota Territory in 1849 and became the first authorized resident on the west bank of the Mississippi River, later to become Minneapolis. He was granted permission to occupy the site in exchange for providing ferry service to St. Anthony, across the river.

What is the history of Minnesota?

The parks of Minneapolis, under the direction of Theodore Wirth became famous, and the new Minnesota State Capitol building and the Cathedral of Saint Paul attracted attention to Saint Paul. [127] The role of government grew during the early 20th century.

What was the first permanent settlement in the United States?

The first permanent U.S. settlement was at Fort Snelling, a military outpost established in 1819 overlooking the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers; the site has been restored as a state park.

Why did settlers come to Minnesota after the Civil War?

After the Civil War, Minnesota attracted European immigration and farmland settlers. Minnesota's population in 1870 was 439,000; this number tripled during the two subsequent decades. [118] The Homestead Act in 1862 facilitated land claims by settlers, who regarded the land as being cheap and fertile.

When was Minnesota first settled?

The first permanent settlers in all of Minnesota were those in Hennepin County, organized in 1852 and named in honor of Father Hennepin, a Franciscan missionary born in 1640. He was with LaSalle on his expedition to the little known Great Lakes. They went on to the Mississippi River, following it up to the Falls of St.

What is the oldest settlement in Minnesota?

Baker's post may have been the only part of the settlement that survived after 1840, when the commandant of Fort Snelling forced the squatters off the Fort Snelling military reservation. Though short-lived, Camp Coldwater is considered Minnesota's first American settlement.

Who were the first people to settle in Minnesota?

The first inhabitants of Minnesota were Paleo-Indians as early back as 7,000 to 9,000 years ago. The Dakota (Sioux), and Ojibwe (Chippewa) Indians arrived later from the North and East.

Who first settled Minneapolis?

All that to say that from 1838 to 1872, Minneapolis was founded by two clever settlers named Franklin Steele and John Stevens. Both men used some interesting techniques to take advantage of 1800s property rights and claim first settlement on present-day Minneapolis.

Whats the oldest city in the US?

St. AugustineSt. Augustine, founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States – more commonly called the "Nation's Oldest City."

Where was the first land deal in Minnesota?

1805: In 1805 the Dakota ceded 100,000 acres of land at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. U.S. Army Lt. Zebulon Pike negotiated the agreement so the U.S. government could build a military fort there. Of the seven Indian leaders present at the negotiations, only two signed the treaty.

How many slaves did Minnesota have?

The Minnesota territory was home to about three dozen African-Americans in 1850. The Census that year recorded 39 of them among the 6,600 residents.

Which indigenous tribes first called Minnesota home?

The earliest identifiable tribe in Minnesota based on archaeological evidence is the Dakota, who began living here around the year 1000 AD. This was followed by the arrival of the Ojibwe in the mid-1700s.

Did the Vikings settle in Minnesota?

Although experts nearly universally declared that the runestone and subsequent discoveries of Viking swords and relics were hoaxes, the idea that Nordic explorers once visited Minnesota gained new life after archaeologists uncovered evidence in Newfoundland that Leif Erickson had indeed traveled to North America.

Who owned Minnesota?

However, the land was only in British hands for 20 years when it became a territory of the United States after the Revolutionary War. In 1803, the United States purchased the rest of Minnesota from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Who was in Minnesota before the Dakota?

By the 1600s there were two main groups of people living in present-day Minnesota, the Dakota and the Ojibwe.

When did Native Americans come to Minnesota?

between 9,000 - 12,000 years agoAccording to the Minnesota Historical Society, archaeologists believe the first humans entered what is now Minnesota between 9,000 - 12,000 years ago, likely following herds of game animals.

How long have humans been in Minnesota?

People have lived in Minnesota for over 12,000 years. Modern human populations developed in Africa about 200,000 years ago and began to move north and east out of Africa soon after.

Did Vikings settle in Minnesota?

Although experts nearly universally declared that the runestone and subsequent discoveries of Viking swords and relics were hoaxes, the idea that Nordic explorers once visited Minnesota gained new life after archaeologists uncovered evidence in Newfoundland that Leif Erickson had indeed traveled to North America.

Who was the first white man in Minnesota?

Among the first to do this was Claude Allouez, a missionary on Madeline Island. He made an early map of the area in 1671. Around this time, the Ojibwa Native Americans reached Minnesota as part of a westward migration. Having come from a region around Maine, they were experienced at dealing with European traders.

How old is the state of Minnesota?

Minnesota, constituent state of the United States of America. It became the 32nd state of the union on May 11, 1858.

What were the first settlers in Minnesota?

The earliest known settlers followed herds of large game to the region during the last glacial period. They preceded the Anishinaabe , the Dakota, and other Native American inhabitants. Fur traders from France arrived during the 17th century. Europeans moving west during the 19th century drove out most of the Native Americans. Fort Snelling, built to protect United States territorial interests, brought early settlers to the future state. They used Saint Anthony Falls to power sawmills in the area that became Minneapolis, while others settled downriver in the area that became Saint Paul .

Who was the first person to establish Minnesota Territory?

Stephen A. Douglas (D), the chair of the Senate Committee on Territories, drafted the bill authorizing Minnesota Territory. He had envisioned a future for the upper Mississippi valley, so he was motivated to keep the area from being carved up by neighboring territories. In 1846, he prevented Iowa from including Fort Snelling and Saint Anthony Falls within its northern border. In 1847, he kept the organizers of Wisconsin from including Saint Paul and Saint Anthony Falls. The Minnesota Territory was established from the lands remaining from Iowa Territory and Wisconsin Territory on March 3, 1849. The Minnesota Territory extended far into what is now North Dakota and South Dakota, to the Missouri River. There was a dispute over the shape of the state to be carved out of Minnesota Territory. An alternate proposal that was only narrowly defeated would have made the 46th parallel the state's northern border and the Missouri River its western border, thus giving up the whole northern half of the state in exchange for the eastern half of what later became South Dakota.

What Native Americans came to Minnesota?

Around this time, the Ojibwa Native Americans reached Minnesota as part of a westward migration. Having come from a region around Maine, they were experienced at dealing with European traders. They sold furs and purchased guns. Tensions rose between the Ojibwa and Dakota in the ensuing years.

How many lynchings have there been in Minnesota?

According to the Minnesota Historical Society there have been 20 lynchings in the State, three of which were African Americans. The balance have been Native Americans and whites. It is speculated that there have been other lynchings that did not come to the attention of authorities or the press.

How many people were killed in the Mankato massacre?

On December 26, 1862, 38 men were hanged by the 6th Minnesota Infantry at Mankato, the largest mass execution in U.S. history. The remaining Dakota woman, children and elderly as well as the non-combatant Winnebago, were forced to camp on Pike Island over the winter of 1862–1863.

How many Minnesotans served in the North?

Following through on its word, 22,000 Minnesotans served the north. The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry became part of state lore with its actions at the Battle of Gettysburg . Mass hanging in Mankato, Minnesota. The next year Minnesota faced its own crisis as the Dakota War of 1862 broke out.

What is Minnesota history?

For the quarterly journal of the same name, see Minnesota History (journal). The history of the U.S. state of Minnesota is shaped by its original Native American residents, European exploration and settlement, and the emergence of industries made possible by the state's natural resources. Minnesota achieved prominence through fur trading, logging, ...

Where was the first permanent settlement in Minnesota?

Great Hall, Grand Portage National Monument, northeastern Minnesota. The first permanent U.S. settlement was at Fort Snelling, a military outpost established in 1819 overlooking the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers; the site has been restored as a state park.

When did Minnesota become a state?

Minnesota became a U.S. territory in 1849 ; its boundaries at that time reached as far west as the upper Missouri River, but most of its 4,000 settlers were located in the Fort Snelling– St. Paul area, in the eastern part of the territory.

What was the first Northern state to send volunteers to serve in the American Civil War?

When Minnesota became a U.S. state in 1858, its boundaries were cut back from the Missouri River eastward to the Red River. In 1861 Minnesota was the first Northern state to send volunteers to serve in the American Civil War. Meanwhile, a Dakota revolt, which became known as the Sioux Uprising of 1862, one of the bloodiest Indian wars in the country’s history, was occurring in Minnesota . The Dakota, who had not been driven from the state during European settlement, were confined to small reservations. The federal government had forced the sale of some of these lands, reversing earlier treaty agreements. Driven to desperation by crop failures and starvation, the Sioux attacked isolated farmsteads. In only a few weeks, more than 500 civilians, soldiers, and Dakota were killed. Also in 1862 the state’s first railroad, connecting Minneapolis and St. Paul, was completed.

What two peoples occupied Minnesota?

Until the middle of the 19th century, two major peoples occupied what is now Minnesota: the Ojibwa (also called Chippewa or Anishinaabe) in the north and east and the Dakota ( Sioux) in the south and west.

What is the state of Minnesota?

The area of Minnesota northeast of the Mississippi River was part of the original Northwest Territory, which came under the jurisdiction of the Ordinance of 1787; the section of the state that lies southwest of the Mississippi was part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The northwestern portion of the present-day state was granted to the United States in 1818 as part of an Anglo-American convention that set the northern boundary of the U.S. territories at the 49th parallel, thus defining the U.S.-Canadian border. Minnesota became a U.S. territory in 1849; its boundaries at that time reached as far west as the upper Missouri River, but most of its 4,000 settlers were located in the Fort Snelling– St. Paul area, in the eastern part of the territory. The lumber industry developed rapidly, and major sawmills were soon built at Stillwater, on the St. Croix River, and at the Falls of St. Anthony, in the village of St. Anthony on the east side of the Mississippi River. In 1849 settlers had begun occupying land on the west side of the river; this area was incorporated as the village of Minneapolis in 1856. These two villages were merged in 1872, and St. Anthony was absorbed into the larger and more aggressive city of Minneapolis.

Where did Native Americans meet?

Native Americans from as far away as the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains met in a sacred place in southwestern Minnesota to quarry a hard red rock that was used for making peace pipes; today this area is preserved as the Pipestone National Monument. Quarries in Pipestone National Monument, southwestern Minnesota.

Who were the first Europeans to settle in Minnesota?

Medard Chouart des Groseilliers and Pierre Esprit Radisson (both born in France) Fur traders/Explorers; generally credited with being the first Europeans to set foot in the territory that would become Minnesota, along with his brother-in-law Pierre Esprit Radisson.

When did the first people come to Minnesota?

Early Explorers and Settlers. The first inhabitants of Minnesota were Paleo-Indians as early back as 7,000 to 9,000 years ago . The Dakota (Sioux), and Ojibwe (Chippewa) Indians arrived later from the North and East.

What is the oldest Catholic church in Minnesota?

St. Peter’s Church in Mendota, MN is the oldest Catholic church in Minnesota. Early Settlers. A listing of the early settlers who arrived before 1849, the year that Minnesota Territory became a part of the United States. Seth Eastman (Brunswick, Maine) Graduated from West Point in 1829.

When did the Native Americans get land in Minnesota?

In 1805, Zebulon Pike negotiated a deal with Native Americans for land at the intersection of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. Construction of Fort Snelling followed between 1819 and 1825. The land east of the Mississippi was ceded to the U.S. in 1837; settlers and immigrants from the East began arriving to stake their claims in this new territory.

Where did Louis Hennepin meet the Dakota Indians?

In 1679 he met with Dakota Indians near Mille Lacs. Father Louis Hennepin (born in the Netherlands) In 1679, Hennepin sailed with Robert de LaSalle from Canada through the Great Lakes aboard Le Griffon to explore the unknown West. In 1680 they reached the mouth of the Illinois River.

When did the first dam and lumber mill open in Minnesota?

A skilled millwright who (at the request of Franklin Steele) came to Minnesota in 1847 to supervise the building of the first commercial dam and lumber mill at the Falls of St. Anthony on the Mississippi River, which opened in 1848. In 1849, Godfrey constructed a home nearby for his family.

Who was the first Catholic priest to serve in Minnesota?

Croix River (between present day central Minnesota and Wisconsin) Lucien Galtier (born in France, arrived in Minnesota in 1840) Galtier was the first Roman Catholic priest to serve in Minnesota.

How did Minnesota get its name?

Indeed, Minnesota received its name from the Dakota (Sioux) word for the Mississippi’s major tributary in the state, the Minnesota River, which means “Sky-Tinted Water.”. Minnesota consists of extensive woodlands, fertile prairies, and innumerable lakes—the last the basis for one of the state’s nicknames, “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”.

Which part of Minnesota was the only state to escape glaciation during the last Ice Age?

Extreme southeastern Minnesota was the only part of the state to escape glaciation during the last ice age. There, streams cut their way through layers of limestone, leaving extensive caverns beneath the surface and steep, rocky bluffs rising high above the valleys.

What is Minnesota's landscape?

Prominent geomorphic reminders of this glacial activity are the rolling farmlands, thousands of lakes, steep hillsides, and flat glacial lake and outwash plains that make up Minnesota’s present-day landscape. The state’s rich prairie soils developed on the finely ground mineral materials left by the retreating glaciers. Minnesota’s elevations range from 602 feet (184 metres) above sea level at Lake Superior to 2,301 feet (701 metres) above sea level at Eagle Mountain, located about 12 miles (19 km) from the lake’s north shore.

Where are the lakes in Minnesota?

The majority of Minnesota’s lakes are located in the areas of glacial moraine, where glaciers deposited hills of sand and gravel. Lakes more than 100 square miles (260 square km) in area include Red Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Leech Lake, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake of the Woods, and Rainy Lake. The shoreline of Lake Superior, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, forms the state’s northeastern border for some 160 miles (260 km). In northeastern Minnesota there are stream valleys and deep, clear lakes that were scoured by glaciers from the granite bedrock.

What is the average temperature in Minnesota in July?

In the northern regions of the state, frost is possible in any month. Average daily maximum temperatures in July range from the mid-80s F (about 29 °C) in southern Minnesota to the low 70s F (about 21 °C) along the shore of Lake Superior.

How much snow does Minnesota get?

Average annual precipitation ranges from less than 20 inches (500 mm) in the northwest to more than 30 inches (750 mm) in the southeast. Average seasonal snowfall varies from less than 40 inches (1,000 mm) in the western part of the state to more than 70 inches (1,800 mm) in the northeastern tip. Many parts of Minnesota have continuous snow cover for at least 90 days, from about mid-December to mid-March.

What type of soil is found in Minnesota?

The most fertile soils in Minnesota formed beneath the original grasslands of the south and west and are rich in organic matter and soluble minerals. Soils that formed under the original coniferous forest in northeastern Minnesota are light-coloured, acidic, and low in organic matter.

Who was the first settlers in Minnesota?

One of the first settlers was Riley Bartholomew, a former General in the Ohio Militia who became a Richfield Justice of the Peace and a Minnesota State Senator. Bartholomew built a house on the east shore of Wood Lake in 1852, and the restored Riley Lucas Bartholomew House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

How We Determined When A City Was Founded In Minnesota… Or Is It Settled?

Put differently, there’s no official data set from the Census that contains when every place in America was founded.

What are the richest cities in Minnesota?

And for those wondering, here are the newest additions to Minnesota: Hermantown (Founded in 1975) East Bethel (Founded in 1975) Coon Rapids (Founded in 1975) These Are The 10 Richest Cities In Minnesota.

Where was Fort Snelling built?

Fort Snelling was built on the territory in 1819 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, which formed a natural barrier to both Native American nations. The 1837 Treaty with the Sioux ceded all local tribal land east of the Mississippi to the U.S. Government. Taoyateduta (Chief Little Crow V) moved his band at Kaposia across the river to the south. Fur traders, explorers, and missionaries came to the area for the fort’s protection. Many of the settlers were French-Canadians who lived nearby. However, as a whiskey trade flourished, military officers banned settlers from the fort-controlled lands. Pierre ‘Pig’s Eye’ Parrant, a retired fur trader-turned-bootlegger who particularly irritated officials, set up his tavern, the Pig’s Eye, near present-day Lambert’s Landing. By the early 1840s, the community had become important as a trading center and a destination for settlers heading west. Locals called the area Pig’s Eye (French: L’Œil du Cochon) or Pig’s Eye Landing after Parrant’s popular tavern.

Why was the Dakota named after a warrior?

The Dakota named the lake after a warrior overturned his canoe and his body was never recovered. [citation needed] Antoine LeCounte, a guide and explorer, was the first settler to this area. He arrived in 1848, but did not settle until 1852.

Where did Edina come from?

Age: 158. Edina began as part of Richfield Township, Minnesota. By the 1870s, 17 families, most of them immigrating as a result of the potato famine in Ireland, had come to Minnesota and claimed land in the southwest section of what was then Richfield Township.

When was Brooklyn Township split?

Formerly Brooklyn Township, the township split in 1860, with the southeast village later incorporating into Brooklyn Center and Crystal. Settlers from Michigan formally established the township and named it after their hometown of Brooklyn, Michigan.

Overview

Territorial foundation and settlement

Native American inhabitation

European exploration

Military conflicts

Economic and social development

See also

Further reading