| Freeborn
County Historical Museum |
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County History
Freeborn County lies among the rolling, oak covered hills of southern Minnesota. The county borders the state of Iowa to the south, and its northern border is approximately 85 miles from
Minneapolis - St. Paul. A culturally diverse county, it was settled mainly by Norwegians, Germans, Danish, Irish and Czech with a significant number of settlers from the eastern United States. They were attracted by the combination of fertile soil and the natural beauty of the area. Today, Freeborn County continues to be culturally diverse; it includes the 2nd largest Latino population in Minnesota.
Freeborn County was created by territorial legislative act on February 20, 1855 and was named for William Freeborn, who served in the legislature from 1854 to 1857. The county is made up of 20 townships with an area of 722 square miles and 33,000 inhabitants (according to the 1990 census). The townships are Albert Lea, Alden, Bancroft, Bath, Carlston, Freeborn, Freeman, Geneva, Hartland, Hayward, London, Manchester, Mansfield, Moscow, Newry, Nunda, Oakland, Pickerel Lake, Riceland, and Shell Rock. It is a prosperous county with diverse businesses and industries. Located in a highly productive agricultural area of Minnesota, county farmers produce hogs, poultry, corn, soybeans, potatoes, dairy products, and ethanol.
The county seat and largest city is Albert Lea, at the intersection of Interstate 90 and Interstate 35. Stretching out around the bays of Albert Lea Lake, Fountain Lake and Lake Chapeau, the city has several beautiful parks and is in close proximity to Myre-Big Island State Park. The present population of the city is 18,448 (according to the 1990 census). Albert Lea is a thriving community of diverse commercial enterprises including the manufacturing of store fixtures, meat products, deli foods and condiments, machined parts, wood and packaging products and many others. In addition to public elementary and high schools, there is a private elementary school and a state community and technical college plus fine preschool programming.
The site of the city was originally mapped on an expedition by Lieutenant Albert M. Lea of the United States Dragoons in 1835. In appreciation for the quality of the maps, the explorer Nicollet renamed Lea's Fox Lake to Lake Albert Lea, for which the settlement and city were subsequently named. The city was platted in 1856.
Freeborn County Communities
Alden The city was incorporated in 1879. It is located on the edge of Morin Lake which was dammed from a marsh in 1871.
Armstrong Armstrong is named for the Honorable Thomas H. Armstrong, former Lt. Governor, who erected a grain elevator on the site in 1878.
Clarks Grove The city is named after the grove of settler J. Mead Clark. The area was settled by Danish Baptists. Clarks Grove is known for having the first cooperative creamery in the state.
Conger Conger was named after E.H. Conger. The town developed along the Germania Railroad Line from Estherville, IA. The local train depot was built in 1901-1902.
Emmons G.H. Emmons settled in the township in 1856. His son moved his general store to the Emmons site in 1886. The town was incorporated in 1899.
Freeborn Freeborn is located on the north bank of Freeborn Lake. It was platted in 1857 with 2 sawmills and the "Old Mill", a flour mill.
Geneva The city was named in remembrance of Geneva, N.Y. It was platted in 1856-1857. Geneva is located at the head of Geneva Lake.
Glenville Glenville was first platted in 1856 as Shell Rock. It was incorporated as Glenville in 1898. The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad went through in the late 1870's.
Gordonsville The village beginnings coincided with arrival of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad in 1877.
Hartland The township was settled in 1857 and the village was platted in 1877. Hartland was named for a town in Vermont that was an early settler's home.
Hayward The city was named for an early settler, David Hayward. A railway village, it was not developed until 1869, although it was first platted in 1858.
Hollandale Hollandale developed because of its rich farmland, which was drained from 15,000 acres of swampland (completed in 1923). The area was settled mostly by farm families of Dutch descent.
London This village was relocated in 1900 from a site 2 1/2 miles north of its present location when the Albert Lea & Southern Railroad went through London township.
Manchester The origin of Manchester is related to the formation of the Mansfield Creamery in 1891. The village is named after Lord Mansfield of England.
Maple Island Maple Island is located 2 miles east of Hollandale. The village resulted from the settlement of farmers on reclaimed marshland.
Moscow The name of Moscow dates to a pre-settlement timber fire suggestive of a scene from Russia under siege of war. The village was platted in 1857.
Myrtle Myrtle moved 1 mile west to its present site when the railroad came through in about 1900. It was incorporated in 1937.
Oakland Oakland was named after the scattered oak groves among the prairie land. The village started soon after the railroad came in 1879.
Twin Lakes This village is situated at the outlet of Lower Twin Lake which provided water power for a saw mill and flour mill. Twin Lakes was platted in 1858.
1031 Bridge Street - Albert Lea, MN 56007
Phone 507-373-8003
Museum & Library Open Year Round
October through March - Tues. - Fri. 10 am - 4 pm
April through September - Tues. - Fri. 10 am to 5 pm
Village Open May - September
Phone 507-373-8003
Museum & Library Open Year Round
October through March - Tues. - Fri. 10 am - 4 pm
April through September - Tues. - Fri. 10 am to 5 pm
Village Open May - September