By Jennifer Hallfielder
Explore Minnesota
Bluff Country
In the Southeast
Southern Prairies
in the Southwest
Heartland
In the Northwest
Bogs-Wetlands
in the Northeast
The Bluffs in
Southeastern, MN
Counties on atlas
page 34 include:
Dakota
Goodhue
Wabasha
Dodge
Olmsted
KARST COUNTRY
 This area southeast of the Twin Cities has often been
referred to as “Driftless”.
 Sheets of ice and “drift” from the most recent Ice Ages do
not impact this area.
 However, geologist argue this area did indeed experience
the effects of the Ice Ages and refers to it as Karst country.
 “Karst” comes from the word “karra” which is translated to
mean “stone”.
Dakota County, MN
Located in the NW corner
Waters:
Vermillion River
Trout Brook
Pine Creek
Mud Hen Lakes
Lake Isabelle
Rebecca Lake
Points of Interest:
Gores Pool State Wildlife
Management Area
The Great Mississippi and
Southeast Minnesota Tour
Willow Ridge Landing Strip
Gores Pool
Lake Byllesby
Cannon River
Mississippi River
Lake Byllesby Regional Park
Campground
Veterans Park
Featured City
Population 22,172
10.1 sq miles of land
.9 sq miles of water
•Hastings was named after Henry Hastings Sibley, Minnesota’s first governor.
•St. Croix River and Mississippi River come together near Hastings
•1871 First Courthouse was built and is the second oldest building in MN
•Lock & Dam No. 2 built in 1930 by Army Corps of Engineers
•1880 Railroad came from Stillwater developed “Switch Hub” allowing agriculture and logging
products into Hastings
•Go see the Norris House in the Residential Historic District-Built in 1857-1858 and is
OCTOGONAL in shape
Goodhue County, MN
Borders Dakota County to the east
Waters:
Bitter Creek
Bette Creek
Butler Creek
Cannon River
Hay Creek
Shingle Creek
North Fork
Zumbro River
Spring Creek
Mississippi River
Trout Brook Creek
Points of Interest:
Richard Dorer Memorial
Hardwood State Forest
Hay Creek Trails
Prairie Indian Reservation
Clark Valley
Cannon Valley Trail
Featured City
Population:
Total population: 15,681
Urban population: 14,055
Rural population: 1,626
(11 farm, 1,615 nonfarm)
History:
St. James Hotel
1875
•Discovered in 1680 by Father Hennepin, a
Franciscan priest.
•1850 Settlers came from steamboats and
farmed the land with wheat.
•By 1873 they were the top supplier/producer of
wheat in the country.
•Indian talisman occupied this land and Red
Wing was only referred to as the acting Chief’s
name
West Third Street
Bald Eagles migrate
here in February
Red Wing is located southeast of the Twin
Cities and sits at the foot of the bluffs that
overlook the Mississippi River.
Pottery:
Began in the late 1800’s until the closing of
the plant in 1967.
Artware, dinnerware, stoneware and odds
and ends types of pottery were offered
Wabasha County, MN
borders Goodhue County to the east
Waters:
Points of Interest:
Cold Creek River
Zumbro River
Zumbro Valley
Ryan’s Bay
Rattle Snake Point
Silver Spring
West Albany Creek
Gilbert Creek
Featured City
Zumbro Falls
Things to do
in Zumbro
Falls:
Population:
177
•Golfing
•Canoeing
•Fishing
•Camping
22 Businesses
1 Church
1 Cemetery
1 City Park
Visit in May during the Ripplin River Daze
complete with medallion hunt, face painting,
funky hair dos, bake sale, bean bag
tournament and Business Appreciation Day
History of Zumbro Falls
 In 1817 Zumbro River was discovered by Major Stephen
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Long.
The river was named “Riviers des Embarrass” or River of
Difficulties.
1855 the Tibbetts brother were the first settlers.
1866 Benjamin Clark moved in and built a dam to start
up a gristmill just above the rapids.
The dam created a small falls and the name Zumbro
Falls was born.
1877 town hosted Midland Railroad through its town.
February 28, 1898 town became Incorporated
Dodge County, MN
borders Goodhue Co to the south
 The surface of the county
in the northern and
central parts is high and
rolling, and well drained,
being as well suited for
grain raising as any land
in the state;
Olmsted County, MN
Borders east of Dodge
 French settlers were first to
arrive in 1660
 Sioux Indians relinquish land in
1853
 Named after David Olmsted, in
1848. He also was the first
Mayor of St. Paul in 1854
 In 1857 gold flecks were found in
the Zumbro River a gold rush
followed but it ended quickly in
the spring of 1858 and the
Oronoco economy slowed
Visit The Douglas State Trail, canoe
or camp along the Zumbro River and
enjoy Cedar Beach just outside of
Oronco to the west.
Population of Oronoco: 1300
Median Age: 37.9
Median Income: $81, 863
The Prairies in
Southwestern, MN
Counties in this atlas page
area include:
Kandiyohi
Swift
Chippewa
Renville
The Southern Prairies
 European immigrants arrive in Minnesota to farm in
the 1850’s.
 They recognize the rich soil of the prairies and today
we have less than one percent of the original prairie
grasses.
 Farmers plowed up the nutrient rich soil and planted
crops.
 Today this area is one of the largest producers of sugar
beets, corn, soy beans, hogs, turkeys and winter wheat.
Kandyohi County, MN
Waters
Norway Lake
Middle Lake
Games Lake
Green Lake
Mud Lake
Nest Lake
Wagonga Lake
Lake Lillian
Big Kandiyohi
Lake
Swan Lake
Lake Kasota
Lake Minnetoga
Lake Elizabeth
Ella Lake
Lake Carrie
Stevens Lake
Olson Lake
Otter Lake
Johnson Lake
Woodcock Lake
Lake Florida
Wilmar Lake
Foot Lake
And many many more lakes and rivers!
Points of Interest:
 Glacial Lakes State Trail
 Wilmar Municipal Airport
 Sibley State Park
 Salisbury Beach
 County Park
Featured City
Population: 19068
Increase of 4.7% since the last censes
During the workweek increases to 40,000
 First settlers came in the 1850’s because of the rich
lands
 After the 1862 Sioux Uprising the town was left
deserted
 1869 the railroad brought new settlers, mostly
Norwegian and Swedish
 Wilmar was incorporated as a city in 1901 after a
man named Leon Wilmar purchased the title to
Section 1 and made a village in 1874 and into a city
thereafter
Historic Sites
in Wilmar
The Barn Theater - 1964
The Mikkelson Collection
Classic and Antique Boats
From 1930-1950
The Sperry House
The Pioneer Museum
SWIFT COUNTY, MN
WATERS:
POINTS OF INTEREST:
School Lake
Swift Falls Park
Mud Creek
Appleton Off Highway Vehicle Park
Monson Lake
Monson Lake State Park
Spring Creek
Shakopee Creek
Swift
County
1895
County named after governor
 This County was named after Minnesota’s first
governor, Henry Swift who served in 1863.
 On February 18, 1870 Swift County received its name
and was organized.
 Population began at just 600 people in 1870 and
increased increased to 7,472 and in 1900 the
population had reached 13,503.
Peder filed intent of
citizenship on
Novemeber 3, 1888
Swift County Courthouse
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MN
Waters:
Borders the southeast corner of Swift
and to the west of Kandyohi
Hawk Creek
Judicial Ditch
Judicial Ditch
Number One
Judicial Ditch
Number Two
Judicial Ditch
Number Eight
Points of Interest:
BUNDE
FEATURED CITY
BUNDE, MN
Population:
50
At 1990 Census
2000 Census
DROPPED TO ONLY
25
 Actually a VILLAGE of Clara City
 Unincorporated
THE ONLY
town on my journey that
did NOT have a bar, hotel,
gas station,
Post office or even a restaurant!
RENVILLE COUNTY, MN
south of Kandiyohi and Chippewa Counties
WATERS
Judicial Ditch Number Eight
Chetamba Creek
County Ditch 104
County Ditch 119
Sacred Heart Creek
County Ditch
Number Forty-five
Buffalo Creek
County Ditch
Number Thirteen
West Fork Beaver Creek
County Ditch
Number Thirty-one
County Ditch
Number Fifty-nine
East Fork Beaver Creek
RENVILLE
COUNTY, MN
History of the City of Renville:
Named after a French and Dakota descendant,
Joseph Renville.
Railroad reaches Renville in 1878
Incorporated in 1906
Home of the World’s Largest Sugar Beet Plant
south of Kandiyohi and Chippewa Counties
Renville County Historical Museum
Bird Island’s Wing Ding Days
Sugar Beet Days
Sugar Beet Crop
Renville City Hall
Masonic burial in Renville
County Courthouse
Northeastern MN
The Bogs, Iron Range and Arrowhead Region
Counties on atlas page 88
include:
St. Louis County
Lake County
History of the
Northern Coniferous Forest
 Is an area filled with ice scoured bedrock from glaciers
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thousands of years ago
Terminal moraines and highlands formed by glaciers
created the North Shore Highlands
Part of the Canadian Shield where molten rock from deep
within the earth tried to force its way upward
Earthquakes eventually created sedimentary rocks which
were turned into metamorphic rocks by the heat and
pressure of the earthquakes.
Rainy Lobe and Superior Lobe responsible for northeastern
Minnesota’s surface features.
Northeastern MN was NEVER covered by an ocean
St. Louis County, MN
bordering south of Ontario and west of Lake County
WATERS OF THE
NORTH
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Vermillion Lake
Wolf Lake
Mud Lake
Burntside River
Fall Lake
White Iron Lake
Bass Lake
Garden Lake
Shagawa Lake
AND MANY MORE
Burntside Lake
Shagawa River
Points of Interest
•Bear Island State Park
•Burntside State Forest
•Norway Trail
•Bass Lake Trail
•Ely Municipal Airport
•Kabetogama State Forest
•Lake Janette State Forest
•BWCA
•Angleworm Trail
•Sioux Hustler Trail
•Sandbar Island
•Superior National Forest
Superior
National
Forest
Sioux Hustler
Trail
Portaging in
the BWCA
Featured City
Population: 3724 at 2000 Census
3460 at 2010 Census
Median Age: 40.8
Things to do:
International Wolf Center
BWCA
North American Bear Center
Blueberry Arts Festival
Dorothy Molter Museum
Harvest Moon Festival
Trips to Ely
Sunsets in the BWCA
Camping in the
BWCA
Crazy
nephew
Tyler
My TOP 10 FAVORITE RANGE
PLACES TO VISIT
The drive up the North Shore
The last stop before Mudro Lake
was the Chainsaw Sisters Saloon
Gunflint Trail
Burntside
Lake
A weekend at the lake with
friends
A great experience is the Tower-Soudan Mine! You travel
about one mile underground so be sure to bring a jacket!
It’s amazing to be that far underground and learn about
mining as we toured the mine riding in the rail carts.
Drive out of Ely on Highway 1,
this was the first time I saw a
moose so close up! It was
incredible! I pulled as close to
the side of the road as
possible and watched…the
moose seemed to be “hiding”
behind a small birch tree as if I
couldn’t see him. So funny!
Voyageurs National Park
Fall foliage in the park
Not uncommon to see moose
Marsh areas in the park
Taking a drive in
the fall up the
Echo Trail and
stopping in
Buyck for a burger.
***Be careful on the
drive, it is a very
winding road
and tough to see
oncoming traffic
and critters!
Getting lost in the serenity
of the Boundary Waters
NUMBER TEN
BLUEBERRY
FESTIVAL
A great opportunity
to meet with old
friends!
My favorite ALL TIME
food is
FRIED BREAD
I GOTTA HAVE IT!!!!
Chainsaw Sculpting
Music
Crafters and FOOD
Lake County, MN
borders to the east of St. Louis County
 BWCA
 Superior National Forest
 Bear Island State Forest
 Fall Lake
 White Iron Lake
 Silver Rapids Lodge
Places to visit
including
camping,
canoeing
fishing and hiking
while in
Lake
County
Lake County in the Arrowhead
Approximately
covers 2062
square miles
Fun
Facts
Iron ore discovered in 1868
50.3% Male
49.7% Female
Average drive time to
work is just 20.2
minutes
Population:
10,866
Home of Historical shipwrecks
Dakota and Ojibwa
first to inhibit the
5.2 People per square mile
area
Just 248 people in 1860 falling to
2009 Median Household income: $48,698
135 in 1870
Featured Lake: White Iron
Did you know…..
 White Iron is a Sentinel Lake-it was formed by the
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Canadian Shield and is a Cold Water lake
It has a watershed covering 595,864 acres
Deepest at 43 feet
Has a high abundance of
Walleye, Cisco and
Yellow perch
The Kawishiwi River enters at the south end of the lake
creating a short residence time (45 days) for the lake
Northwestern MN
where the prairie meets the north woods
Counties on atlas page 71
include:
Beltrami County
Clearwater County
Hubbard County
Heartland History
 Lake Agassiz and Wadena Lobe are responsible for
much of the present land-surface features
 Coniferous forest has pine forest, boreal forest, and
peat lands that formed on extensive plains left behind
 Lake Agassiz Plain is one of the most level areas in
North America which covers approximately 15,690
square miles.
borders to the east of Clearwater County and to the north of Hubbard County
Waters:
Lake Bemidji
Miss Lake
Turtle Lake
Lake Campell
Puposky Lake
Long Lake
Balm Lake
Perch Lake
Sandy Lake
And many many more!
Points of Interest:
Mississippi Headwaters State
Forest
Red Lake Indian Reservation
Buena Vista State Forest
Bear Den Landing
Pine Point Landing
Iron Bridge Landing
Moberg Seaplane Base
Lake Bemidji State Park
Bemidji Beltrami County
Airport
Beltrami Courthouse
Loggers hard at work
Beltrami County History Center
Featured City
Bemidji, MN
 Population in 2010: 13,431
 Population in 1900: 2,183
 Named from Ojibwe “Bay-may-
ji-ga-maug” which means "lake
that traverses another body of
water“
 Home of 400 lakes covering
6,580.45 acres
 The FIRST city on the
Mississippi
Carson’s Trading Post
1894
Paul Bunyan and
Babe
Lake
Bemidji
Ojibwe grass
dancer
Resorts and
Beaches
76 feet
deep
Clearwater County, MN
bordering to the west of Beltrami County
Waters:
Upper Rice Lake
Mineria Lake
Walker Brook Lake
Daniel Lake
Dahlberg Lake
Berg Lake
Mud Lake
East Four Legged Lake
Stenlund Lake
Clearbrook Lake
Nels Olson Lake
Gust Anderson Lake
Bagley Lake
Spike Lake
Armstrong Lake
Martin Rosen Lake
Fence Lake
Long Lake
Schoolhouse Lake
Facts about Clearwater County
 Covers 995 square miles
 Itasca State Park has one of Minnesota’s largest remaining
old growth coniferous forests, in July the state flower the
“lady slipper” blooms on the understory.
 Its name was taken from the Ojibwe word
“gawakomitgweia,” which means “clear water”
 Home to the mighty Mississippi River mouth
 Established on December 20, 1902
Clearwater County Historical Museum
Then
Now
Visit these and many other attractions!
Itasca State Park
Red Lake Indian Reservation
Old Red Lake Trail and State Wildlife
Management Area
Wanagan Landing
Timertown Resort
Long Lake Park
White Earth State Forest
Hubbard County, MN
border to the south of Beltrami County and to the east of Clearwater County
Waters:
LaSalle Lake
Hennepin Lake
Lake Hattie
Wolf Lake
Plantagenet Lake
Spearhead Lake
Evergreen Lake
Beauty Lake
Neuman Lake
Lilypad Lake
Hart Lake
Population in 2010:
20,428
Population in 1890:
1,412
 Founded on February 26, 1883 and came from part of
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Cass County
Named after Lucius Frederick Hubbard who was the
Governor of Minnesota from 1882 to 1887
76.93 square miles of water
Part of the greatest lakeshore summercottage belt
Itasca State Park is one of the few areas
with old-growth which includes
red and white pines
Family fun on
the lake
 One of my favorite past times while on the lake (other than
fishing) is patiently waiting for the loons to emerge from their
dives. I love capturing the beautiful site and sounds of our
state bird.
The Loon
by Walt Hardester
 Upon still waters she doth glide,
Her mate no longer at her side.
Loneliness now pervades her heart,
Her lifelong love and she did part.
The reason why she does not know,
Just that it was his time to go.
Alone she cries her sorrowful song,
Hoping it won't be so long.
That he and she will meet again,
In a place that never ends.
**AuthorsDen.com
Thanks for
visiting my
areas
of Minnesota
References:
Hart and Ziegler. Landscapes of Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2008
Toren John. The Seven States of Minnesota. Nodin Press. Minneapolis, MN 2007
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. June 2011. www.dnr.state.mn.us
Explore Minnesota. June 2011. www.exploreminnesota.com
Visit Minnesota. June 2011. www.visitminnesota.com