Trails to the Past

Minnesota

Stearns County

 

 

 

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The county was founded in 1855. It was originally named after Isaac Ingalls Stevens, later changed to the name Stearns, after Charles Thomas Stearns.

The area that is currently Stearns County was formerly occupied by numerous indigenous tribes, such as the Sioux (Dakota), Chippewa (Ojibwe) and Winnebago (Ho-chunk). The first large immigration was of German Catholics in the 1850s. Early arrivals also came from eastern states. Originally, the county was supposed to be named Stevens County after Governor Isaac Ingalls Stevens who conducted an area expedition in 1853. However, due to a clerical error, the county was named Stearns after Charles Thomas Stearns who was a member of the Territorial Council. (Later, the area two counties west was named Stevens County, to compensate for this clerical error.)

On Line Data

Cities
Albany
Avon
Belgrade
Brooten
Clearwater
Cold Spring
Eden Valley
Elrosa
Freeport
Greenwald
Holdingford
Kimball
Lake Henry
Meire Grove
Melrose
New Munich
Paynesville
Richmond
Rockville
Roscoe
Sartell
Sauk Centre
Spring Hill
Saint Anthony
Saint Augusta
Saint Cloud county seat
Saint Joseph
Saint Martin
Saint Rosa
Saint Stephen
Waite Park
Census-designated place
Fairhaven
Other unincorporated communities
Collegeville
Farming
Five Points
Georgeville
Jacobs Prairie
Marty
Opole
Padua
Saint Anna
Saint Francis
Saint Nicholas
Saint Wendel
Townships
Albany Township
Ashley Township
Avon Township
Brockway Township
Collegeville Township
Crow Lake Township
Crow River Township
Eden Lake Township
Fair Haven Township
Farming Township
Getty Township
Grove Township
Holding Township
Krain Township
Lake George Township
Lake Henry Township
Le Sauk Township
Luxemburg Township
Lynden Township
Maine Prairie Township
Melrose Township
Millwood Township
Munson Township
North Fork Township
Oak Township
Paynesville Township
Raymond Township
Sauk Centre Township
Spring Hill Township
Saint Joseph Township
Saint Martin Township
Saint Wendel Township
Wakefield Township
Zion Township

 

Adjacent counties
Todd County (north)
Morrison County (north)
Benton County (east)
Sherburne County (east)
Wright County (southeast)
Meeker County (south)
Kandiyohi County (south)
Pope County (west)

 

Stearns County Courthouse

 

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