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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

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