General Info
Once occupied by Sioux Indians, Blue Earth County was settled in the 1850s. The name Blue Earth translates from an Indian word, Mahkato, due to the blue-green clay found within the area. As the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was signed in 1851, land was available for settlement and the county was officially organized in 1853. Early industry included agriculture and milling, utilizing the Minnesota River for power as well as transportation. As the railroad arrived in 1868, the population of Blue Earth County grew dramatically. Towns were established near rail stations and Mankato was voted as the county seat. Blue Earth County is home to approximately 60,401 residents.
