General Info
Once part of Wabasha County, Lyon County was founded in 1853 and named in honor of George
Nathaniel Lyon . The first permanent settler in Lyon County was T. W. Castor who claimed land in Stanley Township. A variety of settlers soon followed and by 1868, the population of Lyon County had grown dramatically. Early settlements were located near the Cottonwood and Redwood Rivers and a post office was established in Lynd Township in 1868 with D. M. Taylor serving as the area’s first postmaster. Hotels, businesses, lumbering camps and grist mills were founded and the county was officially organized in 1870. Churches and schools were built, attracting more settlers to the area. With the arrival of the railroad in 1872, development was rapid and Marshall was selected as the County Seat. By 1900 the population had reached 14,591 and Lyon County was widely recognized as one of the richest agricultural counties in Minnesota. Today Lyon County is home to approximately 25,425 residents.
