Mahnomen County, established in 1906, is the only county in Minnesota entirely within an Indian Reservation. Both the county and county seat are named Mahnomen after the Ojibwe word for wild rice. In the 1800’s, the county was home to Red River ox-cart trails essential to Minnesota commerce. In 1867, it was established as the White Earth Indian Reservation. Government commissioners at the time described the land as containing every natural resource except coal, and considered it one of the best tracts of land in the United States. Today, Mahnomen County is home to about 5,413 residents. The county has a thriving cattle-raising industry, Shooting Star Casino, and lovely prairie land.