General Info
Once home to Sioux and Chippewa Indians, Morrison County was settled in the mid 1800s. The area was first settled by fur traders and missionaries until loggers arrived, building a dam at the present site of Little Falls in 1849. Fort Ripley was then constructed and development of the county continued. Officially established in 1856, Morrison County was named after fur traders and explorers William and Allen Morrison. Settlement grew along the riverbanks and more dams were built to power lumber mills. As a result, cities and townships were established near dam sites and Little Falls was voted as the county seat. Early industry included agriculture and dairy farming, lumbering, logging, manufacturing and paper manufacturing. Today Morrison County is home to approximately 32,883 residents.
