General Info
Once part of Brown and Blue Earth Counties, Redwood County was founded in 1862 and named in honor of the local Redwood River. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1864 and most claimed land near forests and rivers. A post office was established by John R. Thompson and the county was officially organized in 1865. A school was constructed the following year and more settlers arrived to claim land. The first newspaper, the Redwood Gazette, was published in 1869 and as the railroad arrived, Redwood County grew dramatically. Hotels, businesses, lumber yards, grist mills and granite mining companies were established and by 1900, the population of Redwood County had reached 17,261. Today Redwood County is home to approximately 16,815 residents.
