Minnesota: Consolidated Chronology of State and County Boundaries

Minnesota Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Gordon DenBoer, Historical Compiler; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant

Copyright The Newberry Library 2008

10 February 1763

Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War between Great Britain (the victor) and France and Spain, formally transferred to the British all of Canada (territory north of the Ohio River-Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River line), including present northeastern Minnesota, and implicitly set the Mississippi River as the new western limit for the British Colonies. Spain nominally possessed the area west of the Mississippi River, including most of present Minnesota. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1; Parry, 42:320-345)

20 May 1774

The British Parliament passed the Quebec Act, placing all territory north and west of the Ohio River (including all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River) under the jurisdiction of the province of Quebec. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 16, 87)

4 July 1776

The United States declared itself independent of Great Britain, implicitly opening the possibility that Virginia and some other states might claim territory north of the Ohio River and west of the Appalachian Mountains based on their colonial charters. (Declaration of Independence)

9 December 1778

ILLINOIS County (Va., extinct) created by Virginia to encompass all territory north and west of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. Virginia claimed this territory on the basis of its 1609 charter; included all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River. (Hening, 9:552-555, 10:303-304; Robinson, 55)

3 September 1783

Commissioners from Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (ratifications exchanged (12 May 1784) ending the War of the American Revolution, recognizing American independence, and generally defining U.S. territory as extending to the Great Lakes-Lake of the Woods line on the north and the Mississippi River on the west, including all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River. (Parry, 48:481, 487, 491-492; Van Zandt, 12)

1 March 1784

Virginia ceded to the United States its charter claims to territory "northwestward of the river Ohio"; ILLINOIS County (Va.) eliminated. That part of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River became Unorganized Federal Territory; other state claims in the area (by Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York) were eliminated by 1786. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 62, 130-131; Hening, 11:571-575)

13 July 1787

The United States created the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio (Northwest Territory), including all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River, to govern all territory west of Pennsylvania, north of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River to which states had ceded their colonial charter claims. Map depicts non-county area of the Northwest Territory in present Minnesota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 2:39-50)

4 July 1800

The United States created Indiana Territory from the Northwest Territory; included all of present Illinois and Wisconsin, most of present Indiana, parts of present Michigan and Ohio, and all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River. Map depicts only the portion of Indiana Territory in present Minnesota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 3:86-88; U.S. Stat., vol.2, ch. 41 [1800]/pp. 58-59)

1 October 1800

Treaty of San Ildefonso, between France and Spain, transferred Louisiana (defined loosely as the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains) from Spain to France. (Parry, 55:375-378)

3 February 1801

As an Indiana Territory county (created in 1790) ST. CLAIR (Ill.) gained non-county area in Indiana Territory, gained from KNOX (Ind.), and lost to RANDOLPH (Ill.). ST. CLAIR (Ill.) included territory in present Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. (Ind. Terr. Exec. Journal, 98-100; Pence and Armstrong, 212, 520)

1 March 1803

ST. CLAIR (Ill.) lost to creation of WAYNE (Ind. Terr. extinct) by Indiana Territory; ST. CLAIR's area within present northeastern Minnesota was unchanged. (Ind. Terr. Exec. Journal, 114-115; Pence and Armstrong, 218; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch 40 [1802], secs. 1-3/pp. 173-174; Van Zandt, 112)

30 April 1803

The United States purchased Louisiana from France, taking formal possession on 20 December 1803; boundaries were not clearly defined, but included the western half of the Mississippi drainage basin (from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains). (Parry, 57:27-40)

1 May 1803

As Indiana Territory counties, ST. CLAIR (Ill.) exchanged with RANDOLPH (Ill.); ST. CLAIR's area within present northeastern Minnesota was unchanged. (Ind. Terr. Exec. Journal, 117-118)

1 October 1804

The United States created the District of Louisiana for the part of the Louisiana Purchase north of Orleans Territory; the district was not fully organized as a territory and was attached to Indiana Territory. District of Louisiana divided into five "districts," the northernmost of which, St. Charles (Mo.), included all of the district north of the Missouri River and included all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River. The boundary from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains between the United States and the British possessions was unsettled. The northern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase encompassed the Missouri River drainage basin, and as early as January 1804, the United States regarded the parallel of 49 degrees north latitude as its northern boundary resulting in an uncertain boundary area in the northwest portion of present Minnesota. The boundary was not officially established until 20 October 1818. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:51-52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283-289; Paullin, 60, pl. 93; Van Zandt, 25-26)

4 July 1805

District of Louisiana renamed Louisiana Territory and fully organized as a separate territory; the territory included all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River as St. Charles (Mo.) District. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31 [1805]/pp. 331-332)

1 March 1809

The United States created Illinois Territory from Indiana Territory; included present Illinois, present Wisconsin (except for the far eastern part, which remained in Indiana Territory), the western part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan, and all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River. Former Indiana Territory county of ST. CLAIR (Ill.) continued defacto, with no new boundaries specified. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 13[1805], sec. 1/pp. 514-515)

28 April 1809

ST. CLAIR (Ill.) expanded when officially re-created by Illinois Territory continuing de facto county of the same name created by the Northwest Territory in 1790; ST. CLAIR's area within present northeastern Minnesota was unchanged. (Ill. Terr. Recs., 3-4; Terr. Papers U.S., 17:620-621)

14 September 1812

MADISON (Ill.) created by Illinois Territory from RANDOLPH (Ill.) and ST. CLAIR (Ill.); MADISON included part of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River, while ST. CLAIR (Ill.) eliminated from present Minnesota. (Ill. Terr. Recs., 26; Terr. Papers U.S., 17:643)

7 December 1812

Louisiana Territory renamed Missouri Territory; the territory's five districts, including St. Charles (Mo.), designated as counties. (Terr. Papers U.S., 14: 599-601; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 95 [1812]/pp. 743-747)

31 December 1813

As a Missouri Territory county, ST. CHARLES (Mo.) lost to non-county area. That part of ST. CHARLES in present Minnesota became non-county area in Missouri Territory; ST. CHARLES eliminated from present Minnesota. (Laws of a Pub. and Gen. Nature of the State of Mo., 1:ch.99/ pp. 293-295)

28 November 1814

As an Illinois Territory county, MADISON (Ill.) lost to the creation of EDWARDS (Ill.) in present Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin; MADISON's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Ill. Terr. Laws, 128-130)

4 January 1817

As an Illinois Territory county, MADISON (Ill.) lost to the creation of BOND (Ill.) in present Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin; MADISON's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Ill. Terr. Laws, 254-256)

6 January 1818

Boundary between MADISON (Ill.) and ST. CLAIR (Ill.) defined by Illinois Territory (no change). (Ill. Terr. Laws, 311)

20 October 1818

A Convention of Commerce between Great Britain and the United States established the parallel of 49 degrees north latitude, from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains, as the northern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase and southern boundary of the British possessions. The United States thus gained undisputed possession of the northwest part of present Minnesota and much of present North Dakota, while Great Britain gained disputed territory north of present Montana. (Parry, 69:294-297)

3 December 1818

CRAWFORD (Wis.) created by Michigan Territory from non-county areas that were formerly part of Illinois Territory; CRAWFORD included part of present Minnesota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:803-804)

MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC, Mich.) created by Michigan Territory from WAYNE (Mich.), non-county areas in Michigan, and non-county areas that were formerly part of Illinois Territory; MICHILIMACKINAC included parts of present Minnesota. (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:802)

The State of Illinois was created from Illinois Territory, with present boundaries; Illinois Territory eliminated and MADISON (Ill.) eliminated from present Minnesota. Michigan Territory gained remnants of Illinois and Indiana Territories (present Wisconsin, western part of the Upper Peninsula of present Michigan, and all of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River). (Terr. Papers U.S., 10:803; U.S. Stat., vol.3, ch. 67[1818], secs. 1-2/pp. 428-429, 431, and res. 1[1818]/p. 536)

13 April 1821

As a Michigan Territory county, MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC, Mich.) lost to non-county area; MICHILIMACKINAC's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:132)

10 August 1821

The state of Missouri was created from Missouri Territory, with present boundaries (except for small area in northwest corner of state); remainder of Missouri Territory, including all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River, became Unorganized Federal Territory. (Terr. Papers U.S., 15:742-744; U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 22 [1820]/ pp. 545-548; Van Zandt, 117)

10 September 1822

As a Michigan Territory county, MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC, Mich.) lost to non-county area; MICHILIMACKINAC's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 11:308-313)

1 February 1827

CHIPPEWA (Mich.) created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC, Mich.); included part of present Minnesota. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:295-296)

1 January 1830

IOWA (Wis.) created by Michigan Territory from CRAWFORD (Wis.); CRAWFORD's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 2:714-715)

2 March 1831

IONIA (Mich.), ISABELLA (Mich.), KENT (Mich.), MONTCALM (Mich.), OCEANA (Mich.), and OTTAWA (Mich.) created by Michigan Territory from MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC, Mich.); MICHILIMACKINAC's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:871-873)

28 June 1834

Michigan Territory gained unorganized federal territory west of the Mississippi River, north of the state of Missouri, and east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. All present Iowa, parts of North and South Dakota, and all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River became non-county area in Michigan Territory. (Terr. Papers U.S., 12:778-779; U.S. Stat., vol. 4, ch. 98 [1834]/p. 701)

6 September 1834

As Michigan Territory counties, BROWN (Wis.) exchanged with CRAWFORD (Wis.); CRAWFORD's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1325)

1 October 1834

DUBUQUE (Iowa) created by Michigan Territory from non-county area in present Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. (Mich. Terr. Laws, 3:1326-1327)

3 July 1836

The United States created Wisconsin Territory from Michigan Territory; included all of present Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and parts of present North and South Dakota. CRAWFORD (Wis.) and DUBUQUE (Iowa) became Wisconsin Territory counties; CRAWFORD lost small area in present Michigan in transition, but its area within present Minnesota was unchanged. CHIPPEWA (Mich.) and MICHILIMACKINAC (now MACKINAC, Mich.) eliminated from present Minnesota and Wisconsin. (Terr. Papers. U.S., 27:41-52; U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 54 [1836]/pp. 10-16)

7 December 1836

DANE (Wis.) and PORTAGE (Wis.) created by Wisconsin Territory from CRAWFORD (Wis.); CRAWFORD's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1836, no. 28, secs. 4-5, 14/pp. 93-94)

21 December 1837

FAYETTE (Iowa) created by Wisconsin Territory from DUBUQUE (Iowa); included all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River. FAYETTE not fully organized, attached to CLAYTON (Iowa) "for temporary purposes." DUBUQUE eliminated from present Minnesota; FAYETTE included all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1837, no. 6, sec.2/p. 133)

12 January 1838

As Wisconsin Territory counties, PORTAGE (Wis.) gained from CRAWFORD (Wis.); CRAWFORD's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1837, no. 39, sec. 1/pp. 217-218)

19 January 1838

Wisconsin Territory attached non-county area in northern part of territory to CRAWFORD (Wis.) "for all judicial purposes"; non-county area included most of present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River; CRAWFORD's area within present Minnesota was unchanged [not mapped]. (Kellogg, "Organization," 187; Wis. Terr. Laws 1837, no. 104, sec. 1/p. 517)

3 July 1838

FAYETTE (Iowa) became an Iowa Territory county when Iowa Territory was created from Wisconsin Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 96 [1838]/ pp. 235-241)

11 January 1840

SAUK (Wis.) created by Wisconsin Territory from CRAWFORD (Wis.), DANE (Wis.), and PORTAGE (Wis.); CRAWFORD's area and attachment of non-county area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1839-1840, no. 23, secs. 1-3/p. 32)

3 August 1840

ST. CROIX (Wis.) created by Wisconsin Territory from CRAWFORD (Wis.) and non-county area; ST. CROIX included all off present Minnesota east of the Mississippi River. CRAWFORD (Wis.) eliminated from present Minnesota. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1839-1840, no. 20, sec. 1/pp. 25-26)

Non-county area in Wisconsin Territory lost to the creation of ST. CROIX (Wis.). (Wis. Terr. Laws 1839-1840, no. 20, sec. 1/pp. 25-26)

18 February 1841

As Wisconsin Territory counties, PORTAGE (Wis.) gained from BROWN (Wis.), CRAWFORD (Wis.), MARQUETTE (Wis.), ST. CROIX (Wis.), and non-county area; ST. CROIX's area within present Minnesota was unchanged. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1840-1841, no. 38, secs. 1-3, 12/pp. 73-75)

9 August 1842

The Webster-Ashburton Treaty, between Great Britain and the United States, established the international boundary from Isle Royale, in Lake Superior, to Lake of the Woods; the boundary was broadly defined in the Treaty of Paris (1783), but disputes over its precise course had persisted since 1783. The 1842 Treaty, along with the Convention of Commerce of 1818, firmly established the northern boundary of present Minnesota. (Parry, 93:415-423; Paullin, 57-58, pl. 91)

17 February 1843

Entire northwestern part of Iowa Territory (including virtually all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River) became non-county area attached to DELAWARE (Iowa) "for judicial, revenue, and election purposes." FAYETTE (Iowa) reduced substantially and remained attached to CLAYTON (Iowa). (Rev. Stat. of the Terr. of Iowa 1842-1843, ch. 34, sec. 11/p. 134)

10 April 1843

As Wisconsin Territory counties, ST. CROIX (Wis.) attached to CRAWFORD (Wis.) "for judicial purposes." ST. CROIX included part of present Minnesota. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1842-1843, pp. 56-57)

19 February 1845

LA POINTE (now BAYFIELD, Wis.) created by Wisconsin Territory from ST. CROIX (Wis.); LA POINTE not fully organized, attached to CRAWFORD (Wis.) "for judicial purposes." LA POINTE included part of present Minnesota. (Wis. Terr. Laws 1845, pp. 52-53)

1 March 1846

Non-county area in Iowa Territory formerly attached to DELAWARE (Iowa) attached to POLK (Iowa) "for election, revenue, and judicial purposes"; included most of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River [not mapped]. (Laws of the Terr. of Iowa 1845-1846, ch. 101, secs. 1, 11-12/pp. 92-95)

28 December 1846

The state of Iowa was created from Iowa Territory, with present boundaries; the part of Iowa Territory north of present Iowa (including all of present Minnesota west of the Mississippi River) became Unorganized Federal Territory. FAYETTE (Iowa) eliminated from present Minnesota. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 1 [1847]/p. 117)

29 May 1848

The state of Wisconsin was created from Wisconsin Territory with present boundaries; LA POINTE (now BAYFIELD, Wis.), and ST. CROIX (Wis.) eliminated from present Minnesota. The area between the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers continued as de facto Wisconsin Territory; area residents elected a territorial delegate to Congress to press their demands for separate territorial status for the area. (Folwell, 1:236-246; U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 89 [1846]/pp.56- 58, and ch. 50 [1848]/pp. 233-235; Van Zandt, 128, 130)

3 March 1849

The United States created Minnesota Territory from unorganized federal territory west of the Mississippi River (formerly part of Iowa Territory) and de facto Wisconsin Territory (the part of Wisconsin Territory, between the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, not included in the state of Wisconsin when Wisconsin became a state on 29 May 1848); included all of present Minnesota and parts of present North and South Dakota. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 121 [1849]/pp. 403-409)

27 October 1849

Minnesota Territorial Legislature passed act creating nine counties. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1849, ch. 5; for sections on particular counties, see following citations)

1 May 1851

Minnesota territorial legislature passed revised statute creating two new counties and revising the boundaries of existing counties. (Minn. Terr. Rev. Stat. 1851, ch. 1 [for sections on particular counties, see following citations]; ch. 136, sec. 1/p. 577)

1 January 1852

CHISAGO fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (Rev. Stat. of Terr. of Minn. 1851, ch. 1, secs 4, 11/p. 31)

4 March 1852

PEMBINA (now KITTSON) fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from BENTON. (Min. Terr. Laws 1852, ch. 20, sec. 1/pp. 34-35)

6 March 1852

HENNEPIN created from DAKOTA; HENNEPIN not fully organized, attached to RAMSEY "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1852, ch. 32, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 51-52)

23 June 1852

HENNEPIN fully organized for county and judicial purposes, detached from RAMSEY. (Upham 2:321-322; Minn. Terr. Laws 1852, ch. 32, sec. 4/p. 52)

5 March 1853

ITASCA detached from BENTON, attached to CHISAGO; PEMBINA (now KITTSON) reattached to BENTON. Both attachments were "for judicial and other purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1853, ch. 3, sec. 5/pp. 8-9)

7 February 1854

GOODHUE organized for judicial purposes, detached from WABASHA; PEMBINA (now KITTSON) detached from BENTON, attached to NICOLLET "for judicial and other purposes"; WABASHA attached to GOODHUE "for judicial and other purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1854, ch. 53, secs. 2, 5/pp. 175-176)

23 February 1854

Minnesota territorial legislature created two new counties and altered the boundaries of existing counties. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1854, ch. 29, pp. 70-71, and ch. 32, sec. 7/p. 78)

2 March 1854

SIBLEY fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from HENNEPIN; SIBLEY gained from NICOLLET. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1854, ch. 32, secs. 1-4/pp. 77-78)

16 June 1854

GOODHUE organized for county government. (HRS Minn., Goodhue, 15)

20 February 1855

Minnesota territorial legislature created fifteen new counties and altered the boundaries of existing counties. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 6; for sections on particular counties, see following citations)

2 March 1855

WRIGHT fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 24, sec. 19/p. 79)

3 March 1855

CARVER organized for county government, attached to HENNEPIN "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 62, sec. 8/pp. 157-158)

DAKOTA gained undisputed jurisdiction of 20 Feb 1855 overlap with SCOTT; DOTY renamed NEWTON; SUPERIOR (now LAKE) renamed ST. LOUIS (original). (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 22, secs 2-3/pp. 69-70)

STEARNS fully organized for county government and judicial purposes; DAVIS and TODD attached to STEARNS "for judicial purposes"; CASS detached from BENTON, attached to STEARNS "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 4, secs. 1, 6/pp. 18-19)

Overlap Area 1 eliminated when DAKOTA gained undisputed jurisdiction of 20 Feb 1855 overlap with SCOTT. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1855, ch. 22, secs 2-3/pp. 69-70)

4 August 1855

DODGE fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (HRS Minn., Dodge, 5)

27 August 1855

OLMSTED fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (HRS Minn., Olmsted, 5)

9 October 1855

RICE fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from DAKOTA. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 42, secs. 1-2/p. 71)

11 February 1856

BROWN fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 62, secs. 1-2/pp. 98-99)

18 February 1856

LE SUEUR gained small area from SIBLEY [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1856_pt. for location]. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 61, sec. 1/p. 98)

23 February 1856

FARIBAULT organized for county government, attached to BLUE EARTH "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 34, secs. 1, 4/p. 62)

MEEKER created from DAVIS (extinct); MEEKER organized for county government. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 68, secs. 1-2/p. 103)

25 February 1856

CARVER fully organized, detached from HENNEPIN. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 72, secs. 1, 8/p. 107)

HENNEPIN gained from RAMSEY; CARVER fully organized, detached from HENNEPIN. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 71, sec. 4/pp. 105-106, and joint res. 1, p. 331)

MORRISON and SHERBURNE created from BENTON; MORRISON and SHERBURNE organized for county government, attached to BENTON "for judicial purposes." RAMSEY gained from BENTON. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 38, secs. 1-6/pp. 66-67)

29 February 1856

STEELE fully organized for county government and judicial purposes; STEELE gained from DODGE. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 49, secs. 2-4/pp. 78-79)

1 March 1856

McLEOD created from CARVER and SIBLEY, fully organized. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 26, secs. 1-2, 5/p. 31)

MEEKER attached to CARVER "for judicial purposes." (HRS Minn., Meeker, 9; Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 8, sec. 2/p. 16)

MOWER fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 37, sec. 1/p. 65)

PINE created from CHISAGO and RAMSEY; PINE not fully organized, attached to CHISAGO "for judicial purposes and representative purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 36, secs. 1-2/p. 64)

ST. LOUIS (original) renamed LAKE; LAKE attached to BENTON "for judicial purposes." ST. LOUIS created from ITASCA and NEWTON (NEWTON eliminated); ST. LOUIS organized for county government, attached to BENTON "for judicial purposes." ITASCA detached from CHISAGO, attached to BENTON "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 35, secs. 1-4/p. 63)

TODD organized for county government; TODD detached from STEARNS, attached to MORRISON "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 30, secs. 1, 3/p. 59)

WABASHA fully organized, detached from GOODHUE. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 23, sec. 2/p. 29)

1 May 1856

MORRISON fully organized, detached from BENTON; TODD attachment to MORRISON "for judicial purposes" confirmed. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 38, sec. 5-6/pp. 66-67)

SHERBURNE attachment to BENTON confirmed; both attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 38, sec. 6/p. 67)

1 June 1856

BLUE EARTH boundaries defined [no change]. SIBLEY gained small area from LE SUEUR (reversed change of 18 Feb. 1856) [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1856_pt. for location]. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1856, ch. 31, secs. 1-2/pp. 59-60)

13 February 1857

ISANTI created from RAMSEY (RAMSEY was divided into two parts); ISANTI organized for county government. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ch. 70, secs. 1, 3/pp. 267-268)

27 February 1857

WASECA created from STEELE, fully organized. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ch. 57, secs. 1-2/pp. 228-230)

6 March 1857

FREEBORN fully organized for county government and judicial purposes. (HRS Minn., Judicial Districts, 13; Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ch. 74, sec. 1/pp. 277-278; Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 83, sec. 6/pp. 309-310)

ITASCA authorized to organize for county government; organization not effected. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ch. 3, secs. 1-2/pp. 9-10; Rottsolk, 11, 18)

1 April 1857

PINE fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from CHISAGO. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ch. 68, secs. 1-3/pp. 263-264)

22 May 1857

Non-County Area 1 eliminated when it lost to both RICE and DAKOTA. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 16, sec. 1/p. 71)

RICE gained from DAKOTA and Non-County Area 1; DAKOTA gained from Non-County Area 1. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 16, sec. 1/p. 71)

23 May 1857

AIKEN (now AITKIN) created from PINE and RAMSEY. (Minn Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 5, secs. 5-6/pp. 52-54)

ANOKA created from RAMSEY, fully organized. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 64, secs. 1, 3/pp. 252-253)

BIG SIOUX (extinct) created from BROWN, in present South Dakota; PIPESTONE (now ROCK) not fully organized, attached to BIG SIOUX "for all judicial and elective purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 4, 5, 6, 14/pp. 66-69)

BUCHANAN created from PINE. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 5, secs. 2, 6/pp. 52-54)

CARLTON created from PINE and ST. LOUIS. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 5, secs. 3, 6/pp. 52-54)

COTTONWOOD created from BROWN. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, sec. 7/pp. 66-69)

CROW WING created from RAMSEY. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 5, secs. 4, 6/pp. 52-54)

FARIBAULT fully organized, detached from BLUE EARTH. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 1, 6/pp. 66-69; ch. 83, sec. 6/pp. 309-310)

JACKSON created from BROWN; JACKSON organized for county government. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 2, 6/pp. 66-69)

MANOMIN (extinct) created from RAMSEY; MANOMIN organized for county government. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 40, secs. 1-2/pp. 175-176)

MARTIN created from BROWN and FARIBAULT, fully organized. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 1, 6/pp. 66-69)

MIDWAY (extinct) created from BROWN, in present South Dakota (MIDWAY overlapped western part of ROCK [now PIPESTONE]). (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, sec. 10/pp. 66-69)

MILLE LACS created from RAMSEY. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 5, secs. 1, 6/pp. 52-54)

MURRAY created from BROWN. ROCK (now PIPESTONE) attached to MURRAY "for all judicial and elective purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 8, 9, 14/pp. 66-69)

NOBLES created from BROWN. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 3, 6/pp. 66-69)

PIPESTONE (now ROCK) created from BROWN, included territory in present Minnesota and South Dakota; PIPESTONE not fully organized, attached to BIG SIOUX "for all judicial and elective purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 4, 14/pp. 66-69)

ROCK (now PIPESTONE) created from BROWN, included territory in present Minnesota and South Dakota (ROCK overlapped part of MIDWAY); ROCK not fully organized, attached to MURRAY "for all judicial and elective purposes." (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 9, 10, 14/pp. 66-69)

Overlap Area 2 created when MIDWAY (extinct) overlapped western part of ROCK (now PIPESTONE). (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 14, secs. 8-10, 14/pp. 66-69)

26 May 1857

OLMSTED gained from MOWER. (Minn. Terr. Laws 1857, ext. sess., ch. 88, sec. 1/p. 316)

24 February 1858

MEEKER authorized to gain from STEARNS, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Meeker, 7-8; Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 46, secs. 1-2/p. 157)

25 February 1858

PEMBINA's (now KITTSON's) organization for county government repealed. (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 44, sec. 1/p. 155)

8 March 1858

DOUGLAS created from CASS and PEMBINA (now KITTSON); DOUGLAS organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 74, secs. 1-2/p. 215)

MONONGALIA (proposed) authorized to be created from DAVIS (extinct), MEEKER, and STEARNS, dependent upon local referendum; creation not effected. (See amendment of 20 March 1858; MONONGALIA created, with different boundaries, 8 March 1861.) (Centennial History of Kandiyohi County, 28-30; Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 124, secs. 1, 5/pp. 368-369)

18 March 1858

BECKER created from CASS and PEMBINA (now KITTSON). (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 34, secs. 3-4/pp. 144-145)

BRECKENRIDGE (now CLAY) created from PEMBINA (now KITTSON). (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 34, secs. 2, 4/pp. 144-145)

CASS detached from STEARNS, attached to CROW WING; ITASCA detached from BENTON, attached to CROW WING; MILLE LACS attached to MORRISON. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 39, sec. 1/p. 151)

OTTER TAIL created from CASS and PEMBINA (now KITTSON). (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 34, secs. 1, 4/pp. 144-145)

TOOMBS (now WILKIN) created from PEMBINA (now KITTSON). (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 64, secs. 1-2/p. 180)

20 March 1858

MONONGALIA (proposed) authorized to gain from PIERCE (extinct), lose to DAVIS (extinct) and MEEKER; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 57, secs. 1-2/p. 167)

MONROE (proposed) authorized to be created from BENTON, ISANTI, and MILLE LACS, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (HRS Minn., Mille Lacs, 9-10; Minn. Laws 1857-188, spec., ch. 33, secs. 1-3/pp. 143-144)

STEARNS gained from TODD, lost to WRIGHT and to creation of Non-County Area 5. (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 62, secs. 1-2/pp. 175-176)

Non-County Area 5 created from STEARNS. (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 62, secs. 1-2/pp. 175-176)

11 May 1858

The state of Minnesota was created from Minnesota Territory, with present state boundaries and 64 extant counties created by the territorial legislature; the remainder of Minnesota Territory (west of the present state boundary) became unorganized federal territory. BROWN, PEMBINA (now KITTSON), PIPESTONE (now ROCK), and ROCK (now PIPESTONE) reduced; Non-County Area 6 created from PEMBINA (now KITTSON); BIG SIOUX (extinct) and MIDWAY (extinct) and Overlap Area 2 (between MIDWAY and ROCK) eliminated. (Schell, 72-77; U.S. Stat., vol. 11, ch. 60 [1857]/pp. 166-167 and ch. 31 [1858]/p. 285)

11 June 1858

Boundary between DAKOTA and SCOTT authorized to be changed, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Dakota, 17; Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 204, secs. 1-3/pp. 490-491)

WADENA created from CASS and TODD; CASS implicitly gained from TODD. (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 179, secs. 1-2/pp. 448-449)

20 July 1858

POLK created from CASS and PEMBINA (now KITTSON). (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 67, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 183-184)

12 August 1858

Minnesota legislature altered the judicial attachments of the following counties; all attachments were "for judicial and other purposes." (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, gen., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 157)

12 October 1858

KANABEC created from PINE; KANABEC organized for county government, attached to CHISAGO "for judicial and other purposes." (Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 56, secs. 1-3/p. 166, and ch. 107, sec. 1/pp. 306-307; Minn. Laws 1857-1858, gen., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 157)

KANDIYOHI created from DAVIS (extinct), MEEKER, PIERCE (extinct), RENVILLE, and Non-County Area 5; KANDIYOHI organized for county government. (Centennial History of Kandiyohi County, 35-36; Minn. Laws 1857-1858, spec., ch. 65, secs. 1, 3/p. 181)

9 January 1860

MANOMIN (extinct) detached from ST. LOUIS, attached to ANOKA "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 50, sec. 1/p. 89)

10 January 1860

TODD detached from STEARNS, attached to MORRISON "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 52, sec. 1/p. 91)

3 February 1860

Minnesota legislature altered the judicial attachments of the following counties; all attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 65, sec. 1/p. 107)

6 March 1860

AIKEN (now AITKIN) authorized to gain adjoining remnants of PINE and RAMSEY, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 36, sec. 1/pp. 65-66)

STEARNS authorized to gain from WRIGHT and Non-County Area 5 and lose to TODD, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 66, secs. 1-2/p. 108)

8 March 1860

DAKOTA and SCOTT authorized to exchange territory, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Dakota, 17; Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 32, secs. 1-2, 6/pp. 59-60)

RENVILLE organized for county government, attached to NICOLLET "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 41, secs. 1-2, 4-6/pp. 75-76)

RIPLEY (proposed) authorized to be created from McLEOD, MEEKER, and RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected, county never created. (Brown, 245; Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 47, secs. 1-2/pp. 85-86)

9 March 1860

TODD fully organized, detached from MORRISON. TODD authorized to gain from STEARNS, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 34, secs. 1, 3-4, 7/pp. 63- 64)

10 March 1860

SHERBURNE authorized to gain from RAMSEY, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 72, secs. 1-2/pp. 117-118)

2 November 1860

BECKER gained from BRECKENRIDGE (now CLAY), CASS, and POLK. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 33, secs. 5-6/p. 62)

BRECKENRIDGE (now CLAY) gained from POLK, lost to BECKER, OTTER TAIL, and TOOMBS (now WILKIN). (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 33, secs. 1, 3-6/pp. 60-62)

MILLE LACS gained from BENTON. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 59, secs. 1-2/p. 97)

OTTER TAIL gained from BRECKENRIDGE (now CLAY), exchanged with TOOMBS (now WILKIN). (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 33, secs. 3, 6/pp. 61-62; Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 32, sec. 1/pp. 272-273)

RENVILLE gained control of Sioux reservation lands within its prescribed boundaries (no change in county boundaries). (HRS Minn., Renville, 7 Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 41, secs. 1, 6/pp. 75-76)

TOOMBS (now WILKIN) gained from BRECKENRIDGE (now CLAY), exchanged with OTTER TAIL, lost to creation of Non-County Area 7. (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 33, secs. 1, 6/pp. 60-62)

WATONWAN created from BROWN; WATONWAN not fully organized, attached to BROWN "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 13, secs. 1, 3/pp. 37-38)

Non-County Area 7 created from TOOMBS (now WILKIN). (Minn. Laws 1859-1860, spec., ch. 33, secs. 1, 6/pp. 60-62)

7 March 1861

AIKEN (now AITKIN) authorized to gain from ITASCA, PINE, and RAMSEY, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 24, secs. 1-2/p. 263)

8 March 1861

DAKOTA authorized to gain small area north of Cannon River from GOODHUE, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Goodhue, 14; Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 25, secs. 1-5/pp. 264-265)

DAKOTA and SCOTT authorized to exchange territory, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Dakota, 17, Goodhue, 14; Minn. Laws 1861, ch. 26, secs. 1-2, 7/pp. 265-267)

DAVIS (extinct) lost to the creation of MONONGALIA (extinct); DAVIS remained divided into two parts. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 27, secs. 1-3, 9/pp. 267-268)

LINCOLN (proposed) authorized to be created from RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum that failed; second attempt made 12 February 1870. (HRS Minn., Renville, 7; Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 22, secs. 1, 4/p. 261; Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 110, sec. 6/pp. 157-158; Upham, 306.)

MONONGALIA (extinct) created from DAVIS (extinct), PIERCE (extinct), and Non-County Area 5; MONONGALIA organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 27, secs. 1-3, 9/pp. 267-268)

OTTER TAIL boundaries defined [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 29, secs. 1-2/p. 270; Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 32, sec. 1/ pp. 272-273)

STEARNS authorized to gain from WRIGHT, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 21, secs. 1-3/p. 260)

9 March 1861

HENNEPIN's boundary east of Mississippi River clarified [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 30, secs. 1, 3/pp. 271-272)

1 April 1861

WATONWAN organized for county government. (Andreas, 229; Knudson, 2-3)

8 October 1861

MEEKER gained from DAVIS (extinct) and Non-County Area 5. Change reduced DAVIS from two parts to one part. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 23, secs. 1-3/p. 262)

PINE gained all of BUCHANAN (BUCHANAN eliminated), lost to creation of Non-County Area 8. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 31, secs. 1-3/p. 273)

SHERBURNE gained from RAMSEY (same area subject to 1860 referendum);Change reduced RAMSEY from three parts to two parts. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 28, secs. 1-2/p. 269)

Non-County Area 8 created from PINE. (Minn. Laws 1861, spec., ch. 31, secs. 1-3/p. 273)

20 February 1862

Minnesota legislature created six new counties and eliminated DAVIS and PIERCE. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 22; for sections on particular counties see following citations)

PIPESTONE renamed ROCK; ROCK renamed PIPESTONE. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 30, secs. 1-2/pp. 269-270)

26 February 1862

MEEKER authorized to gain four townships from RENVILLE dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Meeker, 8; Minn. Laws 1862, spec. ch. 26, secs. 1, 3/pp. 263-264)

5 March 1862

DOUGLAS attached to STEARNS "for judicial and record purposes." (Minn. Laws 1862, gen., ch. 56, sec. 1/p. 112)

RENVILLE fully organized, detached from NICOLLET. (Minn. Laws 1862, gen., ch. 52, sec. 1/p. 109)

6 March 1862

BECKER lost to creation of Non-County Area 9. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 31, sec. 1/p. 271)

BRECKENRIDGE renamed CLAY. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 33, sec. 1/ p. 273)

OTTER TAIL's boundaries confirmed (no change). (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 32, sec. 1/pp. 272-273)

SHERBURNE fully organized, detached from BENTON. (Minn. Laws 1862, gen., ch. 49, sec. 1/pp. 106-107)

Non-County Area 9 created from BECKER. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 31, sec. 1/p. 271)

8 March 1862

CLAY lost to Non-County Area 9. TOOMBS (now WILKIN) boundaries defined [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 25, sec. 1/p. 262)

29 September 1862

RENVILLE reattached to NICOLLET "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1862, ext. sess., spec., ch. 9, sec. 1/pp. 77-78)

4 November 1862

AIKEN (now AITKIN) gained from ITASCA, RAMSEY, and Non-County Area 8; Non County Area 8 eliminated. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 28, secs. 1-2, 5/pp. 265-267)

REDWOOD created from BROWN. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 21, secs. 1-3, 6/pp. 255-256)

21 January 1863

COTTONWOOD and MURRAY attached to BROWN "for judicial purposes." (PIPESTONE indirectly attached to BROWN, through MURRAY, until 4 March 1864). (Minn. Laws 1863, spec., ch. 18, sec. 1/p. 202)

5 March 1863

MANOMIN (extinct) detached from ANOKA, attached to HENNEPIN "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1863, spec., ch. 16, sec. 1/p. 200; Minn. Laws 1865, spec., ch. 85, sec. 1/pp. 243-244)

6 March 1863

TOOMBS renamed ANDY JOHNSON (now WILKIN); ANDY JOHNSON boundaries defined (no change). An 1862 attempt to effect the name change failed when the governor failed to sign the approved act. (Minn. Laws 1862, spec., ch. 25, sec. 2/pp. 262-263; Minn. Laws 1863, spec., ch. 13, secs. 1-2/pp. 196-197)

4 March 1864

ANDY JOHNSON (now WILKIN), BECKER, CLAY, and OTTER TAIL attached to STEARNS "for judicial purposes, and for the purpose of assessment and collection of taxes." (Minn. Laws 1864, gen., ch. 67, sec. 1/p. 125)

NOBLES, REDWOOD, and ROCK attached to BROWN; PIPESTONE detached from MURRAY, attached to BROWN. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1864, gen., ch. 70, sec. 1/p. 128)

8 November 1864

BROWN gained from COTTONWOOD and REDWOOD. (Minn. Laws 1864, spec., ch. 70, secs. 1-2, 5/pp. 337-339)

MORRISON gained from TODD. (Minn. Laws 1864, spec., ch. 72, secs. 1-2/pp. 341-342)

31 January 1865

MONONGALIA (extinct) attached to STEARNS "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1865, spec., ch. 83, sec. 1/p. 242)

16 February 1865

Boundaries of MARTIN, MURRAY, and NOBLES confirmed [no change]; JACKSON attached to MARTIN "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1865, spec., ch. 72, secs. 1-4/pp. 141-142)

JACKSON attached to MARTIN "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1865, spec., ch. 84, sec. 1/p. 243)

23 February 1865

REDWOOD organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1865, gen., ch. 71, secs. 7, 9/p. 140)

7 November 1865

REDWOOD gained from BROWN. (Minn. Laws 1865, gen., ch. 71, secs. 1-4, 6/pp. 138-140)

21 February 1866

MONONGALIA (extinct) authorized to gain the three adjacent townships of CHIPPEWA, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 49, secs. 1, 3/p. 95)

28 February 1866

BELTRAMI created from ITASCA, PEMBINA (now KITTSON), POLK, and Non-County Area 9. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 46, sec. 1/pp. 90-91)

CHIPPEWA organized for county government. CHIPPEWA authorized to gain from RENVILLE and lose to MONONGALIA (extinct), dependent upon local referenda; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 48, secs 1-3/p. 94)

McLEOD authorized to gain the six adjacent townships of RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1866, ch. 50, secs. 1-3/p. 96; ch. 51, secs. 1-2/pp. 97-98; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2 title 1, sec. 54/ p. 101)

POPE organized for county government; POPE's boundaries defined [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 44, secs. 1-2/p. 89)

SIBLEY authorized to gain the two southernmost townships of McLEOD, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 51, secs. 1-2/pp. 97-98; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, sec. 54/pp. 101, 107)

Non-County Area 10 created from Non-County Area 9. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 46, sec. 1/pp. 90-91)

1 March 1866

McPHAIL (proposed) authorized to be created from REDWOOD, dependent upon local referendum that failed; second attempt made 6 March 1868. (Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 47, secs. 1-3/pp. 92-93; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, sec. 54/pp. 104-105)

RENVILLE fully organized (its organization for county government reaffirmed), detached from NICOLLET. CHIPPEWA, and McLEOD authorized to gain from RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (HRS, Minn., Renville, 7-8, 31; Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 43, secs. 1-3, 6/pp. 87-88)

ROCK authorized to be renamed LINCOLN, dependent upon final disposition of territory proposed for LINCOLN in 1861; change not effected. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 598/pp. 173-174; Minn. Laws 1866, gen., ch. 45, secs. 1-2/p. 90; Upham, 306)

10 May 1866

LAKE organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 86, sec. 1/p. 116)

31 July 1866

Minnesota legislature altered the judicial attachments of the following counties; all attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1866, ch. 64, title 4, sec. 33/p. 419)

Minnesota legislature defined the boundaries of all existing counties, resulting in the following boundary changes. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1866, ch. 8, title 1, secs. 1-74/pp. 96-112)

1 March 1867

WATONWAN fully organized, detached from BLUE EARTH. (Minn. Laws 1867, gen., ch. 111, secs. 1-2/p. 155)

2 March 1867

MORRISON gained from TODD and STEARNS. TODD gained from STEARNS, lost to CASS and MORRISON. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1866, ch. 8, title 1, secs. 42, 66/pp. 105, 111; Minn. Laws 1867, gen., ch. 116, secs. 1-2/pp. 162-163)

RENVILLE lost to the creation of Non-County Area 11. (Minn. Laws 1867, spec., ch. 88, secs. 1-2/pp. 280-281)

8 March 1867

Minnesota legislature altered the judicial attachments of the following counties; all attachments were "for judicial and record purposes." (Minn. Laws 1867, gen., ch. 113, secs. 1-3/pp. 159-160)

9 March 1867

CHIPPEWA's organization for county government confirmed; CHIPPEWA authorized to gain from RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (HRS, Minn., Chippewa, 11; Minn. Laws 1867, gen., ch. 117, secs. 1-3/pp. 164-165)

McLEOD authorized to gain the two adjacent northern townships of SIBLEY, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1867, spec., ch. 91, secs. 1-2/pp. 285-286; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, sec. 54/p. 101)

8 February 1868

REDWOOD fully organized, detached from BROWN; COTTONWOOD, MURRAY, and PIPESTONE attached to REDWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 105, secs. 2-3/pp. 148-149)

29 February 1868

POPE fully organized, detached from STEARNS. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 104, sec. 2/p. 147)

WATONWAN reattached to BLUE EARTH "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 99, sec. 1/pp. 142-143)

4 March 1868

TODD authorized to gain from STEARNS, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 114, secs. 1-2/pp. 162-165; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

6 March 1868

ANDY JOHNSON renamed WILKIN; WILKIN lost to the creation of GRANT. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 115, secs. 1-2/pp. 165-166)

GRANT created from STEVENS, TRAVERSE, and WILKIN; GRANT not fully organized, attached to DOUGLAS "for record and judicial purposes." STEVENS gained from BIG STONE, LAC QUI PARLE (original), and TRAVERSE; STEVENS detached from DOUGLAS, attached to POPE "for record and judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 109, secs. 1, 3, 5, 7/pp. 155-156)

LYON (proposed) authorized to be created from REDWOOD, dependent upon local referendum that failed; second attempt, with same boundaries, made 2 November 1869. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 112, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 159-160; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, sec. 36/p. 100)

McPHAIL (proposed) authorized to be created from REDWOOD, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 111, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 158-159; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

TRAVERSE gained from BIG STONE and lost to creation of Non-County Area 12, in boundary redefinitions of BIG STONE and TRAVERSE which were apparently ignored by local residents (boundaries corrected on 2 March 1876 and 14 February 1881); TRAVERSE detached from DOUGLAS, attached to POPE "for record and judicial purposes." (HRS Minn., Big Stone, 9-10; Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 109, sec. 3/pp. 155-156)

Non-County Area 12 created from TRAVERSE. (HRS Minn., Big Stone, 9-10; Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 109, sec. 3/pp. 155-156)

12 September 1868

OTTER TAIL organized for county government. (HRS Minn., Otter Tail, 10, 31)

3 November 1868

CHIPPEWA gained from LAC QUI PARLE (original) and RENVILLE; LAC QUI PARLE (original) eliminated; CHIPPEWA remained attached to RENVILLE. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 113, secs. 1-3/p. 161)

RENVILLE gained all of Non-County Area 11, lost to CHIPPEWA; LAC QUI PARLE attachment to RENVILLE ended when LAC QUI PARLE eliminated as a county. (Minn. Laws 1868, gen., ch. 110, secs. 1-4/pp. 156-158)

2 November 1869

LYON created from REDWOOD; LYON not fully organized, attached to REDWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1869, gen., ch. 94, secs. 1-4/pp. 115-116)

MANOMIN (extinct) abolished by constitutional amendment; its territory added to ANOKA. (Minn. Laws 1869, gen., ch. 50, secs. 1-3/p. 63; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, sec. 3/p. 91)

12 February 1870

LINCOLN (proposed) authorized to be created from RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum that failed; third attempt 4 November 1873. (HRS Minn., Renville, 7; Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 93, secs. 1-4/pp. 166-168; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111; Upham, 306)

18 February 1870

CARLTON organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 96, sec. 1/p. 170)

28 February 1870

MORRISON and TODD authorized to gain small areas from STEARNS; boundary cannot be demarcated as described, and is thus not drawn [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 98, secs. 1-3/pp. 172-173; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2., title 1, sec. 66/p. 108)

OTTER TAIL fully organized, detached from DOUGLAS. (Minn. Laws 1870, spec., ch. 94, sec. 2/p. 391)

3 March 1870

COTTONWOOD organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 89, sec. 1/p. 161; Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 94, sec. 1/pp. 213-214)

CROW WING organized for county government. (Upham, 154)

5 March 1870

CHIPPEWA fully organized, detached from RENVILLE. (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 81, sec. 1/pp. 149-150)

ROCK organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 91, sec. 1/pp. 163-164)

7 March 1870

JACKSON fully organized, detached from MARTIN; NOBLES and ROCK attached to JACKSON "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 86, secs. 1-3/ p. 155)

MONONGALIA (extinct) fully organized, detached from MEEKER. (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 94, sec. 1/p. 168)

12 August 1870

LYON organized for county government. (Anderson, 10-11; Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 83, sec. 1/p. 202; Rose, 49)

8 November 1870

KANDIYOHI gained all of MONONGALIA (MONONGALIA eliminated); KANDIYOHI remained attached to MEEKER "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 92, secs. 1, 4-5/pp. 164-166)

MEEKER gained from RENVILLE. (HRS Minn., Meeker, 8; Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 97, secs. 1-3/pp. 171-172)

SWIFT created from CHIPPEWA; SWIFT not fully organized, attached to POPE "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1870, gen., ch. 90, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 162-163)

2 December 1870

NOBLES organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1871, spec., ch. 88, sec. 1, pp. 302-303; Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 83, sec. 1/p. 228)

3 January 1871

SWIFT organized for county government. (HRS Minn., Chippewa, 11; Swift County Historical Society, Swift County, 12)

21 February 1871

AIKEN (now AITKIN) organized for county government, gained from CASS and ITASCA; AIKEN detached from MORRISON, attached to CROW WING "for judicial purposes." (AIKEN remained indirectly attached to MORRISON, through CROW WING, until 24 February 1871). (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 96, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 161-162)

ITASCA gained small areas (along the river) from CASS, lost to AIKEN (now AITKIN). (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 96, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 161-162)

24 February 1871

CROW WING fully organized, detached from MORRISON. (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 85, secs. 1-2/p. 148)

25 February 1871

ISANTI fully organized, detached from ANOKA. (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 79, sec. 1/p.142)

1 March 1871

BECKER organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1871, spec., ch. 100, sec. 1/pp. 320-321)

4 March 1871

HOLCOMB (proposed) authorized to be created from OTTER TAIL and WILKIN, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (HRS Minn., Otter Tail, 11; Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 99, secs. 1-3/pp. 168-170; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

6 March 1871

BECKER fully organized, detached from DOUGLAS. (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 87, sec. 1/p. 150)

CARLTON fully organized, detached from ST. LOUIS. (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 86, secs. 1-2/p. 149)

COTTONWOOD and REDWOOD authorized to gain the four adjacent southwestern townships of BROWN, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Redwood, 12; Minn. Laws 1871, spec., ch. 95, secs. 1-3/pp. 311-312; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, sec. 9/pp. 92-93)

KANDIYOHI fully organized, detached from MEEKER. (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 78, sec. 1/p. 141)

PINE fully organized, detached from CHISAGO; KANABEC attached to PINE "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 84, sec. 2/p. 147)

1 May 1871

Minnesota legislature altered the attachment status of the following counties; all attachments "for record and judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1871, spec., ch. 75, secs. 1-3/p. 285)

15 June 1871

WATONWAN fully organized, detached from BLUE EARTH; COTTONWOOD, MURRAY, and PIPESTONE detached from REDWOOD, attached to WATONWAN "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 80, secs. 1, 4/pp. 143-144)

7 November 1871

DAKOTA exchanged with SCOTT. (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 97, secs. 1-2, 7/pp. 163-164)

LAC QUI PARLE created from REDWOOD; LAC QUI PARLE organized for county government, attached to REDWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 100, secs. 1, 4, 6, 8/pp. 171-173)

YELLOW MEDICINE created from REDWOOD; YELLOW MEDICINE organized for county government, attached to REDWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1871, gen., ch. 98, secs. 1-2, 4, 6/pp. 165-167)

31 December 1871

STEVENS organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1881, gen., ch. 129, secs. 1-3/p. 170)

8 February 1872

FRANKLIN (proposed) authorized to be created from STEARNS and TODD, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 81, secs. 1-4/pp. 147-150; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

26 February 1872

MURRAY organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 82, secs. 1-2/pp. 150-151)

27 February 1872

CLAY organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 80, sec. 1/p. 146)

28 February 1872

STEVENS fully organized, detached from POPE; TRAVERSE detached from POPE, attached to STEVENS "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 89, sec. 1/p. 160)

29 February 1872

AIKEN renamed AITKIN. (Minn. Laws 1872, spec., ch. 145, sec. 1/p. 511)

McLEOD authorized to gain the four northwestern townships of RENVILLE, dependent upon local referendum that failed (no change). (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 86, secs. 1-2/pp. 156-157; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

NOBLES authorized to gain the four western townships of JACKSON, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]; ROCK authorized to gain the four western townships of NOBLES, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 84, secs. 1-2/pp. 153-154; ch. 85, secs 1-2/pp. 154-155; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

ROCK authorized to gain the four western townships of NOBLES, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 85, secs 1-2/pp. 154-155; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, p. 111)

SWIFT detached from POPE, attached to CHIPPEWA "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws l872, gen., ch. 51, sec. 2/p. 112)

WILKIN detached from DOUGLAS, attached to OTTER TAIL "for judicial and recording purposes." (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 88, secs. 1-2/p. 159)

4 March 1872

CASS organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 79, sec. 1/p. 145)

WILKIN organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 83, secs. 1, 3-4/pp. 151-152)

5 November 1872

OTTER TAIL gained from WILKIN. (Minn. Laws 1872, gen., ch. 83, sec. 1/pp. 151-152, and ch. 87, secs. 1-2/pp. l58-159; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, secs. 47, 73/pp. 103, 110)

21 February 1873

CLAY fully organized, detached from BECKER. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 88, sec. 1/pp. 205-206)

TODD fully organized, detached from MORRISON. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 90, sec. 1/p. 207)

WADENA organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 97, sec. 1/p. 219; Minn. Laws 1881, gen., ch. 131, sec. 1/p. 173)

24 February 1873

WILKIN fully organized, detached from OTTER TAIL. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 89, secs. 1-3/p. 206)

27 February 1873

BIG STONE detached from RENVILLE, attached to STEVENS "for judicial and recording purposes." (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 86, sec. 1/p. 204)

Boundary between LAKE and ST. LOUIS authorized to be altered slightly, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 93, secs. 1-3/pp. 211-213)

28 February 1873

GRANT organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 91, secs. 1-2/pp. 207-208)

3 March 1873

POLK organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 98, sec. 1/p. 220; Minn. Laws 1879, gen., ch. 64, sec. 1/p. 67)

6 March 1873

LAC QUI PARLE detached from REDWOOD, attached to CHIPPEWA "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 87, sec. 1/p. 205)

10 March 1873

RAMSEY authorized to gain small area south of Mississippi River from DAKOTA, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (HRS Minn., Dakota, 17-18; Minn. Gen. Stat. 1883, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 59/p. 126; Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 96, secs. 1, 4-5/pp. 216-218)

WADENA authorized to gain 25 adjoining townships of OTTER TAIL, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (HRS Minn., Otter Tail, 9; Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 95, secs. 1-2/pp. 214-215)

4 July 1873

COTTONWOOD fully organized, detached from WATONWAN; MURRAY and PIPESTONE detached from WATONWAN, attached to COTTONWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 85, secs. 1, 5/pp. 203-204)

NOBLES fully organized, detached from JACKSON; ROCK detached from JACKSON, attached to NOBLES "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 84, secs. 2-3/pp. 202-203)

4 November 1873

LINCOLN created from LYON; LINCOLN organized for county government, attached to REDWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1873, gen., ch. 92, secs. 1-2, 11/pp. 208-211)

7 February 1874

ROCK fully organized, detached from NOBLES. (Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 91, sec. 1/p. 235)

25 February 1874

YELLOW MEDICINE fully organized, detached from REDWOOD. (Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 92, sec. 1/p. 236)

4 March 1874

SWIFT detached from CHIPPEWA, attached to KANDIYOHI "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 93, sec. 1/pp. 236-237)

9 March 1874

SEWARD (proposed) authorized to be created from LAC QUI PARLE, LINCOLN, and YELLOW MEDICINE, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (Brown, 245; Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 99, secs. 1, 4/pp. 240-242)

Boundary between TODD and STEARNS defined [no change]. (Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 102, sec. 1/pp. 248-249; Minn. Stat. 1873, ch. 2, title 1, secs. 62, 66/pp. 107-108)

3 November 1874

COOK created from LAKE; COOK organized for county government, attached to ST. LOUIS "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 100, secs. 1-3, 11/pp. 242-245)

RAMSEY gained from DAKOTA (same area subject to 1873 referendum). (HRS Minn., Dakota, 17-18; Minn. Gen. Stat. 1883, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 59/p. 126; Minn. Laws 1874, gen., ch. 101, secs. 1, 5/pp. 245-248)

4 March 1875

LINCOLN detached from REDWOOD, attached to LYON "for judicial purposes." (LINCOLN remained indirectly attached to REDWOOD, through LYON, until 9 March 1875). (Minn. Laws 1875, gen., ch. 71, sec. 1/pp. 97-98)

9 March 1875

LYON fully organized, detached from REDWOOD. (Minn. Laws 1875, gen., ch. 70, sec. 1/p. 97; Rose, 84)

SWIFT fully organized, detached from KANDIYOHI. (Minn. Laws 1875, gen., ch. 80, sec. 1/pp. 102-103)

10 February 1876

PIPESTONE detached from COTTONWOOD, attached to ROCK "for judicial and recording purposes." (Minn. Laws 1876, gen., ch. 83, sec. 1/p. 94)

2 March 1876

BIG STONE gained from TRAVERSE. (Minn. Laws 1876, spec., ch. 159, sec. 1/pp. 234-235)

PEMBINA (now KITTSON) and POLK detached from BECKER, attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1876, gen., ch. 117, sec. 1/p 127)

3 March 1876

CASS's organization for county government repealed and its attachment to CROW WING "for record and judicial purposes" confirmed. (Minn. Laws 1876, spec., ch. 208, secs. 1-2/pp. 285-287)

23 February 1878

LAC QUI PARLE fully organized, detached from CHIPPEWA. (Minn. Laws 1878, gen., ch. 62, sec. 1/p. 115)

9 March 1878

PEMBINA renamed KITTSON. (Minn. Laws 1878, gen., ch. 59, sec. 1/p. 114)

27 January 1879

PIPESTONE organized for county government. (Minn. Laws 1879, gen., ch. 63, secs. 1-2/p. 66)

25 February 1879

BELTRAMI gained from ITASCA and KITTSON. MARSHALL and Non-County Area 13 created from KITTSON. KITTSON organized for county government, remained attached to CLAY; MARSHALL organized for county government, attached to POLK "for judicial purposes." (MARSHALL indirectly attached to CLAY, through POLK, until 27 February 1879). (Minn. Laws 1879, gen., ch. 10, secs. 1-4, 7/pp. 24-25)

27 February 1879

CANBY (proposed) authorized to be created from LAC QUI PARLE, LINCOLN, and YELLOW MEDICINE, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created. (Minn. Laws 1879, gen., ch. 62, secs. 1, 4, 6, 8/pp. 64-65; Upham, 593)

POLK fully organized, detached from CLAY; KITTSON detached from CLAY, attached to POLK "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1879, gen., ch. 64, sec. 1/p. 67)

5 March 1879

MURRAY fully organized, detached from COTTONWOOD. (Minn. Laws 1879, gen., ch. 57, sec. 1/pp. 60-61)

8 February 1881

BIG STONE fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from STEVENS. (HRS Minn., Big Stone, 9; Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 106, sec. 1/pp. 129-131)

9 February 1881

LINCOLN fully organized, detached from LYON. (Minn. Laws, 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 85, sec. 1/pp. 95-96)

14 February 1881

TRAVERSE fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from STEVENS; TRAVERSE gained all of Non-County Area 12, which was eliminated. (HRS Minn., Traverse, 7-8; Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 130, sec. 1/pp. 171-173)

17 February 1881

MARSHALL authorized to gain all of adjacent Township 154 from Non-County Area 13 and POLK, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (HRS Minn., Marshall, 7; Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 112, secs. 1-3/pp. 141-143)

WADENA fully organized, detached from CROW WING. (Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 131, sec. 1/pp. 173- 174)

23 February 1881

PIPESTONE fully organized, detached from ROCK. (Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 86, sec. 1/pp. 96-97)

28 February 1881

MARSHALL fully organized, detached from POLK. (Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 82, sec. 1/p. 93)

3 March 1881

KITTSON fully organized, detached from POLK. (Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 90, sec. 1/p. 100)

7 March 1881

GRANT authorized to switch attachment "for judicial purposes" from DOUGLAS to STEVENS, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 84, secs. 1-3/pp. 94-95)

4 November 1881

KANABEC fully organized, detached from PINE. (Minn. Laws 1881, ext. sess., gen., ch. 87, secs. 1-2/pp. 86-87)

8 November 1881

NORMAN created from POLK, fully organized. (Minn. Laws 1881, reg. sess., gen., ch. 92, secs., 1-3/pp. 104-107)

17 February 1883

COOK's organization for county government confirmed. (Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 93, secs. 1-2/pp. 121-122)

26 February 1883

HUBBARD created from CASS; HUBBARD organized for county government, attached to WADENA "for judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 78, secs. 1, 4/p. 108)

1 March 1883

GRANT fully organized, detached from DOUGLAS. (Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 82, sec. 1/p. 113)

3 March 1883

WADENA authorized to gain the five adjacent townships of CASS, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 612/p. 178; Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 79, secs. 1-3/p. 109)

6 March 1883

CROW WING authorized to gain from CASS and exchange with MORRISON, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 549/p. 158; Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 80, secs. 1-3, 5-6/pp. 110-111)

9 July 1883

MARSHALL gained all of Non-County Area 13, which was eliminated. (Minn. Laws 1883, gen., ch. 81, secs. 1-2/pp. 111-112)

6 February 1885

AITKIN fully organized, detached from CROW WING. (Minn. Laws 1885, gen., ch. 142, sec. 1/pp. 132-133)

21 February 1885

MARSHALL authorized to gain POLK's share of adjacent Township 154, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 578/pp. 167-168; Minn. Laws 1885, gen., ch. 221, secs. 1-3/pp. 290-292)

28 February 1885

CROW WING authorized to gain area north of Mississippi River from CASS, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 549/p. 158; Minn. Laws 1885, gen., ch. 203, secs. 1-3/pp. 274-275)

10 February 1887

ITASCA detached from CROW WING, attached to AITKIN "for record and judicial purposes." (Minn. Laws 1887, gen., ch. 264, secs. 1-2/pp. 383-384)

2 March 1887

CASS authorized to gain from MORRISON the area north of Township 131, dependent upon local referendum and other conditions; change not effected. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 583/p. 169; Minn. Laws 1887, gen., ch. 260, secs. 1-5/p. 379)

3 March 1887

HUBBARD fully organized, detached from WADENA. (Minn. Laws 1887, gen., ch. 110, sec. 1/pp. 193-194)

7 March 1887

AITKIN gained small area from CASS [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1887_pt. for location]. (Minn. Laws 1887, gen., ch. 117, sec. 1/p. 202)

ITASCA gained from CASS. (Minn. Laws 1887, gen., ch. 116, sec. 1/pp. 201-202)

6 November 1888

CROW WING gained from CASS; CASS remained attached to CROW WING. (Minn. Laws 1887, gen., ch. 118, secs. 1-3/pp. 203-204)

8 March 1889

STEARNS authorized to gain small area from SHERBURNE (4 sq. mi. at northwest corner of SHERBURNE), dependent upon local referendum that failed (no change). (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 605/p. 175; Minn. Laws 1889, gen., ch. 169, secs. 1-2/pp. 277-278)

15 April 1889

BELTRAMI exchanged with CASS. (HRS Minn., Beltrami, 8-9; Minn. Laws 1889, gen., ch. 75, secs. 1-2/p. 188)

24 February 1891

COOK detached from ST. LOUIS, attached to LAKE "for judicial purposes." (COOK remained indirectly attached to ST. LOUIS, through LAKE, until 27 February 1891). (Minn. Laws 1891, gen., ch. 138, sec. 1/p. 230)

27 February 1891

LAKE fully organized, detached from ST. LOUIS. (Minn. Laws 1891, gen., ch. 139, sec. 1/p. 231)

7 March 1891

ITASCA fully organized for county and judicial purposes, detached from AITKIN. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 568/p. 164; Minn. Laws 1891, gen., ch. 147, secs. 1, 5/pp. 284-285; Rottsolk, 10-19)

14 April 1891

CASS authorized to gain from MORRISON the area north of Township 131, dependent upon local referendum that failed [no change]. (HRS Minn., Morrison, 17; Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 583/p. 169; Minn. Laws 1891, gen., ch. 148, secs. 1-2, 5/pp. 285-286)

27 March 1893

SIBLEY authorized to gain small area from LE SUEUR, dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Gen. Stat. 1894, ch. 8, title 1, sec. 604/pp. 175-176; Minn. Laws 1893, gen., ch. 159, secs. 1-2/p. 302)

6 November 1894

COLUMBIA (proposed), NASH (proposed), NELSON (proposed), and RED LAKE (proposed) authorized to be created from POLK, dependent upon local referenda that failed; counties not created [no boundary descriptions located; not mapped]. (Polk Co. Hist. Soc., corres., Dec. 1998; Red River Valley, 2:877)

ROSEAU created from KITTSON, fully organized. (Gov. Proc., 1 Dec. 1894, Roseau Co. Hist. Soc.)

9 April 1895

LAKE gained from ST. LOUIS. Since 1856 the boundary had run due north from the mouth of the Knife River; in 1895 it was moved west to the range line. (Minn. Laws 1895, gen., ch. 248, sec. 1/p.622)

25 June 1895

HUBBARD gained from CASS. (HRS Minn., Hubbard, 8)

10 February 1896

ROSEAU gained from BELTRAMI. (Gov. Proc., 10 Feb. 1896, Roseau Co. Hist. Soc.)

20 February 1896

[c. 20 Feb 1896] CROW WING gained from CASS. (Crow Wing Co. Hist. Soc., corres., Sep. 1998; Heilbron, "Variations," 490-491; HRS Minn., Cass, 8)

3 November 1896

RED LAKE created from POLK, fully organized. At same election COLUMBIA (second, proposed), GARFIELD (proposed), HILL (proposed), MILLS (proposed), and NELSON (second, proposed) also authorized to be created from POLK, dependent on local referenda, but none were successful; voters approved creation of COLUMBIA and MILLS (but state supreme court ruled referenda invalid), and creation of GARFIELD, HILL, and NELSON defeated in referenda. GARFIELD, HILL, MILLS [no boundary description located; not mapped], and NELSON never created; COLUMBIA [no boundary description located; not mapped] created 4 November 1902. (Bingham and Holcombe, 129-130; Minn. Reports 89: 123-131; Polk Co. Hist. Soc., corres., Dec. 1998)

6 April 1897

BELTRAMI fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from BECKER; CASS fully organized for county government and judicial purposes, detached from CROW WING. (Minn. Laws 1897, gen., ch. 99, secs. 1, 4/pp. 122-124)

6 January 1898

CASS gained from CROW WING when state supreme court ruled boundary change of c. 20 February 1896 unconstitutional. (Heilbron, "Variations," 490-491; HRS Minn., Cass, 8; Minn. Reports, 66:519- 535)

8 November 1898

WADENA gained from CASS. (Minn. Laws 1897, gen., ch. 396, secs. 1-4/pp. 649-650)

1 January 1901

COOK fully organized, detached from LAKE. (Minn. Laws 1899, gen., ch. 108, sec. 1/pp. 113-114)

4 November 1902

CLEARWATER created from BELTRAMI, fully organized. (Gov. Proc., 1901-1958, Minn. Hist. Soc.)

COLUMBIA (extinct) created from POLK. At the same election, NELSON (proposed), STAR (proposed), or VALLEY (proposed) authorized to be created from POLK, dependent upon local referenda, but none were successful; voters approved creation of NELSON and STAR (but state supreme court ruled referenda invalid), and creation of VALLEY defeated in referendum. (Bingham and Holcombe, 125-129; Minn. Reports 89:123-131; Polk Co. Hist. Soc., corres., Dec. 1998)

16 April 1903

Creation of COLUMBIA (extinct) declared unconstitutional by state supreme court; COLUMBIA eliminated and area reverted to POLK. (Bingham and Holcombe, 125-129; Minn. Reports, 89:123-131)

6 November 1906

KOOCHICHING created from ITASCA, fully organized. (Minn. Laws 1907, gen., gov. proc., p. iii-v)

MAHNOMEN created from NORMAN, fully organized. (Minn. Laws 1907, gen., gov. proc., pp. vi-viii)

3 November 1908

NELSON (proposed) authorized to be created from POLK, dependent upon local referendum that failed; county never created [no boundary description located; not mapped]. (Red River Valley, 2:878)

8 November 1910

PENNINGTON created from RED LAKE, fully organized. (Minn. Laws 1911, gen., gov. proc., pp. 3-6)

29 March 1917

AITKIN exchanged with CROW WING [area gained by AITKIN too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1917_pt. for location]. (Minn. Laws 1917, ch. 135, secs. 1-2/p. 184)

13 September 1918

Minnesota and Wisconsin exchanged islands in the Mississippi River. WINONA gained Island no. 72 (opposite city of Winona) from Wisconsin; HOUSTON lost Baron's Island in Mississippi River (opposite La Crosse, Wis.), to Wisconsin [not mapped]. (Minn. Laws 1917, ch. 116, secs. 1-5/pp. 142-144; Laws of Wis., 1917, reg. sess., ch. 64, secs. 1-4/pp. 171-172; Laws of Wis., 1937, reg. sess., ch. 186, secs. 1-2/p. 311; Van Zandt, 131)

7 February 1922

U.S. Supreme Court approved commissioners' report establishing Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary along St. Louis River from St. Louis Bay (Lake Superior) to falls near the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation, Minn. [no change]. (Van Zandt, 130-131)

7 November 1922

LAKE OF THE WOODS created from BELTRAMI, fully organized. (Gov. Proc., 1901-1958, Minn. Hist. Soc.)

1 January 1938

BIG STONE gained from LAC QUI PARLE. The change separated LAC QUI PARLE into two parts when it retained a portion of sec. 9 / township 121 / range 46 (near present-day Ortonville). (HRS Minn., Big Stone, 10; Minn. Laws 1937, ch. 423, secs. 1-3/pp. 614-615)

25 August 1961

CLAY lost small area (c. 20 acres) to North Dakota when channel of Red River altered near Moorhead, Minn./Fargo, N. Dak. [not mapped]. (Van Zandt, 134)

8 November 1977

LAC QUI PARLE gained from BIG STONE (boundary change of 1 January 1938 rescinded in local referendum). LAC QUI PARLE no longer divided into two parts. (Minn. Laws 1977, ch. 48, sec. 1/p. 93)

22 May 1979

BIG STONE gained from LAC QUI PARLE (reenacted boundary change of 1 January 1838). LAC QUI PARLE once again divided into two parts when it retained a small portion of sec. 9 / township 121 / range 41 (near present-day Ortonville). (Minn. Laws 1979, ch. 154, sec. 1/p. 226)

6 November 1979

BIG STONE authorized to gain small area from LAC QUI PARLE (at Ortonville), dependent upon local referendum; change not effected. (Minn. Laws 1979, ch. 154, sec. 2/p. 226)