History

Milling times

Northfield was founded in 1855 on the banks of the Cannon River. Northfield began as a mill town. Its founder, John W. North, built a dam, a sawmill for lumber and a gristmill for flour. The Ames flour mill turned wheat from nearby fields into flour that won a prize at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition.

 

Get your guns boys

The events that occurred in Northfield on September 7, 1876, gave Northfield is place in the history books. The infamous Jesse James and his gang rode into town to rob the First National Bank. The raid was thwarted by the brave townspeople who answered the call, "Get your guns boys. They're robbing the bank." Joseph Lee Heywood, acting cashier, was killed when he refused to open the safe. A Swedish immigrant died in the street, along with two members of the gang. Jesse James, Cole Younger and the others road out of Northfield along what is now called The Outlaw Trail.

 

Cows and colleges

By 1880, Northfield had grown to 2,300 people. Flour milling was on the decline. Dairy farming replaced wheat harvesting and soon Northfield was the center of the Holstein cattle industry. While the town’s businesses grew, Northfield residents sought to strengthen the fiber of their young with higher education. The Congregational churches founded Northfield College in 1866 and had 23 students its first term. By 1871, the name was changed to Carleton College to honor an early benefactor, William Carleton of Charleston, Massachusetts.

In 1874, St. Olaf College was founded to educate Norwegian immigrants. Founder B.J. Muus explained the necessity for “higher schools for the Norwegian people in America.” Renowned as a seat of Norwegian culture, the college houses the national archives of the Norwegian-American Historical Society. St. Olaf also has a rich tradition in music with an internationally acclaimed choir.

 

Growing and going strong

Today, Northfield’s two colleges and business climate continue to thrive. Carleton draws nearly 2,000 students from across country, and St. Olaf has grown to over 3,000 students. Several important industries have developed in Northfield, involving everything from food processing to revolutionary advances in computer technology.

Embracing History

Northfield honors its history. Most of the buildings along Division Street date from 1875 to 1905 and have been well-preserved. Some of these buildings, as well as others in the community, are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Northfield Historical Society is an important community resource for honoring, preserving and interpreting Northfield’s unique place in history.