I love to learn about and/or visit ghost towns, counties that no longer exist, and the majestic buildings (or former sites) that were demolished for “progress.”
Minnesota has a former county that was home to several towns. Sarah Given will explore the history of Columbia Heights and Hilltop, Minnesota, at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Columbia Heights Public Library, 820 40th Av. NE. I wish I could attend, but I will be lecturing in New York on that day.
Why do I wish I could attend?
Once upon a time, there was Manomin County, Minnesota. It was situated between Hennepin and Anoka counties. It didn’t last long and a timeline of the changes is too long to post today. According to a recent article “Too small to survive on its own, that little dog tail of land that is now Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley and Spring Lake Park ultimately chose to join Anoka County in 1870.”
Read more about it and the upcoming presentation in the [Minneapolis] StarTribune.
Another bit of explanation about the former county is part of Minnesota Place Names on the Minnesota Historical Society website.
In case you are wondering, this is not the same county as Mahnomen County in Northwestern Minnesota. It was formed from Norman County in 1906. Read more here.
© 2015, Paula Stuart-Warren. All rights reserved.
