Local Geography:Wright County in the 1880s

Grade 8Buffalo Community Middle School

Fall 2009

What was the largest city in

Wright County in 1880?

Delano in 1880

What site advantages

contributed to making Delano the county’s largest?

1st RR Town in County

Only town with RR and river transportation

What was Delano’s original name?

Crow River Crossing

What was Delano name after?

Railroad Superintendent

What was Wright County’s second

largest city in 1880?

Monticello (1870)

Monticello (1884)

What were the main geographical advantages of

Monticello in 1880?

Mississippi Dock

Mississippi Steam Boats

First town to be established in the county

Most reliable and fastest connection to St. Paul

What was the third largest city in

Wright County in 1880?

“Downtown” Clearwater

What geographical advantages did

Clearwater have in 1880?

Most Land in Prairie

Mississippi River Connections

Logs in Mississippi near Clearwater

Logs in Mississippi near Clearwater

Log Drivers

Log Drivers

Clearwater Ferry (1880)

Clearwater Ferry (1880)

Clearwater Ferry (2008)

3 Sources of Water Power

County’s Largest General Store (est. 1861)

Clearwater’s General Store (2008)

Largest Cities inWright County 1880

1) DELANO 4072) MONTICELLO 2903) CLEARWATER 218

Cokato (1880)

What was the fourth largest city in

Wright County in 1880?

• Railroad

• Large amount of land in prairie

• Small water power source on Sucker Creek

What site advantages did Cokato have in 1880?

What was this city’s original name?

Moer’s Prairie

What famous event occurred in this city

in 1883?

Wright County’s largest fire (1883)

Wright County’s largest fire (1883)

What was the fifth largest city in

Wright County in 1880?

Rockford

What geographical advantages did

Rockford have in 1880?

First bridge across the Crow R.

Water Power (Rockford Woolen Mills)

Water Power (Rockford Roller Mills)

What was the sixth largest city in

Wright County in 1880?

Buffalo

Wright County Court House

Original Oakley StoreOne of Buffalo’s Oldest Structures

Original American HotelOne of Buffalo’s Oldest Structures

Largest Cities inWright County 1880

4) COKATO 174 5) ROCKFORD 159 6) BUFFALO 143

1) DELANO 407 2) MONTICELLO 290 3) CLEARWATER 218

What was the seventh largest city in Wright County in

1880?

Montrose Rail Depot

What city began as a milling site although

their dam washed out three times?

Hanover

Hanover Saw Mill

Largest Cities inWright County 1880

7) MONTROSE 141 8) WAVERLY 124 9) HANOVER 104

1) DELANO 407 2) MONTICELLO 290 3) CLEARWATER 218 4) COKATO 174 5) ROCKFORD 159 6) BUFFALO 143

Main Wright County Products 1880

Main Wright County Products 1880

Main Wright County Products 1880

Ginseng