What is the history of Faribault, Minnesota?
Faribault is regarded as one of the most historic communities in Minnesota, with settlement and commercial activity predating Minnesota’s establishment as a Minnesota TerritoryU.S. Territory. Prior to 1745, the area was primarily occupied by the Wahpekute band of SiouxDakotah. Shortly thereafter, the tribe was driven south after several clashes with the Ojibwe over territory. The city’s namesake, Alexander Faribault, was the son of a French-Canadian fur trader and a woman of the Dakotah tribe. He is credited with fueling most of the early settlement activity in the area beginning in 1826, when he established a fur trading post on the banks of the Cannon River. By 1834, the trading post had grown in popularity and been relocated to the Straight River, one mile upstream of its junction with the Cannon River, the site of modern-day Faribault. The young Alexander Faribault used his knowledge of Dakotah language and culture to improve relations with the displaced Wahpekute and even helped t
