History of Stearns County
Early Settlement
Long before the first European settlers called it home, Stearns County land was home to several indigenous tribes, including the Ojibwa, Dakota, Sioux and Chippewa. Stearns County borders the Mississippi River, the largest waterway in Minnesota, and was included in many explorers' travels, including the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805. Several more explorers came to this area during the mid-1800's and fur trading posts were established. The County Seat, St. Cloud, traces its roots back to 1853 and settlements then followed along the Watab and Sauk Rivers in Le Sauk and St. Joseph townships.
The first large influx of immigrants, most of German Catholic descent, began to arrive in the 1850's and some settled in St. Cloud while others settled in St. Wendel, St. Joseph, St. Augusta, Wakefield and Collegville townships. Early arrivals came from eastern states as well as directly from Germany. There were craftsmen who pursued their former occupations, but the majority were farmers. Because wheat and other cash crops thrived in the rich Central Minnesota soil, the county's reputation for good farmland spread quickly, and by the beginning of the 20th century the county's population had grown to 44,464.
Stevens County?
What is now Stearns County was officially established on February 20, 1855. Originally the name Stevens County was used, to honor Governor Isaac I. Stevens, who had conducted an expedition to the area in 1853. However, the name was changed to Stearns to honor Charles Thomas Stearns. Charles Stearns was a member of the Territorial Council, and had taken an active part in securing the passage of the bill establishing the county. Stearns moved to St. Cloud the following year and became a prominent member of the developing city. His Stearns Hotel became the original building on the St. Cloud State University campus.
Early County Board
In the legislative act organizing the County, it directed the Territorial Governor to appoint three county commissioners and designated St. Cloud the county seat. The County Board first met in April of 1855. In 1856 the County Board took action to establish fees. For example, the fee to rent an office for one year was $50. The District Attorney's salary was set at $200. According to the census, in 1860 Stearns County had a population of 4,505. As the population grew, the County Board grew to five commissioners. Beginning in the 1860's through the end of the century, County government functions focused on road construction, bridge building, and school funding. During that time efforts were also made to assist poor residents and manage public health issues. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, and the Civil War was close at hand. In 1861 the County Board allowed for a special fee of $25 to be paid to the St. Cloud Guards to buy ammunition and "have it ready for use when called for." In 1862 the Board approved to pay $25 to each Stearns County Union Army volunteer; $10 more if he had a family.
St. Cloud has always been the County Seat for Stearns County, but an unsuccessful attempt was made in 1913 to move the County Seat to Albany, a more centrally located village. A petition had been brought before the Board but after much deliberation and public discussion, the Board rejected the request on the basis that there were not enough signatures on the petition.
Courthouses
Stearns County opened its first Courthouse on July 12, 1864. It was used until 1922 when the current structure was dedicated. In the original plan of the current Courthouse, a mall was to run down from each entering street, but land acquisition by private developers prevented this. In the 1800s, when commissioners would come to attend County Board meetings, they often had to leave the day prior to the meeting to get here on time. Commissioners would spend the night in St. Cloud and then conduct County business the next day. The Courthouse was never fully locked in those days. There were public restrooms that people could use when traveling from the far end of the County. Additionally, people from the western end of the County would sleep in the attic if it was too late to return to their homes.
The current courthouse is a beautiful structure. The clock on the outside weighs an astounding 2,000 pounds! It's pendulum alone weighs 200 pounds. According to Bert Stafford, former St. Cloud jeweler, the clock is made of such quality material that it will outlast any clock in existence, including the highly touted Big Ben of London. The clock is eight feet tall, four feet wide and two feet thick. Not only does the courthouse have a monstrous clock, the granite columns at the main entrance are 36 feet high and 4.5 feet in diameter. Each weighs 50 tons! Learn more about the Courthouse.
County Offices
The first County Officers were appointed on April 9, 1855 to the positions of: Clerk of Board and Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Sheriff, Judge of Probate, Surveyor, and Assessor. Today Stearns County has 18 departments:
* Currently Elected Offices
Back in the early days of Stearns County all County business was conducted from the Courthouse. In addition to the growth of departments, the County has also seen great evolvement in the structure of its buildings. The new Courthouse was completed in 1922 and remodeled in 1991. The Courts Facility building opened in 1991. The Law Enforcement Center was built in 1986 and the Administration Center was completed in 1990. The newest County building is the Service Center, constructed in 2009. Learn more about the County's buildings.
Preserving the Past
Today Stearns County is still a thriving area whose communities are always changing and whose government continues to provide services to its growing population. To learn more about Stearns County history, visit the Stearns History Museum and see the exhibit "Crossing Stearns County" which features photos, memorabilia and clothing from the past 150 years of the County's history.
The museum is located at 235 33rd Ave S in St. Cloud. For more information, call 320-253-8424 or visit http://www.stearns-museum.org/.