Small Town Series

Roscoe, Minnesota is a town of 102 people located in western Stearns County east of Paynesville and west of Richmond along Highway 23. Roscoe was originally called "Zion" and was established in 1865. In 1914 the town was changed to Roscoe.

Richmond is a town of 1,420 people but the town wasn't always known as Richmond. This is the story of Richmond in Central Minnesota located southwest of St. Cloud along Highway 23.

WJON's small town series brings us to Duelm in St. George township in Benton County. Duelm is an unincorporated community located along Duelm Road near 110th Avenue. Stoney Brook flows through the community.

Buckman is a small town in southern Morrison County in Buckman township with a population of 307. It was established in 1869 and was named after one it's early settlers, Clarence B. Buckman.

In1856 in Central Minnesota a fort was built north of what is now the town of Kimball. That fort and settlement was called Maine Prairie. In 1886 the railroad went through a location south of Maine Prairie where present day Kimball is now located.

South Haven is a small town located in northwestern Wright County along Highway 55 between Kimball and Annandale. The town has a population of 187 and was platted in 1888. South Haven is in southside township and is 2 miles south of Fairhaven which likely contributed to the name of the town.

Foley is a town of 2,603 people located where Highways 23 and 25 intersect in Benton County. Mary Ostby is the Executive Director of the Benton County Historical Society. She and Mayor Elect Jack Brosh joined me on WJON to talk about Foley.

St. Martin is a town in Central Stearns County along county roads 12 and 195. The town has a population of 343. St. Martin was planned in 1866 and has been an incorporated city since 1891.

Holdingford is a small town of 743 people in Central Minnesota approximately 25 miles from St. Cloud, Little Falls and Sauk Centre. Holdingford is featured this time on WJON's Small Town Series. I talked with longtime Holdingford residents Mike Odden and Herman Ebnet.

Watkins is a town of 962 people located in northern Meeker County along Highway 55 west of Kimball and east of Eden Valley. It was established in the 1870s and has had a post office since 1887. To help tell the story of Watkins I was joined by longtime Watkins residents Frank Eder and Jerry Oster and current Mayor Christopher Rowan.

Farming is a small town in Central Stearns County along county roads 23, 41 and 42. Farming is located approximately 9 miles north of Richmond and 7 miles south of Albany.

Richmond is a town of 1,420 people but the town wasn't always known as Richmond. This is the story of Richmond in Central Minnesota located southwest of St. Cloud along Highway 23.