Small Town Series

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.

Every small town has a story and this is the story of St. Wendel. St. Wendel is an unincorporated town located north of St. Joseph, Avon and Holdingford in St. Wendel township in Stearns County. The community is located along Stearns County Road 4 and 130th Avenue.

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

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.

Freeport is a small town in Central Stearns County in Oak Township with a population of 632. Freeport's water tower with a smiley face greets travelers along I-94 daily. Freeport wasn't always called Freeport.

Freeport is a town in Central Stearns County approximately 30 minutes west of St. Cloud in Oak Township. Freeport's population in the most recent census is 632.

St. Joseph is a growing small town in Stearns County just west of St. Cloud with a population of 7,029 according to the most recent census. The town was originally plated in 1855 and named after the church which was established prior to the town.

St. Augusta is an incorporated city just south of St. Cloud in southeastern Stearns County. The town is quite large in that it encompasses approximately 30 square miles and has a population of 3,497 people according to the most recent census.

Fairhaven is an unincorporated town in southeastern Stearns County in Fairhaven Township. The town has a population of 358 people based on the most recent census. Fairhaven is located along County Roads 7 and 44.