Ottertail in Otter Tail County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
First County Seat of Otter Tail County
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 2023
1. First County Seat of Otter Tail County Marker
Erected 1933 by Otter Tail County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.
Location. 46° 25.593′ N, 95° 34.781′ W. Marker is in Ottertail, Minnesota, in Otter Tail County. Marker is on Bay View Road just west of Otter Tail Scenic Byway (State Highway 78/108), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 89 Bay View Road, Ottertail MN 56571, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Otter Tail City & Ottertail Village (within shouting distance of this marker); Otter Tail City (within shouting distance of this marker); Craigie Flour Mill (approx. 5 miles away); Old Clitherall (approx. 11˝ miles away); Perham (approx. 11.7 miles away); Arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway at Perham (approx. 11.7 miles away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Otter Tail City
Also see . . .
this page online
1. Otter Tail County, Minnesota (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Otter Tail City began as a waystation on a fur-trade route between Saint Paul and the Red River valley. The settlement was of sufficient size that when the Minnesota Territory established a US land office for this part of the territory, the office was sited at Otter Tail City. Thus, the city was named as the seat when the county was organized, but people had begun settling the future Fergus Falls area in 1857, and it grew sufficiently that in fall 1872, the vote was taken to move the county seat there. The Northern Pacific Railroad had initially planned to run a line through Otter Tail City, but complications caused the line to be placed in Fergus Falls, which precipitated the county seat move.(Submitted on September 28, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. History & Settlement of Otter Tail County, MN. Excerpt:
Otter Tail County was established in March 1858 by a legislative act. It was organized in 1868. The original county seat was Otter Tail City. The people of Fergus Falls organized a new county named Holcomb. In 1872, a legislative act abolished Holcomb County, added additional townships to the west, and established Fergus Falls as(Submitted on September 28, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the county seat of Otter Tail County, and built a new county courthouse.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 5, 20232. First County Seat of Otter Tail County Marker(looking south from Bay View Road)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 56 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
