Near Willmar in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Whitefield Town Site
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014
1. Whitefield Town Site Marker
In the fall of 1856, a party of land speculators, organized by Edwin Whitefield, projected a town site on the west shore of Lake Wakanda. As a real estate agent and artist, Whitefield did much to impress the merits of the Minnesota frontier upon prospective settlers in the East. Whitefield, born in England, made his way across the United States painting towns and selling the prints of the frontier. Whitefield, David Charlton and C. L. Anderson selected the location of the Whitefield town site in Sections I and II of the present Whitefield Township. The plat of this town site was never recorded. The only marker left by the town site promoters was the word "Whitefield" cut into the bark of a tree on the site of the town site. Whitefield gave names to several of the lakes in what is now Kandiyohi County. Lake Lillian is named for his wife. His pencil sketches and water colors of the areas he visited are nationally known.
the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and
Cultural Heritage Fund and the Kandiyohi
this page online
Erected by the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, with funds from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.
Location. 45° 4.006′ N, 95° 2.397′ W. Marker is near Willmar, Minnesota, in Kandiyohi County. Marker is on 60th Avenue Southeast, 0.1 miles east of U.S. 71, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Willmar MN 56201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Kandiyohi County Indian History (approx. 3.7 miles away); "Kandiyohi" (approx. 3.7 miles away); Great Northern Railway Engine No. 2523 (approx. 4.2 miles away); Geology of the Willmar Region (approx. 4.2 miles away); Veterans War Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away); Robbins Island (approx. 4.4 miles away); C.C.C. Worker (approx. 4.7 miles away); Veteran's Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Willmar.
More about this marker. The marker has the Historic Site seal of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society · 1895.
Also see . . .
1. Edwin Whitefield. Minnesota Historical Society. (Submitted on December 2, 2014.)
2. Mirror of History. Willmar
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014
2. Whitefield Town Site Marker
3. Edwin Whitefield Settlers' Artist. Minnesota Historical Society. (Submitted on December 2, 2014.)
4. Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Museum homepage (Submitted on December 2, 2014.)
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014
3. Whitefield Town Site Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 549 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 2, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
