In the United States, railroad production and expansion skyrocketed post-Civil War until the start of the 20th century. The state of Minnesota was no exception to this boom. From the time when the first operational railroad in the state began in 1862 until 1900, nearly 7,000 miles of tracks were laid in the state. When railroads were built in Murray county starting in 1878, the area was sparsely populated with only one platted village (Currie). The population of Murray County in 1870 was 209. Thanks to the railroad, the population in the county by 1900 was 11,911. With that, the railroad helped plat ten new villages and changed generations of area residents for decades to come. This lecture will talk about the history of railroads that were located in Murray county and the impact it had on the region.
If you have any questions or issues with viewing the presentation, contact the Murray County Historical Museum at 507-836-6533 or museum@co.murray.mn.us.