Northfield

Northfield is a city in Rice County, Minnesota, where the Cannon River runs through the center and low hills roll across the surrounding countryside. The streets arrange themselves around a central downtown lined with brick storefronts and rows of mature trees.

John W. North founded the settlement in 1855 around a mill on the river, and over the following decades it grew from an agricultural trading center. Two colleges opened their doors in the second half of the 19th century, reshaping the character of the town.

Two liberal arts institutions, Carleton College established in 1866 and St. Olaf College founded in 1874, shape the intellectual character of the community.

Interstate 35 connects the city to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to the north, and road signs guide you toward the two college campuses and the historic downtown. Parking is available along the main street and in several public lots near the river.

A failed bank robbery in 1876 still shapes the downtown today: the old bank building stands on Division Street and reminds visitors of that encounter with the James-Younger Gang. Each September, residents celebrate the story with period costumes and reenactments.

Location: Rice County

Inception: 1855

Elevation above the sea: 278 m

Website: http://ci.northfield.mn.us

GPS coordinates: 44.45833,-93.16111

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:46