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Faribault, Minnesota

Faribault, Minnesota
City
City of Faribault
Buildings in downtown Faribault
Buildings in downtown Faribault
Flag of Faribault, Minnesota
Flag
Nickname(s): "Faribo" "Athens of the West"
Motto: "Small Town Pride, Big City Opportunities"
Location of the city of Faribaultwithin Rice Countyin the state of Minnesota
Location of the city of Faribault
within Rice County
in the state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 44°17′26.12″N 93°16′5.95″W / 44.2905889°N 93.2683194°W / 44.2905889; -93.2683194Coordinates: 44°17′26.12″N 93°16′5.95″W / 44.2905889°N 93.2683194°W / 44.2905889; -93.2683194
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Rice
Government
 • Mayor Kevin Voracek
Area
 • Total 15.67 sq mi (40.59 km2)
 • Land 15.32 sq mi (39.68 km2)
 • Water 0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
Elevation 994 ft (303 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 23,352
 • Estimate (2015) 23,650
 • Density 1,524.3/sq mi (588.5/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 55021
Area code(s) 507
FIPS code 27-20546
GNIS feature ID 0643560
Website www.faribault.org

Faribault (/ˈfɛərb/ FAIR-boh) is a city in Rice County, Minnesota, United States. It is the county seat. The population was 23,352 at the 2010 census. Faribault is approximately 50 miles (80 km) south of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highways 3, 21, and 60 are four of the main routes in the community.

Faribault is situated at the confluence of the Cannon and Straight Rivers in southern Minnesota.

Faribault is regarded as one of the most historic communities in Minnesota, with settlement and commercial activity predating Minnesota’s establishment as a U.S. Territory. Prior to 1745, the area was primarily occupied by the Wahpekute band of Dakotah. Shortly thereafter, the tribe was driven south after several clashes with the Ojibwe over territory.

The city's namesake, Alexander Faribault, was the son of Jean-Baptiste Faribault, a French-Canadian fur trader and Elizabeth Pelagie Kinzie Haines, a woman of the Dakotah tribe. He is credited with fueling most of the early settlement activity in the area beginning in 1826, when he established a fur trading post on the banks of the Cannon River. By 1834, the trading post had grown in popularity and was relocated to the Straight River, one mile (1.6 km) upstream of its junction with the Cannon River, the site of modern-day Faribault. The young Alexander Faribault used his knowledge of Dakotah language and culture to improve relations with the displaced Wahpekute and even helped the tribe to resettle in the area. This relationship was instrumental in ensuring the success of the trading post and allowing safe travel to the area for settlers.


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