Crime in Chippewa County, Minnesota

Chippewa County, Minnesota was established in 1862 and organized in 1868 from a portion of Renville County. In 1870, a portion of northern Chippewa County was taken to form Swift County. The county took its name from the Chippewa River, which had been named after the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people, reflecting its significance to the indigenous population. The river’s name was given by the Dakota, who referred to it as “Manya Wakan” which translates to “remarkable or wonderful bluffs.” Chippewa City was the first village to be laid out in Chippewa County. It was on the west side of the Chippewa River, just north of the confluence with the Minnesota River. Every place has a story to tell. These stories from the county’s early beginnings, date from the 1850s to 1930s. The stories involve crimes of all sorts, including murders, burglaries, a stabbing, an accidental poisoning, a mysterious suicide, a salacious scandal, a fatal train wreck, an escape of a criminal, gang activities and more. These are just a few of the stories that shaped Chippewa County, but there are many more stories waiting to be discovered among the dusty archives.