History of Warroad
November 9th, 2021, marks 120 years since the City of Warroad was officially founded. It has grown and changed over the years as different industries rose and fell. Read on to learn more about our rich and storied history. Happy Founder’s Day!
Written by Erin Thompson, Warroad Heritage Center Museum Manager
Early French explorer LaVerendrye who used the Lake of the Woods to find a Northwest Passage in the eighteenth century.
The city of Warroad has a history stretching back further than the nineteenth century. Located on Lake of the Woods, the area saw travelers and traders using the lake and its many islands to search for the elusive Northwest Passage that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Native American tribes lived in the area for centuries prior to the arrival of white traders and settlers, and the town takes its name from the Native heritage of the area. Warroad was once the largest Chippewa village on Lake of the Woods, and their access to the waterways caused significant conflicts between warring tribes, especially the Sioux.
The Sioux, from the Red River Valley, frequently invaded the territory via inter-connected rivers, ending at the mouth of the Warroad River. This was considered the end of the “war road” which saw battles between these Native American tribes for many years.
The first permanent white settlers to the region came at the end of the nineteenth century to claim land opened by the Homestead Act of 1862. The Chippewa in the region, commonly known as Ojibwe, held kinship and mutual respect as high priorities and welcomed many of the new settlers to the area.
The village of Warroad formed as a township in 1895 and was annexed into the larger Roseau County in 1896. The move from township to an official city occurred on November 9, 1901.
Main Avenue, early 1900s
Over many decades, the village of Warroad saw the rise of many successful enterprises. Access to Lake of the Woods made Warroad a hotspot for commercial fishing throughout the year. Tourism was also a big industry, as the summer months saw hundreds flock to the harbor to enjoy the cool waters. The many islands on Lake of the Woods and a variety of lakeside settlements boosted the resort industry into the thriving business it is today. The fur trading industry in the area morphed into the trapping business, with many mink farms operating in and around Warroad. The steady stream of tourists and fishermen, along with the numerous family farms littering the city limits brought big business into the area.
Early Logging Scene
Finally, the lumber industry boomed, using the many waterways as means of hauling lumber from one point to another. The incorporation of two separate rail lines — Great Northern Railway and Canadian National Railway — eased the transportation of lumber and quickly pulled more people to Warroad.
This industry would bring George Marvin to Warroad in the first decade of 1900, where his small lumber mill would grow to become one of the largest window manufacturers in the United States and Canada.
Main Ave 1950-60’s
You cannot bring up Warroad, MN without mentioning their sports history. Baseball was the earliest staple of local sports, which multiple town teams formed as early as 1901. Warroad is most famous for its hockey program that also dates back to the early 1900s. Local townsmen formed teams to compete on outdoor rinks with neighboring villages, sometimes right on the frozen river. However, the brand of Warroad Hockey we know today began in 1938 under the tutelage of Cal Marvin. Since that time, the Warroad High School has sent the boys high school team to state 22 times. The girl’s hockey team, organized under Title IX in 1999, has gone to the state championship 11 times. Throughout the many years of town and high school hockey, Warroad has sent approximately 20 players on to play professional hockey, with participation in 8 different Olympic Games, including the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” This is why Warroad is commonly referred to as Hockeytown USA®.
The community is closely knit and includes a spot for everyone. The local Ojibwe community actively participates in powwows, school events, and works to maintain their heritage in the Warroad area. A growing population of Laotian, Vietnamese, and Hmong residents have opened a Buddhist temple on the outskirts of town and run numerous businesses catering to Asian and non-Asian clientele. The rich Scandanavian population in the area finds its home in local lutefisk and lefse events, as well as the Oktoberfest that comes around in the fall. The German heritage of many visitors and residents has recently seen a German historical center open up downtown. Each group adds immense value to the historical and cultural hub that is Warroad, Minnesota. And whether your interest is in the commercial fishing industry, the Northwest Angle and island life, local sports, or the down-to-earth farming history that abounds in the Warroad area, the city of Warroad offers the beauty of nature and the hometown feel that is lost in most urban areas.
