Monongalia County, Minnesota facts for kids

Monongalia County was a county that used to exist in the state of Minnesota, in the United States. It was officially recognized in 1858. However, a big event called the Dakota War of 1862 caused delays in setting up its government. The county finally became organized in 1861.

The county was named after Monongalia County in Virginia. Today, that part of Virginia is known as Monongalia County, West Virginia. This happened because many people who lived in the new Minnesota county had moved there from Virginia. The main town, or county seat, for Monongalia County was New London. Before that, it was briefly located in a place called Columbia.

Why Monongalia County Disappeared

In 1870, the state government of Minnesota made an important decision. They ordered Monongalia County to join with its neighbor to the south, Kandiyohi County.

The Problem of Courthouses

Both Monongalia and Kandiyohi counties faced a similar challenge. They were both new and growing, but neither county had been able to collect enough money to build a proper courthouse. A courthouse is a very important building where county leaders work and where legal matters are handled. Without one, it was hard for the counties to operate smoothly.

Finding a New County Seat

After the state ordered the merger, the two counties needed to agree on a new main town for the combined area. In February 1871, they finally decided that Willmar would become the new county seat. Willmar took over this role from a place called Kandiyohi Station, which had been the county seat for Kandiyohi County before the merger. This decision helped the new, larger county to become more organized and efficient.