Org, Minnesota facts for kids

Org is a small, unincorporated community located in Nobles County, Minnesota, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does. It's more like a neighborhood or a tiny village.

Where is Org?

Map of Nobles County, Minnesota - circa 1895

Org, Minnesota - USGS - 2010

Org is found about four miles southwest of a larger city called Worthington. You can reach it by following Minnesota State Highway 60 and U.S. Route 59. The community is also right next to the Union Pacific Railroad's main train line that connects Minneapolis to Omaha.

Main highways near Org include:

• U.S. Highway 59
• Minnesota State Highway 60

A Look at Org's Past

How Org Got Its Name

Org wasn't always called Org! Back in 1872, it was known as Islen. This name came from Adrian C. Iselin, who was a director of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company. At that time, Islen was just a small stop for trains. It had a section house (a building for railroad workers) and a water-stop. Steam trains needed a lot of water, so these stops were built every 8 to 12 miles along the tracks.

In 1876, the railroad built a new track from Islen to Sioux Falls. Because of this, the name changed to Sioux Falls Junction. Then, in 1890, the name changed again to Org. This new name was chosen by W.A. Scott, a general manager for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. This company had taken over the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad. Scott thought the train junction was a great spot for a town. No one is quite sure why he picked "Org," but some people think it might have come from the word "dog." The town was officially planned out in 1899, and a train station was built. Even though Org never became an official city, it had its own post office from 1895 to 1917.

Famous Visitors to Org

Theodore Roosevelt speaking in Org

Believe it or not, two American presidents once visited Org!

• In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt passed through Org. He was running for president as a candidate for the Bull Moose Party. Roosevelt actually stopped his train in Org and gave a speech from the back of it!
• Later, in 1919, Woodrow Wilson also traveled through Org. He was on a trip across the country to talk about the Treaty of Versailles. Wilson's train didn't stop, but it slowed down enough to switch tracks.

Org's Best Years

For many years, Org had only one main road. This was an old wagon road that connected Worthington, Minnesota to Sibley, Iowa. In 1931, a new paved highway was built (U.S. Route 59 / Minnesota State Highway 60). This new road ran parallel to the old wagon road. A short road was then built to connect the two, and this became Org's main business area.

At its busiest, Org had several businesses. It had a post office, a train station, a large building for storing grain (called a grain elevator), a general store, a lumber company, a coal company, and even a gas station.

Org's Decline

The train track that went to Sioux Falls was not used very much. By the 1950s, it was almost completely abandoned. After that, Org started to decline. The grain elevator and the train station closed down. The general store and gas station also shut their doors. By the 1970s, Org was mostly just a few family homes, an old, unused grain elevator, and some buildings that were falling apart.

Org Today

Grain elevator seen behind Roosevelt train today (2020)

Same abandoned grain elevator as above, photographed in 2010

The last person who claimed to be the Mayor of Org, Mark Marcotte, left around 1980. However, there's no official record that he was ever elected to that role.

In 2000, Org's original road was changed to a "minimum maintenance roadway," meaning it would not be kept up as much. By 2010, the State of Minnesota bought many of the remaining homes. This was to make way for a big project to upgrade Minnesota State Highway 60 from two lanes to four lanes.

The old train line, once run by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, is now operated by Union Pacific. It's actually busier than ever! But for Org itself, almost all signs of the town are now gone.

Images for kids

• Org, Minnesota, postmark.png

  Org, Minnesota, postmark on postcard - circa 1909

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  First Train on the St Paul and Sioux City Railway