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Morrison County, Minnesota

71 topographic sheets cover 29 settlements here, and 15 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

15 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Morrison County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 322 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 15 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 12 buildings, 2 districts and 1 structure.
  • 3 of the 15 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 29 populated places in this county; 29 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

15

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Bridge No. 4969structure201514001175
Burton-Rosenmeier Housebuilding198686000328
Church of Our Savio-Episcopalbuilding198080002090
Charles A. Lindbergh House and Parkbuilding197070000303
Charles A. Lindbergh State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic Resourcesdistrict198989001655
Little Falls Carnegie Librarybuilding198080002091
Little Falls Commercial Historic Districtdistrict199494000740
Morrison County Courthousebuilding197878001552
Northern Pacific Railway Depotbuilding198585001987
Our Lady of the Angels Academybuilding200505001474
Pine Tree Lumber Company Office Buildingbuilding198585001991
St. Joseph's Church-Catholicbuilding198585001998
Warren, William, Two Rivers House Site and McDougall, Peter, Farmsteadbuilding197474001031
Weyerhaeuser, Charles A., and Musser, Richard Drew, Housesbuilding198585001990
Almond A. White Housebuilding198686000330

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

1,843 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,843 of them, burning about 43,280 acres. 9 started naturally and 780 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism780
Debris and open burning600
Equipment and vehicle use213
Missing data/not specified/undetermined107
Railroad operations and maintenance42
Recreation and ceremony41
Smoking31
Power generation/transmission/distribution13
Natural9
Fireworks3
Other causes3
Misuse of fire by a minor1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. 6 of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 April 1992Debris and open burning1,737 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 March 2003Arson/incendiarism1,250 acresMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesHOG PILE
5 April 1992Arson/incendiarism830 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
19 March 1998Arson/incendiarism750 acresCrane Meadows National Wildlife RefugeWEST SKUNK
5 April 2004Debris and open burning710 acresMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesWEST FIRE
18 April 1993Arson/incendiarism680 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 April 2006Arson/incendiarism663 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
22 April 1993Arson/incendiarism640 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1954 to 2025

60 of 376 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 376 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 26 injuries and about $11,063,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail170
Thunderstorm Wind145
Tornado30
Flash Flood11
Funnel Cloud8
Heavy Rain8
Flood3
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
September 1997Tornado (F3)Lastrup1 killed, 1 hurt, $1,700,000Several buildings destroyed and numerous other buildings damaged. Hundreds of trees down. A number of cattle killed in barn collapse. One man injured when the tornado engulfed his car and threw it into a nearby woods. A second man critically injured when his garage collapsed. He died several weeks later.Total path length of tornado from 1 NE of Lastrup to Onamia was 17 miles.
July 2001LightningCamp Ripley25 hurtOne U. S. Marine Reservist was critically injured, but survived and was released the next afernoon. Twenty four others were treated and released within hours of the strike.
April 2001Flash FloodCountywide$2,000,000no account filed
June 2022Flash FloodRandall$1,530,000Nearly 30 homes were evacuated in the town of Randall due to flood waters spilling over the banks of the Little Elk River. Numerous roads and bridges were also damaged. The heaviest rainfall occurred before 4 am, but flood waters developed during the morning. Damage totals were provided by Morrison County Emergency Management.
April 2001Flash FloodCountywide$1,500,000no account filed
September 2016Tornado (EF1)Darling$1,000,000A NWS storm survey concluded that an EF1 tornado with estimated winds of 90 mph, damaged several buildings and uprooted trees in Camp Ripley. One concrete block apartment style living quarters had its roof completely removed, and another one had its roof partially removed. Another high-roof garage building was mostly destroyed, with debris landing in an array of solar panels, which sustained significant damage. One car was lofted and deposited about 50 feet away. The tornado started just southeast of Randall and moved east, damaging a resort and a number of lake homes on the northwest side of Green Prairie Fish Lake. It then turned northeast and hit Camp Ripley. The core of the tornado tracked just north of the KRYM AWOS at the Camp Ripley airfield, which measured a peak gust of 56 knots. Specific wind measurements (in knots) were 14016G24 at 0333Z, 19034G56 at 0334Z, 24048G56 at 0335Z, 28048G56 at 0336Z, 33036G56 at 0337Z, and 30018G56 at 0338Z. The tornado intensified shortly thereafter, taking the roof off the buildings, lofting a car, and bending six metal light poles in half.
May 2022Tornado (EF1)Cushing$750,000Hundreds of trees were uprooted or snapped as the tornado moved along the east side of Lake Alexander. Many trees came down on vehicles, sheds, and cabins. Maximum winds were estimated at 90 mph.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPierz$500,000The Pierz city garage on the north end of town was severely damaged due to severe straight-line winds.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindRoyalton$250,000Significant straight-line wind damage occurred from near Royalton, east along and near East Nature Road for roughly 13 miles. Damage included a chicken barn roof blown off, shingles off a home, and several large trees uprooted.
July 2010Tornado (EF0)Little Rock$250,000Several dozen trees were downed, two sheds and a barn were damaged, and minor damage occurred to a house.
August 1978Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1966Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
August 2007Thunderstorm WindHarding$200,000Numerous tees down. Four mobile homes on the northwest side of Pierz were deemed uninhabitable after being pounded by the strong wind and large hail. An adjacent chicken barn was also destroyed.
June 2001Tornado (F2)Flensburg$200,000One home lost its roof. Several sheds and outbuildings blown down. Two additional homes sustained minor damage.
April 2023FloodHillman$149,000A combination of record setting seasonal snowfall, high snow water equivalent values, and rapid snow melt led to low lying areas, ditches, and ravines across the county to flood for a prolonged period of time. Road infrastructure such as bridges, gravel roads, and culverts experience varied degrees of damage caused by rapid runoff. Morrison County Emergency Management reported $149,300 in damages to roads and bridges.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindDarling$100,000Scattered wind damage was noted from social media pictures in the township of Darling. This is northwest of Little Falls and posted significant barn damage, with several uprooted trees along a 50 to 60 foot path.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindLittle Falls$75,000Significant wind damage occurred to city-owned property of the Little Falls Golf Course. There were 53 trees lost to the storm, along with several large branches. There were also several buildings damage to the local Little Falls Community School District. Dozens of trees were also broken or uprooted in the southeast part of town. A damage survey by the NWS was performed and it appeared to have been downburst damage.
August 2020Tornado (EF0)Camp Ripley Jct$50,000An NWS survey found damage consistent with an EF-0 tornado in northern Morrison County about 7 miles northeast of Little Falls. The tornado traveled northeast for almost 6 miles snapping large tree branches, uprooting trees, and causing damage to a few outbuildings.
July 2019HailCushing$50,000There were numerous reports of large hail, up to baseball size, that occurred across parts of Morrison County. Hail was reported near Cushing, then east-southeast to Randall, Camp Ripley area, and north of Freedhem. The same line of storms moved southeast to near Hillman, but no additional reports of hail was observed. However, the emergency managers did have reports of trees and power lines down across central Morrison County.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindUpsala$25,000Several large trees and power lines were blown down near Upsala.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindPierz$25,000A roof was blown off a building south of Pierz.
March 1981Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1967Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1965Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1965Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1961Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 2001Flash FloodLittle Falls$20,000Little Elk River in Randall overflowed. Skunk River in Pierz overflowed and undermined Park Road bridge. Many highways and basements flooded.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindPierz$10,000Several trees and power lines were blown down near Pierz, Minnesota.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindBuckman$10,000Numerous trees uprooted. Garage flattened. Granary unroofed.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPierz$5,000Large tree branches blew down near Pierz and caused power outages as the branches landed on power lines.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindMotley$5,000A garage was destroyed causing 3,000 dollars damage.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindRamey$4,000A large tree fell on a power line.
July 1954Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
August 2014HailHillman$1,000Large hail damaged a residence north the intersection of County Road 34 and 33 in Morrison County.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindLastrup$1,000Trees toppled onto garage door, and knocking down TV antenna.
May 2016HailRoyalton$500An automobile windshield was broken due to the hail stones.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindPierz-Multiple power lines were reported down near the intersection of 143rd St and 280th Ave, southeast of Pierz.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindDarling-Large branch snapped off a willow tree in Darling Township.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindLittle Falls-Trees down in the Little Falls with a measured wind gust of 65 mph.
August 2024Tornado (EF1)Genola-The tornado hit several farms before moving into Lastrup and dissipating. It ripped most of the roof off of two barns west and northwest of Pierz, then continued northeast to Lastrup, where it knocked down or broke large limbs of dozens of trees and tore off half of the roof of an outbuilding. Drone video from the Sheriff's Office showed a convergent damage pattern in Lastrup, and the damage survey showed a convergent pattern at several locations before the tornado hit Lastrup.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindRoyalton-Boat lift bent as well as 12 oak trees down on the property.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindPierz-Multiple trees up to two feet in diameter were toppled throughout the Pierz Trailer Park.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindHarding-Damage to barn and outbuildings.
July 2024Funnel CloudHillman-Funnel cloud photos were provided for an area southwest of Lake Mille Lacs. Time and location were estimated based on radar.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindUpsala-Several trees were toppled onto power lines.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLittle Falls-A few trees were down, including one on a power line.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindRandall-A few trees were down, including one on a power line.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindUpsala-A tree was downed along the road.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindCushing-Reports of trees down on Dove Rd and Bear Rd. Time estimated via radar.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLittle Falls-Tree down on the 700 block of 6th St NE. Time estimated via radar.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindCushing-Delayed report of multiple trees down with damage to roofs on southeast side of Lake Alexander.
October 2022HailPierz-One storm in eastern Morrison County had a report of 3/4 inch hail as relayed via mPing.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Cushing-This tornado broke or uprooted hundreds of trees and partially took the roof off two outbuildings in Cushing. Maximum winds were estimated at 70 mph.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPierz-Several trees were also reported down in Pierz.
June 2022Heavy RainLittle Falls-Storm total from overnight thunderstorms 4.00 inches.
September 2021Funnel CloudHillman-A funnel cloud was observed from the spotters northeast location along County Road 47.
September 2021HailFreedhem-There was a social media picture of the 2 diameter hail.
June 2020Flash FloodLastrup-Torrential rainfall with measured amounts of over 9 inches occurred in the city of Little Falls, causing numerous roads, city and county, to close. The extent of the closed roads occurred several miles west and east of the city of Little Falls along Highway 27. The city of Little Falls had many roads and culverts washed out, with some structures receiving water.
August 2020Tornado (EF0)Bowlus-An NWS survey indicated that an EF-0 tornado tracked over mostly fields and open land, but it did hit some trees, downing large tree branches. Downburst wind damage was noted adjacent to the tornado.

Mines and quarries

13 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 13 workings inside this county. 10 still produce and 3 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction10
Iron2
Titanium, Water, Free, Aluminum, Iron, Silica1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Mississippi River Area ClaysTitanium, Water, Free, Aluminum, Iron, SilicaOccurrence
Gorman MineIronPast Producer1951
Gorman MineIronPast Producer
Banach PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Banach PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Darling PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
East Zetah PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Eilers PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Loven PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Marshek PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Morrison County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Schling Pit WestSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Upsala PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

29

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.