Northfield is a Minnesota city located in two counties - Dakota and Rice. The largest part of this American city lies on the area of Rice County and only a small part of it in Dakota. According to a recent study, Northfield has a population of approximately 20.000 residents and an area of 7 square miles. Northfield was established in 1855 by John W. North, the man who also founded Riverside, in California. In those times, Northfield was an agricultural center. The city was incorporated in 1868, being named in the honor of the settler. Famous locals of Northfield include Nobel laureate Peter Agre, singer Paulette Carlson, author Lincoln Child, actress Alexandra Holden, inventor Gilmore Schjendahl, juggler Jon Wee and abolitionist Charles Augustus Wheaton.
Top Attractions within Northfield
Carleton College is an independent college in Northfield enrolling almost 2000 students each year, with a professional body of 198 professors. The school was established in May 3, 1866, and the land on which it is build was donated by Charles Augustus Wheaton and Charles M. Goodsell. The first class of the college graduated in 1874. Notable alumni of the school include author Thorstein Veblen, U.S. to Zaire ambassador Sheldon B. Vance, journalist Michael Gartner, human geneticist Mary-Claire King and novelist Jane Hamilton.
Carleton College Cowling Arboretum or The Arb consists in almost 900 acres of land near the college. The purpose of this place is to maximize the biological diversity of Northfield. The Arb is also used as an outdoor class room by Biology and Geology students who can carry experiments and make observation on the arboretum.
Defeat of Jesse James Day is an annual festival held in Northfield celebrating the defeat of the bank robber. Outdoor music concerts, theatrical performances and a lot of delicious food are the main ingredients of this successful event of Northfield.
