Editing Faribault, Minnesota (section)

==History==
Faribault is regarded as one of the most historic communities in [[Minnesota]], with settlement and commercial activity predating Minnesota's establishment as a [[Minnesota Territory|U.S. Territory]].  Until 1745, the area was primarily occupied by the [[Wahpekute]] band of [[Sioux|Dakotah]]. Shortly thereafter, the tribe was driven south after several clashes with the [[Ojibwe]] over territory.

[[File:Faribault, Minnesota (circa 1898).jpg|thumb|left|Main Street, circa 1898]]
[[File:FaribaultCityHallMN.jpg|thumb|Faribault City Hall]]

The city's namesake, [[Alexander Faribault]], was the son of [[Jean-Baptiste Faribault]], a French-Canadian fur trader, and Elizabeth Pelagie Kinzie Haines, a Dakotah woman.<ref>Faribault Life and Times. "Alexander Faribault Before the Story: 1806-1855" <http://www.faribault.org/history2/Alex/Alex_before.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112830/http://www.faribault.org/history2/Alex/Alex_before.html |date=September 28, 2011}}></ref> He is credited with fueling most of the early settlement in the area, beginning in 1826, when he established a fur trading post on the banks of the [[Cannon River (Minnesota)|Cannon River]]. By 1834, the trading post had grown in popularity and was relocated to the Straight River, one mile (1.6&nbsp;km) upstream of its junction with the Cannon River, the site of modern-day Faribault. The young Alexander Faribault used his knowledge of [[Dakota language]] and culture to improve relations with the displaced Wahpekute and even helped the tribe to resettle in the area. This relationship was instrumental in ensuring the success of the trading post and allowing safe travel to the area for settlers. The Dakota in the area called this soon-to-be town "Adek" for Alex (Alexander Faribault).<ref>{{cite book|last=Durand|first=Paul|title=Where the Waters Gather and the Rivers Meet |date=1994}}</ref>

Another source maintains the city is named for [[Jean-Baptiste Faribault]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n122 123]}}</ref>

The [[Alexander Faribault House]] was built in 1853 by Alexander Faribault at a cost of $4,000, equal to ${{Inflation|US|4000|1853|fmt=c}} today. It is considered the oldest frame structure in the area, and still stands in its original location near the southern edge of Faribault's historic downtown district.

The years following the construction of this first building brought unprecedented growth, development, and economic prosperity to the young settlement. Spurred by the completion of the area's first steam-powered sawmill in early 1854, the next year took Faribault from a sleepy settlement of 20 buildings to a bustling town with more than 250. Historians attribute Faribault's impressive growth during this period to a number of important milestones in 1855 and 1856, including the creation of roads connecting to other settlements and trading posts in [[Iowa]] and [[Minnesota Territory]], the availability of mail service, and the construction of schools and churches.

The City of Faribault was platted in 1855 and granted a home-rule charter in 1872.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n481 462]}}</ref>