~ Our History ~

Peterson, nestled in the narrow Root River Valley, was founded in 1867, when the railroad was built on land donated for this use by Peter Peterson Haslerud, who settled in 1853. He owned and platted the village site and was a major force behind early growth and development of Peterson.

A post office was started in 1870 and a dam was built across the river in 1871 where a flour mill ran until it burned down in 1877. A feed mill was then built and ran for some time. In 1874, lots were laid out and one of the first trout hatcheries in Minnesota was begun in Peterson. In 1876, the telegraph was brought in and in 1877 the present depot (now the Peterson Station Museum) was erected. In 1909 Peterson was incorporated.