Cannon Falls

History

The first settler was Edway Stoughton. A Charles Parks settled the land that is now Cannon Falls in July 1854. Cannon Falls village proper was laid out by Richard and William Freeborn and platted in 1855 by county surveyor S. A. Hart. The village was incorporated March 10, 1857. A post office was established as Cannon River Falls in 1855, and the name was shortened to Cannon Falls in 1889. Cannon Falls was reincorporated as a city in 1905. Three years later, on May 20, 1887, another fire began behind Ben Rodger's saloon. The saloon was one of eight wood-frame structures and all went up in flame within a half hour. Winds spread the fire across the street. Despite the efforts of firefighters, the fire continued to spread throughout the neighborhood. One building was saved by a bucket brigade. At the end of the fire, 27 businesses, along with buildings and houses were destroyed. On August 15, 2011, Barack Obama held a town hall meeting in Hannah's Bend Park on the banks of the Cannon River.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. U.S. Highway 52, State Highways 19 and 20, and County Road 24 are the main routes in the city. Lake Byllesby, a reservoir of the Cannon River, lies just west of town.

Race & ethnicity