History, Archives and Pioneer Room

From its early beginnings, Hastings was shaped by its surrounding geography and water resources. Located at the junction of the St. Croix & Mississippi Rivers, with the nearby Vermillion River Falls to provide waterpower, Hastings was a shipping and milling center for many years. With a deep-water harbor, steamboats could unload goods and passengers easily.

 

Crossing over the rivers were several bridges: the Covered Bridge south of town, the swing RR bridge (one of the first iron railroad bridges in Minnesota) and the absolutely unique Spiral Bridge over the Mississippi River. The surrounding farmland provided incentive for generations of immigrants, and many of our farms continue today as Century Farms.

Serving as Dakota County Seat, Hastings offered its citizens many amenities from opera houses, an early library system, several health care facilities, an extensive parks system, numerous churches and public and private educational choices, including post-secondary opportunities.

With nearby highway linkages, Hastings has evolved into a suburb of the Twin Cities but retains its small town, river town characteristics.