History

In the fertile Red River Valley of northern Minnesota rests the small community of Hendrum. Once inhabited by the Dakota Sioux and Chippewa Indians, this flat land became settled by Scandinavians thus forcing the tribes to move to other areas. The settlers were a hardy group of people, mainly farmers, who endured many hardships including grasshoppers, plagues, diptheria epidemics, and many natural disasters such as floods, blizzards, and tornadoes. Farming is still the main livelihood in this area with crops of wheat, sugar beets, soybeans, and sunflowers being grown in abundance. Floods, blizzards, and occasional tornadoes are still part of this area. Because of the flat, rich soil, the communities business districts revolve around agriculture and it is no surprise that its location is in what is known as the bread basket of the world. Hendrum was named for a community in Norway called Hindrumgaard. Located in Norman County in the Red River is one mile west and the Wild Rice River is one half mile east. Today 318 people make Hendrum their home.