| Kensington is located in West Central Minnesota, in the
SW corner of Douglas County, on land that was once used by the Chippewa Indians
and by hunting parties of the Dakota Indians. |
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| In the 1870's the first homesteader in the area was
Niles Risburg, who had a dugout and later built a shack on the hill where the
city water tower is now. By 1885 many settlers had built homes and started
businesses in the area. It was at this time the town received it's name. A man
named Maxfield, who worked for the railroad, had a beautiful flower garden
(where the fire hall is now) which reminded him of the famous Kensington
gardens in England. In 1887 the town was plated and the streets given
names. |
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| Kensington was beginning to grow but as of 1890 the
town was not organized into a village. Births within what we know as the city
limits were still registered in Solem Township. The first council meeting was
held September 1891. In October the council members, called the common council,
began drawing up the first rules and ordinances of the city. |
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