Minnesota Prairie Roots

A pedestrian bridge crosses the Cannon River in the heart of downtown Northfield.

CHARMING. That word, when tagged to towns, seems overused. But I attach that adjective to Northfield because it fits.

As a fan of historic architecture, I appreciate all the old buildings that define Northfield’s downtown.

This college town, hugging the banks of the Cannon River in southern Minnesota, charms with its downtown historic architecture,

On the Carleton College campus, a lovely nature area.

its natural beauty,

Message on the exterior of the Northfield Arts Guild.

its artsy focus,

A patch of tomatoes grows in the boulevard in this bike-friendly city.

its front-yard flower and vegetable gardens,

The entry to The Contented Cow.

its home-grown shops and eateries, and much more.

A section of a poem stamped into a Northfield sidewalk.

Think independent bookstore, Content. Think The Contented Cow, a British style pub. Think Tanzenwald and Imminent breweries and Loon Liquors Distillery and Cocktail Room. Think Sidewalk Poetry, public art sculptures, the Northfield Arts Guild. Think the First National Bank of Northfield (robbed by the James-Younger Gang) now turned historical society.

Outside the Northfield Arts Guild.

Today I feature a few photos from Northfield in images taken after the rain finally stopped on a recent Saturday. Enjoy this glimpse of a community that bills itself as the place of “cows, colleges and contentment.” That fits given the rural setting, St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges, and the seeming contentment of those who live and visit this city.

The river runs through, making Northfield’s downtown especially picturesque.

TELL ME: Have you visited Northfield or do you live there? If so, tell me what you love about this town. Or tell me about a similar community you would tag as charming.

© Copyright 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling