Get to know Faribault
Faribault is situated at the junction of the Cannon and Straight rivers. Located along Interstate 35, it’s just 25 minutes south of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Faribault is the county seat of Rice County. Other cities in the county include Northfield, Dundas, Lonsdale, Morristown and Nerstrand. A portion of the city of Dennison lies in Rice County. In Faribault, the summers are long, warm and wet; the winters are freezing, snowy and windy and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 8 degrees Fahrenheit to 83 degrees Fahrenheit and is rarely below negative 13
6 • Faribault Area Resource Guide
degrees Fahrenheit or above 91 degrees Fahrenheit
GENERAL INFORMATION: Founded in 1852, Faribault is named after its founder, Alexander Faribault, a trading post operator and territorial legislator. Population - 23,353 (2010 census) The county encompasses an area of 516 square miles and contains seven cities and 14 townships. According to the 2010 Census, the two largest cities in Rice County are Faribault with a population of 23,352, and Northfield with a population of 20,007. Rice County has a total population of 64,142 making it the
state’s 13th most populous. Rice County was organized on March 5, 1853, and is governed by the general laws of the state of Minnesota. The cities of Faribault and Northfield comprise slightly less than half of the county’s total taxable value. Form of government - Council/ Administrator Faribault City Council Tim Murray, city administrator tmurray@ci.faribault.mn.us 507-333-0355 Mayor Kevin Voracek kvoracek@ci.faribault.mn.us 507-384-0567
