History

• The City of Arlington was first settled in the year 1855.
• Arlington islocated in eastern Sibley County on Highway 5. Nearby lakes and rivers include High Island Creek and Silver Lake, which is about 4 miles east of town.
• While the area where Arlington is now located was first settled in 1855, the town was not platted until a year later, in 1856. The town was officially organized in 1858, and the name Arlington was approved at a town meeting on May 11th of that year. The general settlement of the area began in the 1860′s and 70′s. The settlers of the area were of predominately German descent.
• In 1948, Arlington was incorporated as a “Home Rule Charter” city. Revision of the charter occurred in 1982.
• Arlington was designated as a Minnesota Star City in 1990.
• Arlington is the hometown of 2 Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame inductees: Jim O’Brien and Eddie Mueller.
• The President of the Ara Wilson Baseball League for many years, Augie Mueller, is from Arlington.

Businesses

• Arlington is paired with Gaylord and Green Isle to form the Sibley East School District. The consolidation took effect July 1st, 1995. Sibley East High School is located in Arlington. They are the Wolverines.
• Arlington is home to Seneca Foods, one of the largest vegetable canning operations in the U-S. 2010 marks 105 years of canning in Arlington as well. The plant currently has 4 canning lines, and produces an average of 56-thousand cases of peas and sweet corn per day. Seneca currently employs 46 full-time workers, along with up to 160 seasonal pack employees.
• A company called Technical Services for Electronics, or TSE, is based in Arlington. They manufacture electrical components, mostly of a medical nature. TSE employs a toptal of 300 people worldwide, with over half of those emploees working in it’s 3 Arlington facilities.
• All your concrete needs can be met in the City of Arlington by Cemstone Concrete Products.
• Farmers from the Arlington area travel to Scott Equipment for their various implements. It is located just outside of Arlington

Festivals & Events

• Arlington’s big festival of the summer is Town and Country Days. The annual celebration highlights all the positive aspects of both the rural and city life of Arlington residents. It features plenty of good food, music, and more. Town and Country Days 2006 was extra special as the City of Arlington celebrated it’s sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary.
• Saturday nights in the summer months of May through September, the roar of powerful engines and crowds can be heard at the Arlington Raceway.
• The Sibley County Fair takes place in Arlington every summer during the 1st weekend of August.
• The Arlington Fire Department holds a dance every January to raise funds for fire fighting equipment.
• The Arlington Lions Club holds a huge fish fry once a year. The event is hugely popular, and is attended by thousands of people.
• The Arlington Polka Festival takes place every May at the Arlington Community Center. The 3-day polka extravaganza features over 17-hundred square-feet of dance floor, a full menu with homemade pies, and free camping.

People

• The population of Arlington is approximately 2,500. The Mayor of Arlington is James Kreft.
• Arlington native John McGovern was a Minnesota Golden Gophers football player who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966. He died in 1963.
• Arlington native Anne Panning is an award winning writer of both fiction and nonfiction. She teaches English at State University of New York at Brockport and co-directs the Brockport Writers Forum.
• Arlington is easily recognized by it’s baseball water tower. The town is home of the 5-time State Amateur Baseball champs and 2-time State High School Baseball champs.
• The City of Arlington was designated a Governor’s Fit City in 2010. The criteria include creating inviting places to walk, adopting a value statement affirming the importance of fitness, having at least one city-sponsored fitness activity, and developing recreation areas that encourage fitness. Arlington received a Governor’s Fit City plaque from Governor Tim Pawlenty.
• KNUJ’s Hometown Hero for the month of April 2010 was Marge Kloeckl of Arlington. Kloeckl served as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Arlington Area Ambulance for 25 years. She has administered Communion to homebound parishioners for 20 years, volunteered for the Sibley County Fair for many years, and has helped organize Arlington’s Town and Country Days Breakfast on the Farm for years. She was named Arlington Citizen of the Year in 2006 and January 6th has been named “Marge Kloeckl Day” in Arlington as well. The Hometown Hero recognition is sponsored by KNUJ AM and FM and select Thrivent For Lutherans agents.
• KNUJ’s Hometown Hero for the month of October 2010 was Jeri Odenthal of Arlington. Odenthal volunteers her time with the Sibley Medical Foundation, the Arlington Garden Club, and as a team captain for Relay For Life. In the past she has been active with the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, was one of the organizers for the Arlington Sesquicentennial celebrations, and much more. The Hometown Hero recognition is sponsored by KNUJ AM and FM and select Thrivent For Lutherans agents.
• Richard Thomes, who owns Thomes Brothers Do It Best Hardware in Arlington, was named President of the International Federation of Hardware and Housewares Association during a convention in London, England in 2010. He is the fourth generation of the Thomes family, who have now operated a hardware store in Arlington for over 120 years.
• In 2010 the Arlington City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to order an upgrade and preparation of plans to the wastewater treatment facility plant. City Administrator Matt Yanick said the upgrade is necessary because the state limit requirements will be changing in 2013.
• The City of Arlington celebrated the 2010 Town and Country Days starting with the Breakfast on the Farm. There was live music, kickball tournaments, a Kid’s Baseball Clinic, kids games, a medallion hunt, the Newlywed Game, and much more.
• Crowned Miss Arlington in 2010 was Christy Woehler. Crowned Arlington’s 1st Princess and Miss Congeniality was Cortney Schwirtz. Crowned 2nd Princess was Ashley Serbus.
• The 2nd annual Arli-Dazzle Parade took place in 2010. Over 75 units took part in the parade.
• The City of Arlington was awarded a $200,000 federal grant to help make it safer for students to bike and walk to school. Improvements to the sidewalks for the Sibley East and St. Paul’s schools, and will also benefit the Sibley East athletic facilitie
• The City of Arlington hired a new slate of officers for the Arlington Fire Department in 2011. John Zaske was named Arlington Fire Chief. He replaced Jeff Otto, who served as Arlington Fire Chief for the past 10 years. Zaske will serve a 2-year term. Jim Farber will be the new assistant fire chief, replacing Zaske in that position, and serving the remaining one year of his term. Corey Carpenter will serve a 2-year term as the new second assistant fire chief in Arlington.
• The City of Arlington has been working on an extensive project for the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The $5 million dollar project began in July 2011 and is scheduled to be completed in September 2012.
• Arlington Town & Country Days was celebrated in June 2011 and the coronation was held for Arlington royalty. Miss Arlington 2011 was Miranda Harris. First Princess was Sarah Borchert. Second Princess was April Phurn. The celebration included kickball tournaments, bean bag tossing, water fights, live music, and a medallion hunt.

Click on the title below to listen to the Town Days Podcasts

No podcasts found.