History

• The City of Bird Island was founded in the year 1881 as a railroad settlement.
• Bird Island is located on Highway 212 in Renville County. The town is located between Birch Coulee and Buffalo Creeks.
• Like many other pioneer communities, Bird Island was founded as a railroad settlement. Local history says the town got it’s name because of a large nearby lake that had an island. Birds used to perch on that island. Making it “Bird Island.” The lake has since been drained, but people can still see where the dried up lake bed is.
• Bird Island is home to former Representative Roger Cooper. He now resides in Bird Island again, where he is a teacher.
• Bird Island is the hometown of baseball and basketball stand-out Barry Wohler.

Businesses

• Bird Island shares a school district with the communities of Olivia and Lake Lillian, to form BOLD. The school in Bird Island teaches grades K-through-8. Their mascot is the Warrior. There is also a parochial school in Bird Island, St. Mary’s.
• Bird Island caters to the agricultural needs of the area with 2 of it’s businesses. The Bird Island Farmer’s Elevator serves the grain storage and other needs of it’s patrons, while Kibble Equipment, also known as Anderson Implement, provides the machinery needed to grow these commodities.
• A popular meeting place for many miles in Bird Island is Athmann’s Inn. The Inn, along with the adjoining Island Ballroom, are owned by Mark Athmann. The Ballroom is home to numerous events throughout the year, including Polka Fest and the Farm, Home, and Health Show.
• There is a group home in Bird Island for mentally-challenged adults. It is called Renville County Community Residence.
• Bird Island has a center for traumatic brain injuries. It is called Glesener’s Incorporated.
• Bird Island has a software-packaging company. It is called Rural Computer Consultants.
• Bird Island is home to an internet cafe. The Broaster Cafe became Renville County’s 1st such establishment in 2005. The Broaster features a high-speed internet connection capable of video-conference calls. They are open Monday through Sunday from 5:30am to 8pm, and the internet use is on a 1st-come-1st-serve basis.

Festivals & Events

• Bird Island is home to the Renville County Fair. The fair is held in August every year.
• Every July, the Island Ballroom in Bird Island puts on a “Polkafest.” The celebration of all things polka is always held around the 4th of July.
• Bird Island’s summer festival is called “Wing Ding Days.” It features community ball games, a street dance, children’s dance, and many other fun activities, including of course- the eating of wings. Wing Ding Days takes place in late June.
• The Farm, Home, and Health Show takes place in Bird Island ever year. The free event has something for everyone.

People

• The City of Bird Island has a population of approximately 1,200 people. The Mayor of Bird Island is Robert Seidl.
• Severe storms blew through the Bird Island area on July 1st of 2011. Several tornadoes touched down as well. Bird Island’s total damage from the storms was estimated at around $50,000.
• A pair of Bird Island Firefighters took part in the 2010 Polar Bear Plunge. Byron Bettenhausen and John Thompson jumped into the icy waters of Green Lake in Spicer to help raise money for the Special Olympics. The two helped raise over $2,500 for their team.

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

• Wing Ding Days

  15 Feb 12

• Fire Chief

  15 Feb 12

• C and C

  15 Feb 12

• Bird Island

  15 Feb 12