History

• The City of Sanborn was founded in the year 1891 by Charles Porter, who was the 1st man to claim land in town. He was a soldier in the Civil War.
• The City of Lamberton was founded in the year 1872 by HW Lamberton, who was with the railroad.
• Sanborn and Lamberton are both located in Redwood County.
• Sanborn is located off Highway 71, two miles south of the intersection of 71 and Highway 14, which is known as “Sanborn Corners.”
• Lamberton is located on Highway 14.
• The Cottonwood River runs through a park in the City of Sanborn.
• The original settlement of Lamberton was called “Cottonwood Crossing” and was situated on the banks of the Cottonwood River. That settlement was flooded, so the town was moved up the hill, and became Lamberton.
• Sanborn is home to the McCone Sod Houses. Sod houses were the 1st homes built by pioneers. There are tours available, and even a sod house available for a unique bed and breakfast experience.
• Lamberton is home to the Southwest Experimental Station. Operated by the University of Minnesota, the site on the edge of Lamberton conducts ag research. The site was started in 1959 with 240 acres, and has now grown to over 668 acres.

Businesses

• Sanborn and Lamberton are both members of the Red Rock Central School District, along with the Cities of Storden and Jeffers. They are the Falcons.
• The major industries of Sanborn and Lamberton are agricultural, reflecting the rural nature of the area. In Sanborn there is Meadowland Co-Op and Sanborn Elevators. In Lamberton there is the Meadowland Farmers Elevator, which added more capacity in 2005.
• A major business in the City of Sanborn is Deutschland Meats. The meat processing facility also sells quality cuts of meat at low retail prices.
• Lamberton is home to Valley View Manor Nursing Home.
• The people of Sanborn and the surrounding area have a place to party. Tom’s Rope and Spur Ballroom is home to numerous events throughout the year, and serves as a central meeting location for residents of Redwood County.
• The City of Lamberton is home to the Highwater Ethanol Plant, which held its Grand Opening Celebration in 2009. The $130-million dollar facility produces 50-million gallons of ethanol and 160,000 tons of dried distillers grains each year. When the plant is operating at full capacity, upwards of 75 trucks carrying 950-bushels of corn each visit the facility weekly.

Festivals & Events

• Sanborn’s annual summer festival is called “Watermelon Days.” The festivities take place every August in Sanborn, and include many fun events, as well as a parade. There’s plenty of free watermelon for everybody too.
• Sanborn celebrates the holiday season with the annual “Memories of a Hometown Christmas.” The day-long festival takes place on the 2nd Saturday in December and features pony and sleigh rides, a craft fair, raffles, games, and much more.
• Lamberton has a summer festival called “Hot Iron Days.” The 2-day festival takes place in September. The festival celebrates the Blacksmith profession. The highlight is the hot iron pour, in which participants make a mold and the watch the sparks fly as the molten iron is poured into it. Lamberton’s blacksmith shop is open to the public during the festivities as well, with numerous items on display.
• The American Legion Colborn Post #286 in Sanborn hosts a Steak Fry every 2nd Saturday night of the month.
• The Sanborn Community Club is a group of volunteer citizens who give their time and talents for the enhancement of the community. New members are ALWAYS welcome and they meet at the Sanborn American Legion on the 3rd Thursday of every month. They help plan activities every year including fundraisers such as a hamburger feed for Watermelon Days, Community Club Spring Banquet, Dairy Days, the Watermelon Days Celebration and Parade, and the Hometown Christmas events.

People

•  The City of Sanborn’s population is approximately 400 people, and the Mayor is Rae Trapp.
• The City of Lamberton’s Mayor is Sue Nelson, and the population is approximately 900 residents.
• In 2010, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the state closed its doors for good. City Drug in Lamberton was operated by the Anserson-Einen family since 1887.
• A group of 16 people from the country of Hungary visited the community of Lamberton in February of 2012. The Hungarians were in the Sanborn-Lamberton area to learn more about the Highwater ethanol plant. A similar plant was being constructed in the Hungarian city of Dumafoldvar by the same firm that built the Lamberton facility, Fagen of Granite Falls. The Hungarians spent nearly a month in Lamberton to learn the intricacies of operating an ethanol plant.
• The City of Sanborn held its annual Watermelon Days festivities in early August of 2012, and new royalty was crowned as part of the celebration. Named the 2012 Sanborn Watermelon Queen was Macy Simonson, and the new Watermelon Days Princess was Hannah Sell. Named Little Miss Watermelon Days was Alexis Weber.
• Cedar Mountain High School crowned new Homecoming Royalty in October of 2012. Named Homecoming King was Zac Kerkhoff, and Erin Christensen was crowned Homecoming Queen.
• Voters in the City of Sanborn approved Sunday Liquor Sales in the 2012 Election. The measure passed by a margin of 115-55 votes.