Newport

Set along the mighty Mississippi, Newport beckons with a history as rich as the river’s currents. Newport wasn’t always called Newport. Early in its life, around 1839, this area was known as Kaposia. Later, it was renamed Red Rock, a nod to a distinctly painted rock along the Mississippi. This very land where we stand was once a meeting place for missionaries ministering to the Dakota tribes. Imagine the scene, the quiet lapping of the river against the shore, the smoke from campfires rising into the sky. The year 1857 marked a turning point, with the official platting of Newport and the establishment of its post office. Newport thrived with a sawmill, a feed and flour mill, and bustling shipping facilities. A curious fact is that Newport shared its early history with its neighbor, Woodbury. Originally, parts of present-day Newport were under Woodbury’s jurisdiction, including the famed red rock that gave the town its name. However, in 1861, Washington County commissioners intervened, redrawing the boundaries and giving Newport the landmark that was rightfully its own. For 69 consecutive summers, starting in 1868, Newport hosted vibrant religious camp meetings, drawing thousands to its riverbanks. Picture the lively atmosphere, the shared faith, the sense of community. Decades later, in 1920, Newport welcomed two significant businesses: the Farmer’s Terminal State Bank and a Meat Packing Company, boosting the local economy and shaping the town’s identity. Further growth arrived in the late 1980s with the construction of a refuse-derived fuel plant near the Wakota Bridge. And let’s not forget Newport’s role as a retail pioneer. In 1953, it became home to south Washington County’s first shopping center, originally named Highway-61 Shopping Center but now known as Newport Center. Newport today, with a population estimated at over 5,000, stands as a testament to its resilient past. As you stroll through its streets and parks, remember the missionaries, the lumber workers, the bustling river trade, and the echoes of camp meetings that shaped this charming Minnesota city.