Early Cokato

THE DAKOTA

When the Dakota camped along the shores of what is now known as Cokato Lake, they saw a completely different landscape— one of deep woods, rivers, lakes, and swampland. Although the Dakota never made a permanent village in the area, their influence remains in the city’s name, which is based on the Dakota word co-ka-ta, roughly translating to “in the midst” or “in the middle”.

ARRIVAL OF THE PIONEERS

In 1858, the first Yankee settlers arrived, hailing from states such as Maine, New York, and New Hampshire. Slowly, a small settlement known for a time as Moores Prairie developed.

THEN THE RAILROAD CAME

When the railroad arrived in 1869, the growing community became known as Cokato. The railroad not only brought goods and accessibility to the community, but it also aided in the development of business and industry. With this new mode of transportation, a large number of immigrant families arrived. They originated primarily from Sweden and Finland, but a few also came from Norway, Germany, and Poland. To this day, Cokato is still comprised of a large number of Scandinavian and Finnish descendants.