Chengwatana, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Chengwatana was an Ojibwa
village, located along the lower course of the Snake River
, Minnesota
. Its name in Ojibwe was Zhingwaadena, a contraction of Zhingwaak-oodena or "White-Pine Town"; English uses the French transcription of the Ojibwe. After statehood of Wisconsin
in 1848, the transient village became a permanent village located at the outlet of Cross Lake, on its south eastern shore, at the beginning of the lower course of the Snake River, named Snake River Dam. Elam Greeley, a lumberman, co-founder of Stillwater
and member of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature
whom Greeley is named after, owned the Chengwatana toll dam at the outlet of Cross Lake.
On March 1, 1856, with very informal ceremony, the village was officially named as the County Seat of Pine County
and the village was renamed Alhambra by Judd, Walker and Company and Daniel G. Robertson; however, this name was not very well accepted. In 1857, Alhambra was renamed as Chengwatana. When the Point Douglas to Superior Military Road
, also known as "Douglas Highway," was constructed between the modern cities of Hastings, Minnesota
and Superior, Wisconsin
to replace the Kettle River Trail that connected the modern cities of Fridley, Minnesota
with Moose Lake, Minnesota
, the new road was designed to pass through Chengwatana. The village was garrisoned as a frontier military post, 1862-1863. A post office operated in the village until 1873.
When the railroad was constructed on the western shore of Cross Lake, a new village, Pine City
, was platted — Pine City's name being a loose English translation of Chengwatana. In addition, Chengwatana
and Pine City Township
s were also named after the village of Chengwatana. With the railroad, Chengwatana declined into a ghost town
. The county seat was transferred to Pine City in 1870.
A historical marker was placed at the former village site, simply stating its location, while a detailed historical marker noting Chengwatana and its relationship to the city of Pine City
was placed along the railroad bridge crossing the Snake River in Pine City.
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
village, located along the lower course of the Snake River
Snake River (St. Croix River)
The Snake River is a tributary of the St. Croix River in east central Minnesota in the United States. It is one of three streams in Minnesota with this name . Its name is a translation from the Ojibwa Ginebigo-ziibi after the Dakota peoples who made their homes along this river...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Its name in Ojibwe was Zhingwaadena, a contraction of Zhingwaak-oodena or "White-Pine Town"; English uses the French transcription of the Ojibwe. After statehood of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1848, the transient village became a permanent village located at the outlet of Cross Lake, on its south eastern shore, at the beginning of the lower course of the Snake River, named Snake River Dam. Elam Greeley, a lumberman, co-founder of Stillwater
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
and member of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature
Minnesota Legislature
The Minnesota Legislature is the legislative branch of government in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is a bicameral legislature located at the Minnesota Capitol in Saint Paul and it consists of two houses: the lower Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate...
whom Greeley is named after, owned the Chengwatana toll dam at the outlet of Cross Lake.
On March 1, 1856, with very informal ceremony, the village was officially named as the County Seat of Pine County
Pine County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,530 people, 9,939 households, and 6,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 15,353 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
and the village was renamed Alhambra by Judd, Walker and Company and Daniel G. Robertson; however, this name was not very well accepted. In 1857, Alhambra was renamed as Chengwatana. When the Point Douglas to Superior Military Road
Point Douglas to Superior Military Road
Point Douglas to Superior Military Road, also known as Point Douglas to St. Louis River Military Road and as Douglas Highway, was a road the ran between Point Douglas, located at the outlet of the Lower St. Croix Lake near Hastings, Minnesota, first to the falls of the St. Louis River near Thomson,...
, also known as "Douglas Highway," was constructed between the modern cities of Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
and Superior, Wisconsin
Superior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
to replace the Kettle River Trail that connected the modern cities of Fridley, Minnesota
Fridley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,449 people, 11,328 households, and 7,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,701.3 people per square mile . There were 11,504 housing units at an average density of 1,132.1 per square mile...
with Moose Lake, Minnesota
Moose Lake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,239 people, 577 households, and 294 families residing in the city. The population density was 811.1 people per square mile . There were 628 housing units at an average density of 227.5 per square mile...
, the new road was designed to pass through Chengwatana. The village was garrisoned as a frontier military post, 1862-1863. A post office operated in the village until 1873.
When the railroad was constructed on the western shore of Cross Lake, a new village, Pine City
Pine City, Minnesota
Pine City is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census. Pine City is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Pine County...
, was platted — Pine City's name being a loose English translation of Chengwatana. In addition, Chengwatana
Chengwatana Township, Minnesota
Chengwatana Township is a township in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 809 at the 2000 census. Its name is derived from the Ojibwe Zhingwaadena , applied originally to an Ojibwe village located at the confluence of the Snake River with the St. Croix River...
and Pine City Township
Pine City Township, Minnesota
Pine City Township is a township in Pine County, Minnesota, United States, located south and east of the city of Pine City. The township population was 1,249 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
s were also named after the village of Chengwatana. With the railroad, Chengwatana declined into a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
. The county seat was transferred to Pine City in 1870.
A historical marker was placed at the former village site, simply stating its location, while a detailed historical marker noting Chengwatana and its relationship to the city of Pine City
Pine City, Minnesota
Pine City is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,123 at the 2010 census. Pine City is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Pine County...
was placed along the railroad bridge crossing the Snake River in Pine City.
Further reading
- Cordes, Jim (1989). Pine County ... and its memories. North Branch: Jim Cordes.
External links
- [ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/mn/pine/newspapers/newsartc.txt Copy of a newspaper article]