Like other towns in the area, New Richland’s origins center around the railroad: in this case, the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, which reached the area in 1877.

According to “History of New Richland Wilton Villages,” published by the Waseca County Historical Society and compiled by Herman Peterson and the New Richland Star, the founding fathers of New Richland worked toward the betterment of the community with an eye on progress and the promise of a bright future for all.

There have been all types of merchants, including ones who sold dry goods, medicines, furniture, coal, hardware, lumber, harnesses and leather goods.

According to the city’s website, the village supported a depot, two banks, two blacksmiths, three hotels, a school, a jeweler, a flour mill, a newspaper, several meat markets and grocery stores, a creamery, a cheese factory, farm implements, a Ford dealership, cafes, a poultry and egg factory, a movie theater and other businesses.

In 1882, members of the Congregational church built the first house of worship in the village, and other churches have included All Saints Catholic, Trinity Lutheran and St. Peter’s Lutheran.

Preserving the history of the community has been a goal of the New Richland Area Historical Society.

The city is in Waseca County and had a population of 1,203 at the 2010 census.

 

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