Do you have a ‘family lore’ on the Renville County County Seat battle? Share this story with us via the Share Your Story page on the website or EMAIL info@renvillecountyhistory.com us! We want your stories to include with this exhibit?

Was your family already living in Renville County between 1866-1900?

Did you have family members who worked for Renville County between 1866-1900 in Beaver Falls? 1900 – present in Olivia?

RCHS has the original 2nd petition from the September 1900 drive to move the county seat from Beaver Falls to Olivia.

The railroad was not going to Beaver Falls….the railroad was already going through Olivia…..Olivia was close to the center of the county….Beaver Falls was out of the way…..

Bird Island and the city of Renville put their hats in for the county seat location; Bird Island even built a building offering it to the county for the new courthouse.

P.W. Hines offered ‘free’ space for the courthouse in Olivia until a courthouse could be built.