The Absolute Worst Winter in Minnesota History
It was a winter so bad, it seemingly had no end. Just when residents thought it was over, another winter storm came roaring through the prairie. It's been remembered through the generations and has unequivocally remained the "Worst Winter in Minnesota History".
From relentless blizzards from October through April, to record breaking snow, and even a complete disruption of the railroad, the Winter of 1880-1881 is known as "The Long Winter". And when Spring finally did arrive, the state was forever changed.
The Worst Winter in Minnesota History
It wasn't just the state of Minnesota, the winter of 1880-1881 is widely regarded as one of the worst in the entire Midwest/Great Plains history. Even acclaimed author, Laura Ingalls Wilder penned her book "The Long Winter" about that winter.
For Minnesota, specifically, the hardest hit areas were said to be southern Minnesota (New Ulm in particular), and the far western counties near Fargo. It should also be noted that the town of Sleepy Eye experienced 20 foot drifts of snow, covering many of the small town's homes.
The extreme winter weather began with a blizzard in October of 1880 and lasted through most of May with no real let up or thaws.
Blizzard after blizzard hit the state hard, with 15-20 feet drifts throughout most of Minnesota. This led to railroad lines being completely shut down in much of the state, with the drifts higher than the locomotives themselves. Because of this, supply chains were cut off, leading to starvation and severe hardship for Minnesota families.
To learn more about the brutal winter of 1880-1881, check out the YouTube video below.
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