Lonsdale is in Rice County, Minnesota, a few miles northeast of Wheatland. Other nearby communities include Hazelwood, Little Chicago, Millersburg, Montgomery, New Prague, Veseli, and Webster. The first settlement in the area was in the late 1800s, when Norwegian and Bohemian immigrants platted a town that they called Trondheim in anticipation of a railroad coming through the area. However, plans were put on hold and, in 1891 the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad decided to lay a track from Mankato to Wells, but to locate it six miles southwest of Trondheim. The Milwaukee Land Company developed, surveyed and platted forty acres of land donated by Thomas Wilby in 1902, and the resulting community was named Lonsdale. The first three businesses built in Lonsdale were a saloon, hotel, and livery stable. Many of the businesses in the unincorporated community of Veseli, two miles north, were moved to Lonsdale, and soon the new settlement also had a grain elevator, hotel, and livery stable. Lonsdale was incorporated as a village in 1903. The city’s population has increased each census year since 1950, more than doubling its population in the 2000s.
 
 
Recommended Resources
Generation Home & Building Center
The building supply in Lonsdale, Minnesota offers a full selection of building products, including windows, doors, roofing, siding, millwork, and decking materials, as well as equipment rentals. Also offered are project consultations and estimates, a virtual home remodeler, paint calculator, and a blog.
http://www.generationhbc.com/
The Chamber is a voluntary membership organization of businesses, organizations and individuals that was previously known as the Lonsdale Area Commercial Club. Its mission, membership benefits, calendar of events, and an overview of its projects are put forth, and its officers and staff are posted to the site.
http://www.lonsdalechamber.com/
Located on Main Street South, the Lonsdale, Minnesota chiropractic clinic offers standard chiropractic services, chiropractic rehabilitation, holistic care, and massage services. Its location, office hours, and staff contacts are featured, with an introduction to the chiropractic physician, and general information about chiropractic care is presented.
http://lonsdalechiropractic.com/
Licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the preschool accepts children between the ages of thirty-three months through pre-kindergarten, offering three different sessions, which are highlighted here, along with it admissions policies, schedules, and career information.
http://www.lonsdalechristianpreschool.com/
The family owned meat market specializes in offering cuts of meat, including beef, pork, turkey, and chicken, as well as meat processing services for beef, pork and venison. Its location, hours of operation, contacts, products, and weekly specials are posted to the site, along with recipes.
http://www.lonsdalecountrymarket.com/
Facilitating youth baseball and softball in Lonsdale, Minnesota, the Little League plays on Jaycee Park, Sticha Park, Rayann Park, Lonsdale Elementary, and Trenda Memorial Park. Its teams and leagues are highlighted, and information about volunteer opportunities are included.
http://www.lonsdaleathletics.com/
Lonsdale Telephone & Lonsdale Video Ventures
Serving the Lonsdale, Minnesota community for more than eight years, the company offers telephone services, with several options, that include phone discounts for low-income users, as well as TV Everywhere, which allows access to television programs on something other than a television set.
http://www.lonsdaletel.com/
The official municipal web site offers a profile, maps, history, and demographics for the city, the city code and ordinances, public notices, council meeting agendas and minutes, a fee schedule, and a guide to local schools, churches, attractions, parks and recreational facilities, events, and businesses.
http://lonsdale.govoffice.com/
Housed in the historic former telephone company building in Lonsdale, Minnesota, the shop features six rooms with more than three thousand bolts of cotton fabric, as well as a variety of books and patterns, kits, pre-cuts, and notions for quilters. Its location, a schedule of classes, calendar of events, and an online shopping area are featured.
http://www.quiltingbythehearth.com/