In the 1600s and 1700s, Centerville was inhabited by Dakota Indians. The area was covered with dense woodlands as well as marshes, lakes, and waterways. Because of the rich natural area, the Dakota Indians had an abundance of food, including wild rice as well as game and fish. The waterways provided easy access to St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers by canoe.

By the late 1700s, the Dakota Indians had abandoned their settlement. When French-Canadian settlers came to the area, they found burial grounds and many Dakota Indian artifacts. In the mid-1880s, the French-Canadian settlers established the town of Centerville. Archaeologist Harold Kohlepp examined and recorded over a thousand artifacts, which still remain in the city. The artifacts included pottery, tools, and arrowheads. Kohlepp recorded his findings in an archeology journal that featured Centerville.

Many trappers and hunters came to the area because of the abundance of wildlife in the 1800s. The first house in the Centerville area was built by F.W. Traves in 1850. As the area began to establish more Canadians settled in the area, and many descendents of these French-Canadian settlers still live in the city.

Centerville was laid out and platted by settlers Peltier, LaValle, and LaMotte in 1854. The name for the city of Centerville was chosen because of its central location from St. Paul, Stillwater, and Anoka. On August 11, 1857, the City of Centerville was officially established.

Today, Centerville is a friendly, thriving community that takes pride in its rich history.

If you have any questions regarding the city of Centerville, Minnesota, or if you would like to sell or buy a house in the area, please feel free to visit TwinCitiesPropertyFinder.com or call 1-800-909-1953