At one point, the area of Greenfield, Minnesota was comprised of nothing more than woods, lakes, streams, and the occasional open space. The only inhabitants were the Dakota Indians, and they made use of the woods and water by providing themselves with plenty of game. However, all of this changed as a result of the Traverse de Sioux treaty. This treaty allowed the settlers to flood the area while the Indians moved out to the west.  Most of the settlers moved to the location because they were drawn to the woods and plentiful farming opportunities.

The first people living in the region now known today as Greenfield were members of diverse American Indian tribes. Father Louis Hennepin was the first man who explored the region in 1680. In 1849, settlers began to establish small communities all over Minnesota, one of them being modern day Greenfield.

The most important landmark in Greenfield’s history is Lake Sarah. Art Mielke lived by the lake growing up with his family. In 1874, he used the lake as an attraction for his businesses. One of his businesses was ice making. Because farming was such a common practice in the city, the men did not have much to do by way of making an income during the winter months. Therefore, Mielke allowed employment in his ice making business for the men in the winter, as they shipped the products to Minneapolis. Another business Mielke created on the lake was the Elm Beach Resort. This resort allowed for many visitors to come up from the south in order to get a taste of what lakeside living was like in Minnesota.

Before Greenfield became a town, the area was originally known as Greenwood Township. Larter, Greenfield was incorporated into a town on March 14, 1958.

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