History of Clara City, MN
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Clara City residents can trace the origins of their community back to the late 1880's. It was during 1887 that land speculators Theodore F. Koch and Martin W. Prins (Prins & Koch) granted the Willmar & Sioux Falls Railway right-of-way through their property, in exchange for the opportunity to locate a townsite along the proposed railroad line. (The Willmar & Sioux Falls Townsite Company received one-half interest in the 313 acre townsite.) Once it was determined that the railroad would be built across Section 7, Township 117, Range 37, Prins & Koch filed the townsite plat (July 16, 1888). The townsite was named Clara City after Theodore F. Koch's wife Clara and was incorporated in September of 1891.
