A Look at Hallock, MN

Hallock was founded by Charles Hallock, a man from New York City who came to hunt for many years. Charles Hallock founded the magazine “Field and Stream” and he considered the Northwest Corner of Minnesota to be a “Sportsmen’s Paradise.”

In his autobiography, “An Angler’s Reminiscence,” he wrote of this area, “bands of elk came within a few miles to town; once a moose ran directly through the village, past the post office; a black bear came up out of the bottoms to play with the school children at recess; a couple of pet bears were always kept on hand for the Swedes to practice boxing on.”

A few years after Hallock first came to hunt, James J. Hill built the railroad.

Hallock is the county seat of Kittson County, which was organized in 1879. Kittson County is named after a fur trader named Norman W. Kittson.

Kittson County was once part of glacial Lake Agassiz. Evidence of this prehistoric lake can still be seen in the topography of the county today. Remnants of “McCauleyville Beach” of Lake Agassiz, can be found on the eastern portion of the county. This is an area of sandy soil and sand ridges.

Joe Rolette, who started a fur post for the American Fur Company in Pembina, and Norman W. Kittson were two explorers who predominately opened this area by developing the Red River Ox Cart trails and broadening the use of the ox carts. The need for the ox carts diminished as the steamboats became the new mode for transporting furs and supplies; eventually the steamboats were replaced by the railroad.

Hallock has Kittson County’s only Ice Arena, and Curling Club. The Two River Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course with a new clubhouse. There are two tennis courts, a swimming pool, two baseball diamonds, and campgrounds located within two different parks (Horseshoe and Gilbert-Olson Park).