Marshall is a city in Lyon County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,628 at the 2020 census and 13,906 as of 2023 estimates. Marshall is a regional center in southwest Minnesota, and the county seat of Lyon County. It is the headquarters of the Schwan Food Company and the home of Southwest Minnesota State University.
History
Marshall was platted in 1872 when the railroad was extended to that point. Lake Marshall Township had been established in the area in 1870, and included a post office and several farms. Before that, the site was occasionally used as a campground for groups of Dakota, who hunted and traveled throughout the region. After much discussion, James J. Manton decided on Marshall in honor of Governor William R. Marshall.
The town grew rapidly. In 1873, Samuel Biglari published Marshall's first newspaper, the Prairie Schooner. In the October 25, 1873, issue, he wrote, "Nine months ago the first house was erected. Now there are 79 permanent buildings already constructed, and this number will be increased by others already planned." Marshall became an incorporated village in 1876 and a city on February 20, 1901. In April 1874, the local paper estimated Marshall's population at 300; by 1900 it was 2,088. Holy Redeemer Catholic Church was built in 1884. The Weiner Memorial Hospital was built in 1950. Also during the 1950s, Marvin Schwan transformed his dairy into an ice-cream home-delivery service, which eventually grew into the Schwan Food Company.
The flooding of the Redwood River had historically been a problem in Marshall. The city experienced a series of floods in the 1940s and 1950s. Diversion canals were constructed between 1961 and 1963, but occasional flooding still occurs, notably in 1993. Another project in 1997 removed of sediment from the diversion channel. The diversion channel and Redwood River underwent major upstream and downstream improvements, completed in 2000. During the spring and fall of 2010, the Marshall area experienced unseasonably high amounts of moisture, but the Redwood River remained within its banks through town.
Southwest Minnesota State University was founded in 1963 and opened in 1967. Most of the campus was constructed between 1967 and 1973.
Geography
Marshall is northeast of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and southwest of Minneapolis. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water. It is in a predominantly rural and agricultural area that was originally an expanse of northern tallgrass prairie. The Redwood River's flood plain begins in Marshall.
U.S. Highway 59 and Minnesota State Highways 19, 23, and 68 are four of the main routes in the city. Greyhound Bus Lines provides intercity service.
The Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport-Marshall/Ryan Field is a municipal airport. The runway can handle commercial airliners. Marshall is not served by scheduled air service, but charter flights are available.