Timeline 1804 – European settlers arrived. 1837 – The Treaty of St. Peters, known as the “White Pine Treaty", initiated lumbering in the area. 1848 – The Ojibwe community of Chengwatana formally established as a village. 1856 – Chengwatana became Pine County's county seat. 1872 – Pine City became the county seat following a fire at the Chengwatana courthouse, prompting a new courthouse construction. 1881 – Pine City incorporated as a village west of Chengwatana due to the railroad's location, leading to Chengwatana's decline. 1894 – Robinson Park in Pine City served as a central staging area for relief efforts during the Great Hinckley Fire. 1903 – James Adam Bede delivered a notable speech at the Associated Press annual dinner in New York City. 1914 – A Minnesota Naval Militia Armory opened in Pine City with Governor Eberhart delivering a speech at the dedication ceremony in November. 1939 – Pine City built a yellow brick city hall, later relinquished to the county due to concerns over county seat status, now partly used by the city hall. 1952 – Lightning struck and destroyed the towered Romanesque Revival courthouse of 1886, prompting a new courthouse's construction, integrating the old city hall's architecture. 1954 – Pine County raised funds via bond issuance for a new courthouse, incorporating elements of the former city hall, marked with "Court House" over the north entrance. 1967 – Interstate 35's completion through Pine City enhanced regional connectivity. 1978 – The inaugural International Polkafest was hosted in Pine City. 1980 – Pine City's Jean Lindig Kessler was crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way. 1992 – A 30-foot tall voyageur statue was erected on the north shore of the Snake River, near downtown Pine City. 2005 – Pine City hosted the first annual East-Central Minnesota Pride event, promoting community inclusivity. 2007 – A new courthouse was built on Pine City's northern edge following a failed attempt to split the county. 2009 – Pine City's Horizon Bank failed amid the 2007–2008 financial crisis, with its assets acquired by Stearns Bank. 2010 – Lakeside Medical Center, Pine City's hospital, closed amidst a wave of rural hospital closures across the U.S. 2012 – The Pine City post office was renamed the "Master Sergeant Daniel L. Fedder Post Office" under H.R.3220. 2017 – Pine City's boys' basketball team gained national attention in The Wall Street Journal for their innovative three-point shooting strategy. 2019 - Governor Tim Walz hosted the annual deer hunting opener in Pine City, emphasizing the area's role in Minnesota's traditional hunting events. 2024 – Kent Bombard was appointed Pine City's first openly gay mayor, marking a significant moment in the city's political history and becoming the third openly gay mayor in Minnesota's municipal history.
Timeline 1804 – European settlers arrived. 1837 – The Treaty of St. Peters, known as the “White Pine Treaty", initiated lumbering in the area. 1848 – The Ojibwe community of Chengwatana formally established as a village. 1856 – Chengwatana became Pine County's county seat. 1872 – Pine City became the county seat following a fire at the Chengwatana courthouse, prompting a new courthouse construction. 1881 – Pine City incorporated as a village west of Chengwatana due to the railroad's loca:tion, leading to Chengwatana's decline. 1894 – Robinson Park in Pine City served as a central staging area for relief efforts during the Great Hinckley Fire. 1903 – James Adam Bede delivered a notable speech at the Associated Press annual dinner in New York City. 1914 – A Minnesota Naval Militia Armory opened in Pine City with Governor Eberhart delivering a speech at the dedication ceremony in November. 1939 – Pine City built a yellow brick city hall, later relinquished to the county due to concerns over county se?at status, now partly used by the city hall. 1952 – Lightning struck and destroyed the towered Romanesque Revival courthouse of 1886, prompting a new courthouse's construction, integrating the old city hall's architecture. 1954 – Pine County raised funds via bond issuance for a new courthouse, incorporating elements of the former city hall, marked with "Court House" over the north entrance. 1967 – Interstate 35's completion through Pine City enhanced regional connectivity. 1978 – The inaugural International Polkafest was hosted in Pine City. 1980 – Pine City's Jean Lindig Kessler was crowned Princess Kay of the Milky Way. 1992 – A 30-foot tall voyageur statue was erected on the north shore of the Snake River, near downtown Pine City. 2005 – Pine City hosted the first annual East-Central Minnesota Pride event, promoting community inclusivity. 2007 – A new courthouse was built on Pine City's northern edge following a failed attempt to split the county. 2009 – Pine City's Horizon Bank failed amid the 2007–2008 financial crisis, with its assets acquired by Stearns Bank. 2010 – Lakeside Medical Center, Pine City's hospital, closed amidst a wave of rural hospital closures across the U.S. 2012 – The Pine City post office was renamed the "Master Sergeant Daniel L. Fedder Post Office" under H.R.3220. 2017 – Pine City's boys' basketball team gained national attention in The Wall St?reet Journal for their innovative three-point shooting strategy. 2019 - Governor Tim Walz hosted the annual deer hunting o!pener in Pine City, emphasizing the area's role in Minnesota's traditional hunting events. 2024 – Kent Bombard was appointed Pine City's first openly gay mayor, marking a significant moment in the city's political history and becoming the third open!ly gay mayor in Minnesota's municipal history.