Vermillion River (Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
The Vermillion River meanders through Scott County
and Dakota County
in Minnesota
, emptying into the Mississippi River
just south of Hastings
. 13.5 miles of it are designated as a trout
stream, which is unusual for being so close to a metropolitan area.
The portion of the river that supports trout is upstream, around the towns of Farmington
and Empire
. Near the town of Vermillion
, the water becomes too warm to support trout. Downstream from the falls on the south side of Hastings, the water becomes even warmer, supporting riverine species such as northern pike
and freshwater drum
. The Minnesota state record black crappie of 5.0 pounds was caught in the Vermillion River in 1940. An old channel of the Vermillion River continues south from Hastings on the western edge of the Mississippi valley.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the river was used for water power, supplying power to gristmill
s. A park surrounding the falls preserves the remains of a mill operated by Alexander Ramsey
, one of the leading citizens of early Minnesota.
The Vermillion Stewards program engages people in cleanups, restoration events and educational activities and is operated by Friends of the Mississippi River.
Scott County, Minnesota
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was organized in 1853 and named in honor of General Winfield Scott. As of 2010, the population was 129,928. Its county seat is Shakopee...
and Dakota County
Dakota County, Minnesota
Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth...
in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, emptying into the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
just south of Hastings
Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
. 13.5 miles of it are designated as a trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
stream, which is unusual for being so close to a metropolitan area.
The portion of the river that supports trout is upstream, around the towns of Farmington
Farmington, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,365 people, 4,169 households, and 3,255 families residing in the city. The population density was 986.0 people per square mile . There were 4,233 housing units at an average density of 337.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 95.62%...
and Empire
Empire Township, Minnesota
Empire Township is a township in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,638 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
. Near the town of Vermillion
Vermillion, Minnesota
Vermillion is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 419 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. County Roads 62, 66, and 85 are three of the main routes in the community. U.S...
, the water becomes too warm to support trout. Downstream from the falls on the south side of Hastings, the water becomes even warmer, supporting riverine species such as northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
and freshwater drum
Freshwater Drum
-Introduction:The freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens, is a fish endemic to North and Central America. It is the only species in the genus Aplodinotus. The Freshwater drum is a member of the family Sciaenidae, and is the only member of the species that inhabits freshwater for its entire life...
. The Minnesota state record black crappie of 5.0 pounds was caught in the Vermillion River in 1940. An old channel of the Vermillion River continues south from Hastings on the western edge of the Mississippi valley.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the river was used for water power, supplying power to gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
s. A park surrounding the falls preserves the remains of a mill operated by Alexander Ramsey
Alexander Ramsey
Alexander Ramsey was an American politician. He was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.Alexander Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843 to March 4, 1847...
, one of the leading citizens of early Minnesota.
The Vermillion Stewards program engages people in cleanups, restoration events and educational activities and is operated by Friends of the Mississippi River.