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History · Viking

Viking dates to 1884, and 30% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1918 on and the census since 1930.

1884founded
0on the National Register
30%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: In memoriam afiler · CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answers

How Viking began

When was Viking founded?

1884

Viking dates its founding to 1884 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 133 in 19302020 census: 79142 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1890.The full story ↓

What stands out about Viking’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Viking are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Viking’s homes were built before 1948.On the map since 19183 editions of the USGS map, 1918 to 1976. Watch Viking change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Viking’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Viking’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Viking came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Viking.

Read it all →

A post office called Viking has been in operation since 1890. The city was organized in 1884, and was named by Rev. Hans P. Hansen, a Norwegian Lutheran pastor in Warren, after the Vikings.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

On the map

Viking on the map, 1918 to 1976

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Viking. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Viking on the 1918 USGS mapViking on the 1959 USGS mapViking on the 1976 USGS map1918Viking sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Viking.

Timeline

Viking, 1884 to 1918

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1884
    FoundingViking is established
  3. 1890Post officeThe Viking post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1918On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Viking, decade by decade

Today18 recent
Old Standard station2009Old Standard stationViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking, Minnesota2006Viking, MinnesotaViking School Sign2006Viking School SignViking Diner and Antiques Viking, Minnesota 3-17-20062006Viking Diner and Antiques Viking, Minnesota 3-17-2006MNMap-doton-Viking2005MNMap-doton-VikingWelcome to2001Welcome toViking, Minnesota2001Viking, MinnesotaViking School2001Viking SchoolViking Elementary playground2001Viking Elementary playgroundOld creamery(?)2001Old creamery(?)Hartz Store2001Hartz Store
People over time

Viking, census by census

010019401960198020002020Peak: 146

Between 79 and 146 people in every census since 1930.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Viking’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Viking

Nobody well known was born in Viking itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
M
Mel PetersonAmerican basketball player · b. 1938
Wyatt SmithAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1977
M
Michael ForneyAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1988
P
Paul NelsonAmerican music critic · b. 1936
G
Gerome KamrowskiAmerican artist · b. 1914
Ralph R. EricksonUnited States federal judge · b. 1959
Places that used to be

Old corners

Viking’s post office has been open since 1890.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Lilac Ridge Trailer Park

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Viking’s history

What year was Viking founded?

In 1884, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Viking’s post office opened in 1890, and the census of 1930 counted 133 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (18), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.