Clarissa

Gallery

Our Story

Population: 663

Median Age: 50.1

Median Income: $30,926

Area: .99 square miles

Most Common Industry: Manufacturing

PAST

Clarissa was incorporated as a village in 1887; but the original town site was platted in 1877 by Lewis Bischoffsheim and wife of London, England. The village was named after Mr. Bischoffsheim's wife. Where the village of Clarissa is built was, in the early days, a poplar thicket and the early settlers had hard work in clearing land for buildings and streets. It was not until 1883 that the Great Northern railroad was built to Clarissa and all supplies were hauled from Sauk Centre.

George W. Pearman was one of the first settlers of Clarissa and Geo. G. Howe, who was agent for the town site company, was the second man to locate to this village. In 1879, Mr. Howe surveyed and layered out the original town site of Clarissa. In the summer of 1880 he discovered beds of clay, which he believed would be valuable in making bricks. He opened a brick yard south of town. This was an important enterprise and Clarissa was known throughout the west central of the state for its quality bricks. In 1982, he sold and delivered bricks to the school district in Long Prairie for building its school and the court house in Long Prairie.

- 1881 Frank Nutting ran the only general store and in the winter of 1881 A.H. O'Dell built and general merchandise business.

- 1883- The Mill was built by Frank Nutting Sr.

- 1885-A movement by parties interested in Clarissa, was inaugurated to make Clarissa the county seat.

- 1890-The Creamery was built at a cost of $5,000 and a co-operative company organized to run it.

- 1894- Creamery was sold to private parties for $3,000

- 1897- First brick building built by Frank Nutting.

- 1899 the school was built and consisted of four rooms. The school had four teachers and eight classes where taught.

-1900- The Clarissa Independent was established on July 27, 1900 by P.S. Dorsey until July 22, 1902, when George A. Etzell became the new owner and publisher.

-1903 First State Bank was established.

-1906- Clarissa began to make municipal improvements. Cement sidewalks, lighting system, sewage system, volunteer fire department, and most of all the purest water supplies to be found in the county.

- There were 5 churches: Catholic, Congregational, Norwegian Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran, and Norwegian Synod.

PRESENT

Clarissa is a “city for all seasons”, with a variety of activities available such as hunting, fishing, camping, a swimming pond and more. While it is a mainly a farming community, the city is has several employers such as Central Todd County Care Center, Cherrington, and Pro Ag Services. Home to Battle Creek Outfitters, a local business with global customers, a café with home-style cooking, and a baseball team, Clarissa has a lot to offer.

Several annual events attract the young and old. There is an annual Polkafest held on Memorial Day weekend, which celebrated its 28^th year in 2015. Summerfest in July includes a variety of family-friendly activities, ending with a fireworks display.

Clarissa is looking toward the future. This small city is a 2015 recipient of a community development funding grant through the Small Cities Development Program in excess of $1 million. These grant dollars can be used in the rehabilitation of a local commercial district, as well as updating housing and public facilities.

Residents identified these specific assets in Clarissa:

Natural Assets:

Eagle creek	Natural waterways (two that run on each side)
Bald eagles	Swimming pond
wildlife	agriculture
deer	bear
turkeys

Cultural Assets:

Norwegian/Scandinavian heritage	5 churches
museum	Farming community
Amish

Human Assets:

Aging population	American Legion vets and volunteers
firemen	Teachers
Health care workers	vets
postmen	Nurses-CNA and RNs
doctors	dentists
First Responders	volunteers
Pharmacists	Daycare providers
Postal employees	Dentists
Barbers

Social Assets:

Fireman’s Dance	PTO
Lion’s club	Sports boosters
Local baseball team	Santa Days
Church events	Clarissa Days –Summer fest
2 parks	Polka Fest
4-H	Girl Scouts
Post prom party	Business appreciation day
Garden club

Political Assets:

City council members-trying to always look forward/active city council
Faithful election judges

Financial Assets:

Unity Bank	Battle Lake Outdoors-donations
Dollars for Scholars	City’s RLF
Region Five Development Commission	Initiative Foundation
Community Club-collects donations

Built Assets:

Walking trail	Post Office
Assisted living facility	Available homes to purchase
Clarissa Ballroom	City parks
Water treatment facility	Good streets
Industrial park	Community garden
Clarissa Drug Store	Clarissa Family Dental
Lumberyard	Liquor Store-municipal
Gas Station	Farmhouse Cafe

Future:

Community Goals:

Wellness Center
Industrial Growth
Remodeling to public school

For more information on the City of Clarissa and all it has to offer, visit www.goclarissa.net or http://cityofclarissa.weebly.com/.