FERGUS FALLS

city, seat of Otter Tail county, west-central Minnesota, U.S. It lies along the Otter Tail River in a lake area. Settled in 1857 by Joseph Whitford and named for James Fergus, financial backer of Whitford's expedition, it was laid out in 1870. Fergus Falls State Hospital was established in 1887. The city is the synodical headquarters of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren and the site of a Lutheran seminary. Its economy, primarily agriculturally based, includes flour mills and a large cooperative creamery. Fergus Falls Community College was opened in 1960. Inc. village, 1872; city, 1881. Pop. (1990) 12,362; (1994 est.) 12,486.