FARIBAULT

city, seat of Rice county, southeastern Minnesota, U.S., at the confluence of the Cannon and Straight rivers, in a mixed-farming and lake area, 53 mi (85 km) south of St. Paul. Established in 1826 as a fur-trading post by Alexander Faribault (whose house still stands), it was the centre for the Indian missions of Henry B. Whipple, first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, who organized Seabury Divinity School (1858), Shattuck School (1867; now a military academy), and St. Mary's Hall, a school for girls. State schools for the deaf (1863), blind (1874), and mentally retarded (1879) and the Ephphatha Church for the deaf and blind are in the city. Large nurseries specialize in peonies and chrysanthemums, and a variety of goods are manufactured, notably woolens. Blue cheese is cured in caves along the Straight River. Inc. 1872. Pop. (1990) 17,085.