New Ulm

City and seat of Brown County, in southwestern Minnesota; population (2000) 13,600. New Ulm is on the Minnesota River near the mouth of the Cottonwood River, 40 km/25 mi west-northwest of Mankato.

Settled by German immigrants in 1854, the city processes many of the area's agricultural products, especially beef, cereals, and dairy goods. It also manufactures electrical equipment and plastics. New Ulm was attacked twice during the Sioux uprising of 1862; most of the original village was destroyed and the inhabitants fled to Mankato before the revolt was suppressed. The city is the site of Dr Martin Luther College (founded 1884). Fort Ridgely, Minnesota's third frontier military post, is in the state park of the same name, 32 km/20 mi to the northwest.