1745History
Until 1745, the area was primarily occupied by the Wahpekute band of Dakotah.
1826Government
He is credited with fueling most of the early settlement in the area, beginning in 1826, when he established a fur trading post on the banks of the Cannon River.
1834History
By 1834, the trading post had grown in popularity and was moved to the Straight River, one mile (1.6 km) upstream of its junction with the Cannon River, the site of modern-day F...
1853Architecture
The Alexander Faribault House was built in 1853 by Alexander Faribault at a cost of $4,000, equal to $154,800 today.
1854Architecture
Spurred by the completion of the area's first steam-powered sawmill in early 1854, the next year took Faribault from a sleepy settlement of 20 buildings to a bustling town with ...
1855Government
The City of Faribault was platted in 1855 and granted a home-rule charter in 1872.
1865Government
Founded in 1865, the Faribault Woolen Mills stayed in operation until 2009.
1926History
Herbert Sellner, a woodworker and maker of water slides, invented the Tilt-A-Whirl in 1926 at his Faribault home.
1927Architecture
In 1927, Sellner Manufacturing opened its factory in Faribault, and the ride debuted that year at the Minnesota State Fair.
1964History
On that same corridor through town, the White Sands Swimming Pool ("Minnesota's Largest Outdoor Swimming Pool") operated from 1964 to 1977.
1975Architecture
Around 1975, the last portions of I-35 were completed and through traffic started to bypass Faribault.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families living in the city.
2006History
Minnick's Food Market, Faribault's last mom-and-pop grocery store, closed in 2006 after 60+ years of operation.
2009Government
The Cannon River STEM School, a K-8 charter school, operated from 2009 to 2025.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 23,352 people, 8,317 households, and 5,208 families living in the city.
2011Architecture
Reopened in 2011, it is one of the United States' few remaining vertical woolen mills, taking raw wool and producing finished goods.
2020History
=== Climate ===
== Demographics ==
=== 2020 census ===
As of the census of 2020, there were 24,453 people and 8,853 households living in the city.