Page 71. Belle Plaine. An enterprising and growing village of 800 population, situated on the St. P. & S. C. R. R., in the western part of Scott county, 47 miles from St. Paul and 19 from Shakopee, the county seat. It contains a flour mill and a stave factory, driven by steam, the Minnesota river, on which the village stands, not furnishing water power. One Roman Catholic and 2 public schools, 5 churches – Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran and 2
Page 72. Catholic – furnish religious and secular instruction. Country produce is the only shipment. Telegraph, Western Union, express, American. Mail 3 times a day. (Minnesota State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1878-9, Volume 1, R. L. Polk & Co., and A. C. Danser, Detroit, Michigan)