[4] John Swenson, who secured a homestead on section 4 of Norman Township where now stands the City of Canby, was one of the early European settlers in the area.

[6] (General Canby had been assassinated the prior year during peace negotiations with the Modoc Tribe of Northern California.)

However, in 1876 the surrounding country was receiving new settlers and the railway company deemed it time to begin the operation of train service over the western part of the line.

[6] Because of its location on the rail line, Canby grew quickly and was incorporated as a village in 1879 and as a city in 1905.

Grasshoppers, natives, and prairie fires were a big concern for Canby residents at this time.

The settlers tried everything they could think of to make them go away but the grasshoppers devoured every blade of grass, the leaves on the trees and even clustered on buildings.

Not long after the battle, a band of about 100 natives camped along the railroad track in Canby to trade furs for merchandise.

Firebreaks were plowed around the town and each farmstead because settlers were ever alert to prairie fires.

A loss of $150,000 was reported but Canby built right up again and the structures were replaced with brick or stone construction.

Because of the uniquely preserved architecture of these buildings the downtown area has been designated as a nationally registered historic district.

The first sermon was preached in Canby in 1876, however, in 1879 the first regular religious service in the English language was held.

Farmers have cultivated the area around Canby since the first settlers arrived in the middle of the 19th century.

Farms and agriculture related businesses – both large and small, provide opportunities for various types of employment.

[8] Canby Creek, a tributary of the Lac qui Parle River, flows through the city.

Canby High School won the Minnesota State Team Championship in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1995, 2006.

[citation needed] Canby is the home of the Yellow Medicine County Fair which is held annually at the end of Summer.