The northern boundary change separating it from Swift County led to reorganization on February 18, 1870.

The first three county commissioners, appointed by the governor, were Daniel S. Wilkins, Ole Thorson and M. Davidson.

Baker as auditor; J.C. Eldred as register of deeds; Samuel J. Sargant as treasurer; George W. Daniels as judge of probate; Edward Alcorn as sheriff; J.D.

Baker as superintendent of schools; Horace W. Griggs as coroner; George W. Frink as justice of the peace; and F.W.

Daniel S. Wilkins was the first settler to arrive in 1865, and he laid out Chippewa City in autumn 1868.

L. R. Moyer reported that some men from Montevideo went to Chippewa City and took the county records, "lock, stock and barrel".

The state of Minnesota legalized the move and Montevideo remains the county seat.

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.

Chippewa County voters have been fairly split in recent decades.

Donald Trump was the first Republican nominee to win the county since George W. Bush in 2000, receiving 60.5% of the vote.