[10] 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.

The young Alexander Faribault used his knowledge of Dakota language and culture to improve relations with the displaced Wahpekute and even helped the tribe to resettle in the area.

This relationship was instrumental in ensuring the success of the trading post and allowing safe travel to the area for settlers.

The Dakota in the area called this soon-to-be town "Adek" for Alex (Alexander Faribault).

It is considered the oldest frame structure in the area, and still stands in its original location near the southern edge of Faribault's historic downtown district.

The years following the construction of this first building brought unprecedented growth, development, and economic prosperity to the young settlement.

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 more than 250.

Historians attribute Faribault's impressive growth during this period to a number of important milestones in 1855 and 1856, including the creation of roads connecting to other settlements and trading posts in Iowa and Minnesota Territory, the availability of mail service, and the construction of schools and churches.

Before I-35's completion, traffic was routed through town, generating significant sales revenue to the retailers that had a major highway running past their doors.

This swimming area is now the White Sands Dog Park, as well as the trailhead for the Sakatah Singing Hills Trail, which runs to Mankato.

[19] The other, Minnick's Food Market, was Faribault's last mom-and-pop grocery store and closed after 60+ years of operation in late 2006.

[citation needed] Herbert Sellner, a woodworker and maker of water slides, invented the Tilt-A-Whirl in 1926 at his Faribault home.

In 1927, Sellner Manufacturing opened its factory in Faribault, and the ride debuted that year at the Minnesota State Fair.

Reopened in 2011, it is one of few remaining vertical woolen mills in the United States, taking raw wool and producing finished goods.

[21] SAGE Electrochromics, a specialized window glass developer and wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, is based in Faribault.

Faribault is in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Brad Finstad, a Republican.

Noyes Hall, a neoclassical building on the campus of Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[28] Shattuck-Saint Mary's is a coeducational college preparatory boarding school especially noted for its Centers of Excellence program in hockey, winning numerous youth national championships and producing several NHL and Olympic team players.