[3][6] Morris is surrounded by some of the nation's richest agricultural land, and agribusiness is important to the local economy.

[7] Other large economic contributors are beef feedlots and swine producers, manufacturing, education, and healthcare industries.

[9] The federal government and state in the 19th century had programs to assimilate Native Americans to the majority culture.

The Sisters of Mercy Roman Catholic order, led by Mary Joseph Lynch, established a boarding school for Indians in Morris, operating it from 1887 to 1896 under contract to the federal government.

Initially, most students came from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, which had many Catholic converts.

[11] The federal government then appointed staff to manage the school into the early 20th century, before transferring it to the state.

After the state took over the school in the early 20th century for general education, it taught agricultural topics.

In 1909 the University of Minnesota established the West Central School of Agriculture (WCSA), and Morris closed.

In the fall of 1960, the University of Minnesota Morris opened to students seeking a liberal arts education.

[8] The city contains five properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the 1881 Lewis H. Stanton House, the 1899 Morris Industrial School for Indians Dormitory, the 1905 Morris Carnegie Library, and the early-20th-century West Central School of Agriculture and Experiment Station Historic District.

The company manufactures steel conveyors and storage tanks for industries handling dry bulk, fuels and gases.

In 2008, Inc. magazine ranked Superior Industries as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

Morris is home to the West Central Research and Outreach Center, a division of the greater University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

WCROC's faculty and staff study agronomy, soil science, livestock, horticulture, renewable energy and swine production.

Since the late 20th century, festival organizers have also worked to include Native American participants and acknowledge contributions by their cultures.

The Stevens County Fair takes place in Morris on the second full weekend in August.

Each year people from miles around come to see the exhibits, take in some entertainment in the grandstand and see old friends while sitting on one of many benches in the shade.