Northfield, MN

Northfield is a college town on the Cannon River, south of the Twin Cities. It is home to both Carleton College and St. Olaf College, an unusually strong academic presence for a city of its size. The town began as an agricultural and milling center, with wheat, corn, lumber, and flour mills shaping early life. Northfield is also known for its Jesse James bank-raid history, but its everyday character is more collegiate: compact, thoughtful, and anchored by two campuses and a real downtown.