Location
Artichoke is in Big Stone County ARTICHOKE Township, whose first settler came in May 1869, received its name from the former Artichoke Lake, now drained, which was five miles long, stretching from section 11 south to section 36. This name was probably translated from the Dakota name of the lake, referring to the edible tuber roots of a species of sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus), which was much used by the Indians as food, called pangi by the Dakota, abundant here and common or frequent throughout this state. The village Artichoke, in section 11, had a post office, known in Artichoke Lake, 1876-1913; Nels Johnson was the first postmaster and also the town treasurer. From: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, First edition 1920. Third Edition 2001. Print.
