Location
Mendota is in Dakota County MENDOTA, a city of Mendota Township, was the first Euro-American settlement in Minnesota. The village began as a fur trading post in 1812; permanent settlers came about 1822, at which time it was called St. Peter's. The name Mendota, adopted about the year 1837, is a Dakota name meaning "the mouth of a river," because here the Minnesota River joins the Mississippi. It was the county seat, 1854-57; was incorporated on March 5, 1853; became a village on July 6, 1887; and had a post office, 1854-1972, at which time it was changed to a branch of St. Paul. The township was established in April 1858. Hear it pronounced in Dakota. From: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, First edition 1920. Third Edition 2001. Print.
