Location
Heron Lake is in Jackson County HERON LAKE Township, organized September 7, 1870, was named for the large lake on its west side, which, as noted by Prof. A. W. Williamson, is translated from itsDakota name, Okabena (hokah, heron; be, nests; na, diminutive suffix), meaning "the nesting place of herons." Minnesota has three common species, the great blue heron or crane, from which Crane Island of Lake Minnetonka was named, the green heron, and the black-crowned night heron. The last, found by Dr. Thomas S. Roberts in considerable numbers at Heron Lake, was formerly plentiful or frequent through the greater part of this state. Jack and Okabena Creeks flow into the west side of Heron Lake, the former being probably named from jack rabbits, and the latter bearing the Dakota name for Heron Lake. From: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, First edition 1920. Third Edition 2001. Print.
