MANKATO, a city of the United States, the county seat of Blue Earth county, Minnesota, is situated in the midst of a good agricultural district on the right bank of the Minnesota river, and is a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St Paul, the Chicago and North Western, and the Chicago, St Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha railways. From St Paul it is distant 86 miles. Besides carrying on an extensive trade Mankato manufactures woollen goods, linseed oil, flour, beer, carriages and waggons, iron wares, and furniture. It has a fine park and fair ground, three public halls, a public library, and a State normal school. The population increased from 3482 in 1870 to 5550 in 1880.