Pope County, Minnesota: History
Pope County was identified by the state legislature in 1862 and named for John Pope, a Union Army general who had worked as a surveyor in the area. Its organization was effected in 1866.
Until May 1965, when county option was eliminated, Pope County was a dry county; no beverages with over 3.2% alcohol could be sold.
Pope County was the location of several protests against the CU Powerline in the 1970s.