Turkeys from the McCormick Farm, undated. Photos: Plymouth History Center
Did you know that Plymouth was home to the last turkey farm in Hennepin County? The 160-acre McCormick family farm was located off Chankahda Trail near Lake Camelot. From 1936 until the late 1960s, George McCormick raised thousands of turkeys. He raised as many as 6,000 turkeys at a time and would sell most by Thanksgiving. (A Plymouth resident in 1967 could go to the McCormick farm and buy a locally-raised bird for 32 cents per pound.)
1/2 section map showing the McCormick Farm, 1956.
Turkey farming was gradually phased out in the 1960s when land prices were becoming more valuable than meat prices.
Ryan Barland is the historic site coordinator for the City of Plymouth. Discover more at history.plymouthmn.gov.
