 At the outset of the 19th century most of the European settlements were related to the fur trade . The largest of these settlements were trading posts established by the North West Company , particularly those at Sandy Lake , Leech Lake , and Fond du Lac . Historian Grace Lee Nute has documented over 100 fur trading posts of varying sizes in the Minnesota area before statehood . Most of these posts were eventually taken over by the American Fur Company . When several hundred settlers abandoned the Red River Colony in the 1820s , they entered the United States by way of the Red River Valley , instead of moving to eastern Canada or returning to Europe , adding to the Minnesota region 's population . 
 At the outset of the 19th century most of the European settlements <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> related to the fur trade . The largest of these settlements <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> trading posts established by the North West Company , particularly those at Sandy Lake , Leech Lake , and Fond du Lac . Historian Grace Lee Nute <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> documented over 100 fur trading posts of varying sizes in the Minnesota area before statehood . Most of these posts <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> eventually taken over by the American Fur Company . When several hundred settlers abandoned the Red River Colony in the 1820s , they entered the United States by way of the Red River Valley , instead of moving to eastern Canada or returning to Europe , adding to the Minnesota region <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>population . 
At the outset of da 19th century most of the European settlements was related to tdafur trade . The largest of these settlements was trading posts established by thdaorth West Company , particularly those at Sandy Lake , Leech Lake , and Fond du Lac . Historian Grace Lee Nute done documented ova 100 fur trading posts of varying sizes in thedannesota area b4 statehood . Most of these posts was eventually taken oovaby the American Fur Company . When several hunnit settlers abandoned the da River Colony in the 1820s , they entered the Udaed States by way of the Redaiver Valley , instead of moving to eastern Canada or returning to Europe , adding to the Minnesota region  population .