Goodhue Township settled in 1854, organized September 13. 1859, was then named Lime, but was renamed as now in January 1860, honoring James M. Goodhue, like the county name. The city in sections 21 and 28 incorporated as a village on April 2, 1897; its post office was noted under several names: Elmira, 1857-58; Goodhue Centre, 1858-79; Goodhue, 1882-84; Goodhue Centre, 1888-89, when it returned to its present form. The community developed after the Duluth, Red Wing and Southern Railroad came through in 1889 and built the depot.