Cannon Falls, Minnesota is a city located in Goodhue County, Minnesota. The city has a very rich history within the region. The first settler of Cannon Falls, Minnesota was Edway Stoughton, who was followed by Charles Parks. Charles Parks arrived in the area that is now Cannon Falls in July of 1854. The village area was formally laid out by Richard and William Freeborn in 1855, and platted by surveyor S.A. Hart. It wasn’t until 2 years later that the village of Cannon Falls was incorporated on March 10, 1857, and finally incorporated into a city in 1905. In the years since Cannon Falls has seen some growth in terms of the city population.

The city of Cannon Falls was named after the falls located along the Cannon River. The city also has become the westernmost trailhead for the famous Cannon Valley Trail. Famous Civil War Colonel, William J. Colvill, is buried at the Cannon Falls Cemetary. Colonel Colvill was a hero at the Battle of Gettysburg and is well-known for his leadership of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.

Cannon Falls, Minnesota has utilized the water energy from the big Cannon River, as well as the Little Cannon River for many years. This abundant water power helped to attract countless manufacturers, investors, and business owners to the area. A large flouring mill was constructed in 1957 by R.C. Knox & Co. For many years, manufacturing plants fir wool, grist, and syrup have resided in the area due to the natural resources available.

The city of Cannon Falls has a number of routes to and from the city. Some of the most popular ways to navigate the area include U.S. Highway 52, State Highway 19 and State Highway 20.

In August 2011, President Barack Obama visited Cannon Falls to start his campaign for his second term. This was the first day of his campaign.