Evan developed in the 1880s as a small railroad station point in section 8 of Prairieville Township. Nels Hanson platted it on May 24, 1887, as Hanson Station, while a post office established in 1886 had already been named Evan by the first postmaster, Martin Norseth, in honor of Hanson's wife Eva. Norseth opened the first store there in 1885, and Peter Hansen of Sleepy Eye erected a grain elevator the same year. A creamery association formed in 1895 and built a large creamery plant. On March 22, 1904, the village was incorporated as Evan. Its first elected officers were H.P. Tharkeldsen, president; Jens Mikaelsen, Lars Lamp, and H.L. Hansen, councilmen; J.C. Forster, treasurer; and Jens D. Hansen, recorder. The village included 640 acres and had a population of 142. At incorporation, Evan had a bank, two general stores, a hardware store, lumberyard, blacksmith shop, stock dealer, garage, implement dealer, three elevators, a restaurant, the Light and Power Co., a library, and two churches.