New London began in 1865 when Louis Larson filed homestead rights and named the site. In 1867 merchants W.W. Pinney and Samuel Adams each built and opened stores, and postal service began. In 1868 New London became the county seat of Monongalia County, and in 1870 Monongalia County became part of Kandiyohi County. Lebanon Lutheran church was erected in 1873. Many businesses opened during the 1870's, flourished, then disappeared, including a blacksmith, carriage and wagon maker, gunsmith, harness maker, tinsmith, miller, and dress maker. The first newspaper, the New London Review, was published in 1884. In 1886 the Great Northern Railroad line between St. Cloud and Willmar opened with postal and passenger service; several businesses operated near the depot, but relocated two years later to the mill area. The village was incorporated in 1889, Louis Larson was the first mayor, and the population was 176. In 1890 the New London Creamery and Great Northern Hotel opened and construction began on the State Bank. Mission Covenant church was built in 1892, the fire hall with bell tower alarm was completed in 1893 next to the dam opposite the mill, the original brick building of the Big Store was built in 1895, and Presbyterian church was built in 1898. In 1904 the New London Telephone company was organized and the Norwegian Lutheran church was built. The first elementary and high school, built of concrete block, opened in 1905. In 1910 the Farmers Cooperative Store opened and a municipal building was erected. Sunnyside Hospital opened in 1915, servicing most of the surrounding towns, and Farmers State Bank was built that year. A concrete auditorium, now the Little Theatre, was built in 1921. By 1930 major construction was completed on state highway 71 with another bridge over the millpond. In 1940 New London's Diamond Jubilee, its seventy-fifth birthday, was celebrated for three days and attracted 15,000 people.