Lake Wobegon

Lake Wobegon is a fictitious town in Minnesota, claimed to have been the boyhood home of Garrison Keillor, who reports the News from Lake Wobegon on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion, broadcast live every Saturday afternoon over Minnesota Public Radio and public radio stations throughout the US. Keillor was actually born and raised in Anoka, Minnesota.

Related Topics:
Minnesota - Garrison Keillor - A Prairie Home Companion - Minnesota Public Radio - Public radio - Anoka, Minnesota

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Lake Wobegon is the seat of Mist County, a tiny county near the geographic center of Minnesota that supposedly does not appear on maps because of the incompetence of surveyors who mapped out the state in the 19th century. The 800 residents are proud of the statue of the Unknown Norwegian (so called because the model left before the sculptor could get his name). The town is the home of the Whippets baseball team. It is served by Ralph's Pretty Good Grocery, the Sidetrack Tap, and the Chatterbox Cafe. Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility parish and the Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church are there, although Keillor identifies the founders of Lake Wobegon as New England Unitarian missionaries who came to convert the Native Americans through interpretive dance.

Related Topics:
Seat - County - Interpretive dance

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Tuna hot dish, snow, Norwegian bachelor farmers, ice fishing, tongues frozen to cold metal things, and lutefisk are common elements of the local culture. Keillor characterizes Lake Wobegon as a place where "the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."

Related Topics:
Norwegian - Ice fishing - Lutefisk

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The name is likely a play on the word "woebegone".

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Despite not existing, the town appeals to many people and some have humorously gone off in search of it. A book of photos, co-authored by Mr. Keillor, documents images which could have in fact come from there.

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Keillor has also written several semi-autobiographical books about life in Lake Wobegon.

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