Vader City Council Considers Vote for Name Change

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Ten years ago, an attempt to change the name of a small South Lewis County town failed.

In November, Vader residents could see the question on their ballots again, asking them if they want the town to reclaim a name it was once known by — Little Falls.

Vader, a town of about 600 people, went by the name Little Falls when it was home to thousands of residents, logging enterprises, a brick manufacturing company and a railroad station.

Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin Flynn said he is interested in changing the name back as part of a movement to revitalize the community.

The idea was tabled for further discussion at a Vader City Council meeting Thursday.

“We’ve been trying to change the image of the town and change the structure of the town and bring it back to the way it was when it was a thriving community,” Flynn said.

The town was incorporated in 1906 as Little Falls, named after a nearby waterfall on Olequa Creek.

In 1913, the Northern Pacific Railroad told the town to change its name because it already had Little Falls, Minnesota, on its line. Two towns of the same name caused confusion.

“The city historically was done an injustice,” Flynn said. 

The name Vader was chosen after one of its residents, who moved after the renaming.



Most people today associate the name of the town with Darth Vader of “Star Wars,” Flynn said.

“(Little Falls) has a much softer tone than Vader,” Flynn said. 

Some citizens have expressed support of the change, even saying they will pay to put the issue on the ballot, he said.

While the council could change the name itself, Flynn said, other residents are against the change and don’t believe that it should go to a vote, noting the issue is somewhat “volatile.”

“In the last couple years there’s been a lot of new families moving into town with different attitudes,” Flynn said. “And that’s what we’re hoping when we put it out for a vote, that a right number of people go out and vote the town name in.”

The Vader City Council is considering a resolution to put the question on the Nov. 3 ballot. Councilors postponed a vote on the matter Thursday because one councilor was absent and another wanted to research the issue. They are expected to consider the resolution at their next meeting on Thursday, June 11.

Attempts to contact the mayor and other councilors for comment Friday were unsuccessful. 

When the issue was last on the ballot in November 2005, it failed, with 91 votes against the change and 75 votes in favor of becoming citizens of Little Falls.