Warren was first settled in 1879 by Charles Wentzel. The coming of the Great Northern Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe) led to the establishment of a permanent settlement. It was named for a ticket agent for the railroad who probably never set foot in Warren. Warren was incorporated as a village in 1881 and as a city in 1892. There has always been some doubt surrounding the actual date of Warren’s founding. Hence, the city celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1956 and its centennial in 1980.
Agriculture and agribusiness has been the mainstays of Warren throughout its history. The principal crops are wheat, soybeans, potatoes, and sugar beets. Warren has three bank branches, Frandsen Bank and Trust, Bremer and American Federal. Warren is the home of the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Ponies, School District # 2176, www.wao.k12.mn.us. Warren has a public library, the Godel Memorial Library, and is the home of the Marshall County Historical Society (www.mnhistoricnw.org/marshallchs.htm), Marshall County Fair (www.marshallcountyfair.org) and Warren Riverside Country Club. The City has three Lutheran Churches, Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical Covenant Church, United Methodist and Assembly of God Church.