Ag History Minute: From Ancient Innovation to American Farms
In this edition of the American Agriculture History Minute, we take a closer look at one of the most enduring tools in rural landscapes: the windmill. This historical moment honors the windmill’s essential role in farming history.
Modern windmills, as we recognize them today, trace their origins back to the 8th and 9th centuries in the Middle East and Western Asia. As the technology spread, countries like England and the Netherlands became early centers of windmill usage, especially for pumping water and grinding grain.
When immigrants brought this knowledge to North America, the windmill became a vital tool for agriculture, especially in remote and water-scarce areas. By 1930, the U.S. was home to more than 600,000 wind pumps, a testament to their critical function in supporting crop and livestock production across the plains.
Many of these windmills remain in operation today, serving as both functional water-pumping tools and symbolic icons of rural resilience.