North Star History

North Star Mutual Insurance Company originated in 1920 as North Star Farmer’s Mutual in Redwood Falls, Minnesota and was managed by A.D. Stewart. When he died five years later, A.E. Anderson took over management and moved the headquarters to Cottonwood, Minnesota in 1926. Stable, consistent, and financially sound, the company has had four chief executives since: W.E. Anderson 1950-1973, Cliff Hanson 1973-2001,  Jeff Mauland 2001-2020, and Peter Hellie, North Star’s current Chief Executive Officer.

Milestones in North Star Mutual history include:

1920 – Incorporated February 15th as North Star Farmer’s Mutual to provide crop insurance in Minnesota.

1925 – Discontinued crop hail insurance and began to insure farm buildings and personal property.

1950 – Expanded to insure homes and businesses for all potential hazards. Meanwhile,  the company strengthened its relationship with township mutual insurers in Minnesota by providing wind and hail coverage to augment the coverage provided by the township mutual.

1954 – Name changed to North Star Mutual Insurance Company to better reflect the expanded scope of coverage provided.

1961 – Began writing in Oklahoma by assuming a book of business written through the One General Agency (OGA).

1962 – Package of Policies (POP) introduced to offer a single insurance package including both North Star Mutual coverages and the Minnesota Township Mutual coverages.

1975 – Began writing in South Dakota.

1981 – Began writing in North Dakota.

1984 – Walle Mutual Insurance Company of Grand Forks, North Dakota, affiliated with North Star and then merged with the company October 1, 2000.

1990 – Began writing in Nebraska.

1991 – Private Passenger Auto Insurance line was introduced through a new affiliate company: North Star General Insurance Company.

1995 – To serve the needs of territorial and product expansion, a corporate headquarters building addition brings total office space to over 50,000 square feet.

2002 – Surpassed $100 Million in written premium.

2007 – Added Commercial Auto insurance to the product line.

2009 – Began writing in Iowa, and introduced the Farmowner policy product line in Oklahoma.

2010 – Surpassed $200 million in written premium.

2011 – Introduced the Personal and Commercial Automobile policy product lines in Oklahoma.

2013 – Surpassed $300 million in written premium.

2015 – Completed 46,000-square-foot addition to home office, bringing total office space to 100,000 square feet.

2016 – Began writing Auto in Kansas in partnership with Marysville Mutual.

2018 – Surpassed $400 Million in written premium. Began writing in Wisconsin.

2020 – Celebrated 100 years of service

2021 – Surpassed $500 Million in written premium and $1 Billion in assets.