The first Isanti County Fair was held in 1877 in the Village of Cambridge. During the early years; the Isanti County Fair was an agricultural event which was held on land just southwest of the original Courthouse in Cambridge. In 1900, the Isanti County Agricultural Society was formed and sold stocks to help acquire the funds for the purchase of a new spot for the grounds. A second site was selected just east of town, but after only 1 year was abandoned as it was viewed as too far from town and inaccessible during periods of inclement weather.

The Fair had no grounds for the next 10 years and the annual fair utilized buildings in the Village of Cambridge for exhibit space and areas of the City were cordoned off for various entertainment, political speeches and baseball games. Horse racing was even held on the street leading from the river towards downtown.

By 1913, after receiving a grant from the Isanti County Commissioners, land was purchased where the Cambridge Mall now stands and was used as the fairgrounds for 60 years. Among the buildings and barns moved and erected on the grounds, was the Cambridge schoolhouse which was used for the Creative Activities exhibits. But when the city began to grow around the grounds, the Agricultural Society once again began to look for new grounds. In 1968, 40 acres further east of Cambridge were purchased, which is the site of the present fairgrounds. Within 3 years, the livestock barns and some