Throughout the high medieval and early modern periods, windmills were used. The horizontal windmill debuted in Greater Iran in the 9th century, whereas the vertical windmill debuted in northern Europe in the 12th century. There are around 1,000 windmills in the Netherlands today, and they are considered an emblem of Dutch culture.

Daniel Halladay designed the American windmill, or wind engine, in 1854, and it was primarily used to extract water from wells. Sawing wood, chopping hay, and shelling and grinding grain were all done using larger versions.

The windmill was part of a self-contained home water system in early California and several other states, which featured a hand-dug well and a timber water tower holding a redwood container enclosed by wooden paneling known as a tank house. Steel blades and steel towers supplanted wooden construction in the late 1800s.

An estimated 600,000 units were in use at their peak in 1930. North and South American suppliers included U.S.Challenge Wind Mill and Dempster Mill Manufacturers Association, and Aermotor is one of the companies that make wind turbines.