Wabasha County, Minnesota

Wabasha County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,387.[1] Its county seat is Wabasha.[2]

Wabasha County
County
Old Wabasha City Hall in Wabasha, Minnesota.
Old Wabasha City Hall in Wabasha, Minnesota.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Wabasha County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°17′N 92°14′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedOctober 27, 1849
Named forWabasha (city)
SeatWabasha
Largest cityLake City
Area
 • Total550 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Land523 sq mi (1,350 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  4.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,387
 • Estimate 
(2022)
21,658 Increase
 • Density40.9/sq mi (15.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.wabasha.mn.us

Wabasha County is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The recently organized Minnesota Territory legislature created Wabasha County on October 27, 1849, one of nine original counties in the territory. An area on the Mississippi River's west bank, originally called Cratte's Landing, had grown into a town named Wabasha, then a city, and when the legislature created the county west of the river around this city, Wabasha was designated the county seat. The city had been named for three successive chiefs of Mississippi bands of Dakota Indians.[3]

Wabasha County's area was reduced in 1853 when sections were partitioned off to create Fillmore, Goodhue, and Rice counties. More area was partitioned off in 1854 to create Winona County, and another part in 1855 to create Olmsted County. The county boundaries have remained the same since 1855.

Geography
Soils of Wabasha County[4]

Wabasha County lies on Minnesota's border with Wisconsin (across the Mississippi River. The Mississippi flows southeast along the county's eastern line. The North Fork of the Whitewater River flows east through the southern part of the county, then discharges into the Whitewater in Olmsted County. The combined Whitewater then enters the southeastern part of Wabasha County, flowing northeast to its discharge point into the Mississippi. The Zumbro River flows east-northeast through the county to its discharge point into the Mississippi. East Indian Creek and Miller Creek drain the northern part of the county into the Mississippi. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, considerably rutted by drainages, with all available area devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on its upper west border at 1,191 ft (363 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 550 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 523 square miles (1,350 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (4.8%) is water.[7] Wabasha is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soils than either forest or prairie soils.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[5]
  • Carley State Park
  • Kellogg-Weaver Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
  • Mazeppa State Wildlife Management Area
  • McCarthy Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Miller Creek Aquatic Management Area[8]
  • Zumbro Falls Woods Scientific and Natural Area

Lakes[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850243—
18607,2282,874.5%
187015,850119.3%
188018,20614.9%
189016,972−6.8%
190018,92411.5%
191018,554−2.0%
192017,919−3.4%
193019,6139.5%
194017,653−10.0%
195016,878−4.4%
196017,0070.8%
197017,2241.3%
198019,33512.3%
199019,7442.1%
200021,6109.5%
201021,6760.3%
202021,387−1.3%
2022 (est.)21,658[9]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census
Wabasha County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 19,921 93.2%
Black or African American (NH) 121 0.6%
Native American (NH) 32 0.2%
Asian (NH) 97 0.5%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 502 2.35%
Hispanic or Latino 708 3.31%

2000 census
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,610 people, 8,277 households, and 5,876 families in the county. The population density was 41.3 per square mile (15.9/km2). There were 9,066 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 53.3% were of German, 11.1% Norwegian, 7.3% Irish and 5.0% American ancestry.

There were 8,277 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,117, and the median income for a family was $50,480. Males had a median income of $33,053 versus $24,316 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,664. About 4.10% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
Wabasha County Jail, built 1916.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Politics

Wabasha County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Wabasha County, Minnesota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,153 62.13% 4,696 35.78% 274 2.09%
2016 6,989 59.07% 3,866 32.67% 977 8.26%
2012 6,049 51.42% 5,415 46.03% 299 2.54%
2008 5,935 49.90% 5,646 47.47% 312 2.62%
2004 6,120 51.71% 5,548 46.88% 167 1.41%
2000 5,245 49.81% 4,522 42.94% 764 7.25%
1996 3,452 36.06% 4,523 47.25% 1,598 16.69%
1992 3,397 33.25% 3,736 36.57% 3,084 30.18%
1988 4,681 50.80% 4,442 48.20% 92 1.00%
1984 5,299 57.31% 3,872 41.87% 76 0.82%
1980 4,986 52.75% 3,712 39.27% 755 7.99%
1976 4,484 49.55% 4,286 47.36% 279 3.08%
1972 5,158 61.31% 3,017 35.86% 238 2.83%
1968 4,081 51.75% 3,452 43.77% 353 4.48%
1964 3,133 41.75% 4,367 58.20% 4 0.05%
1960 4,566 55.70% 3,628 44.26% 3 0.04%
1956 4,728 66.89% 2,301 32.56% 39 0.55%
1952 5,461 69.63% 2,356 30.04% 26 0.33%
1948 3,297 46.42% 3,730 52.52% 75 1.06%
1944 4,213 62.62% 2,482 36.89% 33 0.49%
1940 5,656 67.95% 2,655 31.90% 13 0.16%
1936 2,663 34.60% 4,122 53.55% 912 11.85%
1932 2,319 33.23% 4,540 65.06% 119 1.71%
1928 3,944 55.84% 3,087 43.71% 32 0.45%
1924 2,834 44.93% 644 10.21% 2,829 44.85%
1920 4,907 77.11% 1,275 20.03% 182 2.86%
1916 1,787 53.11% 1,449 43.06% 129 3.83%
1912 797 23.32% 1,422 41.62% 1,198 35.06%
1908 2,150 58.36% 1,416 38.44% 118 3.20%
1904 2,315 66.14% 1,083 30.94% 102 2.91%
1900 2,114 57.68% 1,406 38.36% 145 3.96%
1896 2,530 58.86% 1,630 37.92% 138 3.21%
1892 1,580 43.16% 1,774 48.46% 307 8.39%

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 555.
  4. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2
  5. Wabasha County MN Google Maps (accessed April 20, 2019)
  6. "Find an Altitude/Wabasha County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 20, 2019)
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  8. "Miller Creek AMA". Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wabasha County, Minnesota".
  15. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

44.28°N 92.24°W / 44.28; -92.24

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