Watonwan County, Minnesota

Watonwan County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,253.[2] Its county seat is St. James.[3]

Watonwan County
County
Watonwan County Courthouse
Watonwan County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Watonwan County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 94°37′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 25, 1860[1]
Named forWatonwan River
SeatSt. James
Largest citySt. James
Area
 • Total440 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  1.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,253
 • Estimate 
(2022)
11,075 Decrease
 • Density25.9/sq mi (10.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.watonwan.mn.us

History

In 1849, the recently organized Minnesota Territory legislature authorized the creation of nine large counties across the territory. In 1853, one of those original counties, Dakota, had a large area partitioned off to create Blue Earth County. In 1855 the western part of Blue Earth was partitioned to create Brown County. On February 25, 1860, the southern part of Brown was partitioned to create this county, with Madelia as the designated county seat. The county was named for its eponymous river, whose name reflects the Dakota word "watanwan," meaning "fish bait" or "plenty of fish."[4] The word first appears in the written record on an 1843 map of the area so naming the river.

In 1869 the first settlers arrived in the area of the future Saint James, and the area began growing. In 1870 an extension of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway was terminated at the village, and railway officials decided to name the terminus Saint James. By 1878 the town had grown to the extent that a vote was taken to move the county seat there.[5]

Geography
Soils of Watonwan County[6]

The terrain of Watonwan County consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is completely devoted to agriculture where possible.[7] The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its southwest corner, at 1,293 ft (394 m) ASL.[8] The county has an area of 440 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (1.1%) is water.[9] The county is drained by the Watonwan River and its tributaries; the river flows eastward through the northern part of the county.[10]

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

Protected areas
  • Bergdahl State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lewisville State Wildlife Management Area
  • Turtle Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
  • Wilson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Woodlake State Wildlife Management Area

[7]

Lakes
  • Bergdahl Lake
  • Bullhead Lake
  • Butterfield Lake
  • Case Lake
  • Cottonwood Lake
  • Ewy Lake
  • Fedji Lake
  • Irish Lake
  • Long Lake
  • Mary Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Kansas Lake
  • Saint James Lake
  • School Lake
  • Sulem Lake
  • Wilson Lake ("School Lake" in some records)
  • Wood Lake (part)

[7]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,426—
18805,104110.4%
18907,74651.8%
190011,49648.4%
191011,332−1.4%
192012,4579.9%
193012,8022.8%
194013,9028.6%
195013,881−0.2%
196014,4604.2%
197013,298−8.0%
198012,361−7.0%
199011,682−5.5%
200011,8761.7%
201011,211−5.6%
202011,2530.4%
2022 (est.)11,075[11]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census
Watonwan County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 7,689 68.33%
Black or African American (NH) 42 0.37%
Native American (NH) 13 0.12%
Asian (NH) 86 0.76%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0%
Other/Mixed (NH) 196 1.74%
Hispanic or Latino 3,227 28.7%

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,876 people, 4,627 households, and 3,141 families in the county. The population density was 27.3 per square mile (10.5/km2). There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.54% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.78% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 15.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.9% were of German, 17.3% Norwegian and 5.8% Swedish ancestry.

There were 4,627 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.

The county population contained 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,441, and the median income for a family was $42,321. Males had a median income of $29,242 versus $19,788 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,413. About 7.80% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Watonwan County voters tend to vote Republican. In two-thirds of presidential elections since 1980, the county has selected the Republican nominee (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Watonwan County, Minnesota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,103 59.66% 1,987 38.20% 111 2.13%
2016 2,768 55.38% 1,814 36.29% 416 8.32%
2012 2,517 48.93% 2,494 48.48% 133 2.59%
2008 2,526 48.04% 2,562 48.73% 170 3.23%
2004 2,970 53.20% 2,514 45.03% 99 1.77%
2000 2,562 49.90% 2,258 43.98% 314 6.12%
1996 1,997 37.74% 2,534 47.89% 760 14.36%
1992 1,871 33.54% 2,100 37.65% 1,607 28.81%
1988 2,821 52.10% 2,544 46.98% 50 0.92%
1984 3,526 58.98% 2,425 40.57% 27 0.45%
1980 3,629 55.09% 2,442 37.07% 516 7.83%
1976 3,351 50.30% 3,177 47.69% 134 2.01%
1972 3,960 63.35% 2,229 35.66% 62 0.99%
1968 3,446 53.57% 2,701 41.99% 286 4.45%
1964 2,823 43.80% 3,615 56.09% 7 0.11%
1960 4,173 63.28% 2,412 36.57% 10 0.15%
1956 3,963 67.62% 1,886 32.18% 12 0.20%
1952 4,549 72.02% 1,752 27.74% 15 0.24%
1948 2,581 45.30% 3,039 53.33% 78 1.37%
1944 3,146 57.27% 2,324 42.31% 23 0.42%
1940 3,478 55.30% 2,783 44.25% 28 0.45%
1936 1,930 33.44% 3,668 63.55% 174 3.01%
1932 1,919 39.62% 2,795 57.71% 129 2.66%
1928 3,306 69.69% 1,412 29.76% 26 0.55%
1924 2,297 53.57% 279 6.51% 1,712 39.93%
1920 3,510 81.40% 647 15.00% 155 3.59%
1916 1,300 59.94% 801 36.93% 68 3.14%
1912 254 12.22% 618 29.74% 1,206 58.04%
1908 1,411 70.44% 537 26.81% 55 2.75%
1904 1,455 79.95% 307 16.87% 58 3.19%
1900 1,509 71.93% 509 24.26% 80 3.81%
1896 1,622 71.99% 586 26.01% 45 2.00%
1892 934 62.68% 388 26.04% 168 11.28%
County Board of Commissioners[18]
Position Name District Next election
Commissioner Jim Pettersen District 1 2024
Commissioner Bill Miller District 2 2026
Commissioner Jim Branstad District 3 2024
Commissioner Scott Westerman District 4 2026
Commissioner Dillon Melheim District 5 2024
State Legislature (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Julie Rosen[19] Republican District 23
House of Representatives Bjorn Olson[20] Republican District 23A
House of Representatives Jeremy Munson[21] Republican District 23B
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Brad Finstad[22] Republican 1st
Senate Amy Klobuchar[23] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[24] Democrat N/A

See also

Footnotes
  1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 165.
  5. Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 547-76 (accessed April 22, 2019)
  6. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  7. Watonwan County MN Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)
  8. "Find an Altitude/Watonwan County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  10. Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth ME: DeLorme. 1994. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-89933-222-6.
  11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  15. "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.
  16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Watonwan County, Minnesota".
  17. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  18. "County Board of Commissioners | Watonwan County, MN - Official Website". www.co.watonwan.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  20. "Rep. Bjorn Olson (23A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  21. "Rep. Jeremy Munson (23B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  22. "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.
  23. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

Further reading
  • John A. Brown (ed.), History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota: Their People, Industries, and Institutions: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families. In Two Volumes. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen and Company, 1916. Volume 1 | Volume 2

43.98°N 94.61°W / 43.98; -94.61

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