Watonwan County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watonwan County
|
|
---|---|
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
|
|
Minnesota's location within the U.S. |
|
Country | United States |
State | Minnesota |
Founded | February 25, 1860 |
Named for | Watonwan River |
Seat | St. James |
Largest city | St. James |
Area | |
• Total | 440 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
• Land | 435 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
• Water | 4.8 sq mi (12 km2) 1.1%% |
Population
(2020)
|
|
• Total | 11,253 |
• Estimate
(2023)
|
11,077 |
• Density | 25.9/sq mi (10.0/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Watonwan County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,253. Its county seat is St. James.
Contents
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." 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.
Geography
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. The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its southwest corner, at 1,293 ft (394 m) ASL. 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. The county is drained by the Watonwan River and its tributaries; the river flows eastward through the northern part of the county.
Major highways
Airports
- St. James Municipal Airport (JYG, LID) - 3 miles (4.8 km) east of St. James
Adjacent counties
- Brown County - north
- Blue Earth County - east
- Martin County - south
- Jackson County - southwest
- Cottonwood County - west
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
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)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1870 | 2,426 | — | |
1880 | 5,104 | 110.4% | |
1890 | 7,746 | 51.8% | |
1900 | 11,496 | 48.4% | |
1910 | 11,332 | −1.4% | |
1920 | 12,457 | 9.9% | |
1930 | 12,802 | 2.8% | |
1940 | 13,902 | 8.6% | |
1950 | 13,881 | −0.2% | |
1960 | 14,460 | 4.2% | |
1970 | 13,298 | −8.0% | |
1980 | 12,361 | −7.0% | |
1990 | 11,682 | −5.5% | |
2000 | 11,876 | 1.7% | |
2010 | 11,211 | −5.6% | |
2020 | 11,253 | 0.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 11,077 | −1.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
2020 Census
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% |
Communities
Cities
- Butterfield
- Darfur
- La Salle
- Lewisville
- Madelia
- Odin
- Ormsby (partly in Martin County)
- St. James (county seat)
Unincorporated communities
- Echols
- Godahl (partial)
- Grogan
- South Branch
- Sveadahl
- Tenmile Corner
Townships
- Adrian Township
- Antrim Township
- Butterfield Township
- Fieldon Township
- Long Lake Township
- Madelia Township
- Nelson Township
- Odin Township
- Riverdale Township
- Rosendale Township
- St. James Township
- South Branch Township
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Watonwan para niños