Cottonwood County | |
---|---|
![]() Cottonwood County Courthouse | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota | |
![]() Minnesota's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 44°01′N95°11′W / 44.01°N 95.18°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | May 23, 1857 (created) July 29, 1870 (organized) |
Named for | Cottonwood River |
Seat | Windom |
Largest city | Windom |
Area | |
• Total | 649 sq mi (1,680 km2) |
• Land | 639 sq mi (1,660 km2) |
• Water | 10 sq mi (30 km2) 1.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,517 |
• Estimate (2023) | 11,319 ![]() |
• Density | 18.0/sq mi (6.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional districts | 1st, 7th |
Website | www |
Cottonwood County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,517. [1] Its county seat is Windom. [2]
The county was created on May 23, 1857, named for the river in Germantown Township ("cottonwood" is the English meaning of the Dakota Sioux word "Waraju"). [3] [4] Minnesota Governor Horace Austin appointed three county commissioners when the county was established. They met at a home about six miles northwest of Windom on the Des Moines River at Big Bend. During this meeting, they designated the commissioners' districts and changed various county officers. The county organization was completed on July 29, 1870. The first general election was held in the county that November. The first deed of record was filed on January 10, 1870. The first land assessments were made in 1871, and the first taxes were paid in 1872. [5]
The Heron Lake Outflow flows east through the lower part of Cottonwood County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture. [10] The terrain generally slopes to the east, with the northern portion also sloping north and the lower portion sloping south. The highest point is on the midpoint of the west border, at 1,535 ft (468 m) ASL. [11] The county has an area of 649 square miles (1,680 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is water. [12]
The northeastern part of the county drains north to the Minnesota River through numerous small creeks, the Cottonwood River and Watonwan River. The southwestern part drains south through the Des Moines River. These two watersheds come together at the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa. Most wetlands in the county have been drained for agricultural use.
Source: [13]
Des Moines River Watershed | Minnesota River Watershed |
---|---|
|
|
Source: [14]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 12 | — | |
1870 | 534 | 4,350.0% | |
1880 | 5,533 | 936.1% | |
1890 | 7,412 | 34.0% | |
1900 | 12,069 | 62.8% | |
1910 | 12,651 | 4.8% | |
1920 | 14,570 | 15.2% | |
1930 | 14,782 | 1.5% | |
1940 | 16,143 | 9.2% | |
1950 | 15,763 | −2.4% | |
1960 | 16,166 | 2.6% | |
1970 | 14,887 | −7.9% | |
1980 | 14,854 | −0.2% | |
1990 | 12,694 | −14.5% | |
2000 | 12,167 | −4.2% | |
2010 | 11,687 | −3.9% | |
2020 | 11,517 | −1.5% | |
2023 (est.) | 11,319 | [16] | −1.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census [17] 1790-1960 [18] 1900-1990 [19] 1990-2000 [20] 2010-2020 [1] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 9,418 | 82% |
Black or African American (NH) | 135 | 1.2% |
Native American (NH) | 25 | 0.22% |
Asian (NH) | 361 | 3.13% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 80 | 0.7% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 383 | 3.33% |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,115 | 9.7% |
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,167 people, 4,917 households, and 3,338 families in the county. The population density was 19.0 per square mile (7.3/km2). There were 5,376 housing units at an average density of 8.41 per square mile (3.25/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.23% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 50.2% were of German and 18.6% Norwegian ancestry.
There were 4,917 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.
The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,943, and the median income for a family was $40,237. Males had a median income of $28,993 versus $19,934 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,647. About 7.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
Cottonwood County reliably votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 4,165 | 68.20% | 1,834 | 30.03% | 108 | 1.77% |
2016 | 3,679 | 64.31% | 1,678 | 29.33% | 364 | 6.36% |
2012 | 3,316 | 56.57% | 2,433 | 41.50% | 113 | 1.93% |
2008 | 3,157 | 52.30% | 2,759 | 45.71% | 120 | 1.99% |
2004 | 3,557 | 55.85% | 2,726 | 42.80% | 86 | 1.35% |
2000 | 3,369 | 54.51% | 2,503 | 40.50% | 309 | 5.00% |
1996 | 2,633 | 42.66% | 2,737 | 44.35% | 802 | 12.99% |
1992 | 2,481 | 37.30% | 2,382 | 35.81% | 1,788 | 26.88% |
1988 | 3,390 | 51.80% | 3,095 | 47.29% | 60 | 0.92% |
1984 | 4,275 | 57.89% | 3,073 | 41.61% | 37 | 0.50% |
1980 | 4,258 | 54.26% | 2,958 | 37.70% | 631 | 8.04% |
1976 | 3,906 | 49.70% | 3,813 | 48.52% | 140 | 1.78% |
1972 | 4,396 | 60.19% | 2,802 | 38.37% | 105 | 1.44% |
1968 | 4,050 | 54.80% | 3,046 | 41.21% | 295 | 3.99% |
1964 | 3,423 | 45.47% | 4,090 | 54.33% | 15 | 0.20% |
1960 | 5,087 | 64.62% | 2,768 | 35.16% | 17 | 0.22% |
1956 | 4,619 | 66.29% | 2,344 | 33.64% | 5 | 0.07% |
1952 | 5,488 | 71.51% | 2,130 | 27.76% | 56 | 0.73% |
1948 | 3,222 | 48.58% | 3,333 | 50.26% | 77 | 1.16% |
1944 | 3,916 | 62.08% | 2,354 | 37.32% | 38 | 0.60% |
1940 | 4,228 | 58.28% | 2,991 | 41.23% | 36 | 0.50% |
1936 | 2,509 | 37.88% | 3,929 | 59.32% | 185 | 2.79% |
1932 | 1,921 | 39.40% | 2,877 | 59.00% | 78 | 1.60% |
1928 | 3,405 | 67.45% | 1,604 | 31.77% | 39 | 0.77% |
1924 | 2,722 | 56.99% | 217 | 4.54% | 1,837 | 38.46% |
1920 | 3,882 | 86.27% | 451 | 10.02% | 167 | 3.71% |
1916 | 1,425 | 60.23% | 762 | 32.21% | 179 | 7.57% |
1912 | 325 | 16.11% | 511 | 25.33% | 1,181 | 58.55% |
1908 | 1,240 | 65.82% | 526 | 27.92% | 118 | 6.26% |
1904 | 1,536 | 84.44% | 213 | 11.71% | 70 | 3.85% |
1900 | 1,368 | 68.50% | 547 | 27.39% | 82 | 4.11% |
1896 | 1,242 | 58.72% | 810 | 38.30% | 63 | 2.98% |
1892 | 727 | 52.38% | 202 | 14.55% | 459 | 33.07% |
Position | Name | District | |
---|---|---|---|
Commissioner | Larry Anderson | District 1 | |
Commissioner and Chairperson | Kevin Stevens | District 2 | |
Commissioner | Donna Gravley | District 3 | |
Commissioner | Norman Holven | District 4 | |
Commissioner | Tom Appel | District 5 |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Senate | Bill Weber [24] | Republican | District 22 | |
House of Representatives | Rod Hamilton [25] | Republican | District 22B |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
House of Representatives | Brad Finstad [26] | Republican | 1st | |
House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th | |
Senate | Amy Klobuchar [27] | Democrat | N/A | |
Senate | Tina Smith [28] | Democrat | N/A |
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)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.
Wadena County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,065. Its county seat is Wadena.
Rice County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,097. Its county seat is Faribault.
Redwood County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census the population was 15,425. Its county seat is Redwood Falls, along the Redwood River near its confluence with the Minnesota River.
Nobles County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,290. Its county seat is Worthington. Nobles County comprises the Worthington, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Murray County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,179 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Slayton.
Mille Lacs County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,459. Its county seat is Milaca. The county was founded in 1857, and its boundary was expanded in 1860.
Martin County is a county in Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,025. Its county seat is Fairmont.
Lyon County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,269. Its county seat is Marshall.
Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,989. Its county seat is Jackson.
Hubbard County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,344. Its county seat is Park Rapids.
Brown County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,912. Its county seat is New Ulm. The county was formed in 1855 and organized in 1856.
Blue Earth County is a county in the State of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 69,112. Its county seat is Mankato. The county is named for the Blue Earth River and for the deposits of blue-green clay once evident along the banks of the Blue Earth River. Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato-North Mankato metropolitan area.
Aitkin County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,697. Its county seat is Aitkin. Part of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is in the county. The county was created in 1857 and organized in 1871.
Bashaw Township is a township in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 243 as of the 2010 census.
Linden Township is a township in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 343 as of the 2000 census.
Jeffers is a city in Amboy Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 369 at the 2010 census.
Mountain Lake is a city in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census.
Mountain Lake Township is a township located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population was 384. The township was organized in 1871.
Windom is a city and the county seat of Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,798 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Cottonwood County and is situated in the Coteau des Prairies.