Winona County, Minnesota

Winona County
County
Winona County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N91°46′W / 43.98°N 91.77°W / 43.98; -91.77
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 23, 1854
Named for	Winona (Native American)
Seat	Winona
Largest city	Winona
Area
• Total	642 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Land	626 sq mi (1,620 km2)
• Water	15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,671
• Estimate  (2023)	49,721
• Density	77/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.winona.mn.us

Winona County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 49,671. ^[1] Its county seat is Winona. ^[2] Winona County comprises the Winona, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Maiden's Rock, from which legend has it the Dakota maiden named Winona leapt to her death

Winona County History Center

The Wisconsin Territory was established by the federal government effective July 3, 1836, and existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. The federal government set up the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. One of those original counties, Wabasha, had its southern section partitioned off on March 5, 1853, into a new county, Fillmore. On February 23, 1854, the legislature partitioned the northern part of Fillmore County, plus a small section of Wabasha, to create Winona County, with the village of Winona as county seat. ^[3] The county name was taken from the village name, which is said to derive from a Dakota legend about a woman, Winona, (a relative of Chief Wabasha) who was betrothed to a warrior she did not love. Rather than marry him, she jumped to her death from a rock on Lake Pepin now called "Maiden's Rock". ^[4] This is known as the Winona legend. ^[5]

The county boundaries have remained unchanged since 1854.

Geography

Soils of Winona County

Winona County lies on Minnesota's border with Wisconsin and is part of the driftless area that defines southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois. The Mississippi, flowing south-southeast, defines the county's eastern border. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (St. Paul District ^[7] ) maintains the lock and dam system in this region.

The Whitewater River flows north-northeast through the northwest part of the county toward its discharge into the Mississippi just above Winona County. The eastern part of the county is drained into the Mississippi by east-flowing streams including Rollingstone Creek, Garvin Brook, Cedar Creek, and Big Trout Creek. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills with the east portion particularly etched by drainages, and lightly sprinkled with lakes. The land is devoted to agriculture where possible. ^[8] The terrain slopes to the south and east, ^[9] with its highest point at 1,365 ft (416 m) ASL on a hill two miles (3.2 km) east of Wilson. ^[10] The county has an area of 642 square miles (1,660 km²), of which 626 square miles (1,620 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) (2.4%) is water. ^[11]

Within Minnesota, Winona County borders Wabasha County, Olmsted County, Fillmore County and Houston County.

Transit

• Winona Transit Service
• Jefferson Lines
• Amtrak ( Empire Builder )

Major highways

• Interstate 90
• U.S. Highway 14
• U.S. Highway 61
• Minnesota State Highway 43
• Minnesota State Highway 74
• Minnesota State Highway 76
• Minnesota State Highway 248

Public airports

• Winona Municipal Airport (ONA) (Max Conrad Field), NW of Winona

Adjacent counties

• Wabasha County - northwest
• Buffalo County, Wisconsin - north
• Trempealeau County, Wisconsin - northeast
• La Crosse County, Wisconsin - east
• Houston County - south
• Fillmore County - southwest
• Olmsted County - west

Protected areas ^[8]

• Great River Bluffs State Park
• John A Latsch State Park
• Richard John Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part)
• Whitewater State Park
• Whitewater State Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Callahan Unit
  • McCarthy Ravine Unit
  • South Branch Unit
  • Upper South Branch Unit

Lakes ^[8]

• Airport Lake
• Bartlet Lake
• Bollers Lake
• Hunters Lake
• Lake Goodview
• Lake Winona
• Rileys Lake

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	9,208		—
1870	22,319		142.4%
1880	27,107		21.5%
1890	33,797		24.7%
1900	35,686		5.6%
1910	33,398		−6.4%
1920	33,653		0.8%
1930	35,144		4.4%
1940	37,795		7.5%
1950	39,841		5.4%
1960	40,937		2.8%
1970	44,409		8.5%
1980	46,256		4.2%
1990	47,828		3.4%
2000	49,985		4.5%
2010	51,461		3.0%
2020	49,671		−3.5%
2023 (est.)	49,721	[12]	0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [13] 1790-1960 [14] 1900-1990 [15] 1990-2000 [16] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 census

Winona County Racial Composition ^[17]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	44,178	88.9%
Black or African American (NH)	892	1.8%
Native American (NH)	84	0.2%
Asian (NH)	933	1.9%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	1,695	3.41%
Hispanic or Latino	1,889	3.8%

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Winona County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 49,985 people, 18,744 households, and 11,696 families in the county. The population density was 79.8 per square mile (30.8/km²). There were 19,551 housing units at an average density of 31.2 per square mile (12.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.80% White, 0.77% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 1.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.8% were of German, 13.9% Norwegian, 9.9% Polish and 7.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 18,744 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.60% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.

The county population contained 22.80% under the age of 18, 18.60% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,700, and the median income for a family was $49,845. Males had a median income of $31,926 versus $23,406 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,077. About 5.60% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

In 2016, Winona County planning commissioners voted to approve new permits for existing commercial dog breeding operations, also known as "puppy mills", despite overwhelming evidence of animal cruelty and neglect. Due to the high number of kennels in the county, Winona county has earned the dubious title "Puppy Mill Capital of Minnesota". ^[18]

Micropolitan Statistical Area

See also: List of metropolitan areas of the United States

The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated Winona County as the Winona, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), with Winona as its principal city. ^[19] The US Census Bureau ranked this μSA as the 591st most populous Core Based Statistical Area of the United States as of April 1, 2020.

Politics

Winona County has historically been a swing county at the federal level, but in the 21st century leans Democratic. Winona County's seat is considered a college town ^[20] due to the presence of Winona State University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. In 2016, the county backed Donald Trump, the first time a Republican presidential nominee carried the county since 1988. In 2020, the county backed Joe Biden by a plurality. In the 2022 elections, Winona County voted for the Republican nominee for all statewide offices. Trump won the county back in 2024, this time winning an outright majority of the vote.

United States presidential election results for Winona County, Minnesota ^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	14,288	51.40%	12,929	46.51%	580	2.09%
2020	13,227	48.68%	13,333	49.07%	613	2.26%
2016	12,122	46.49%	11,366	43.59%	2,586	9.92%
2012	11,480	42.16%	14,980	55.01%	772	2.83%
2008	10,975	39.29%	16,308	58.38%	652	2.33%
2004	12,686	46.26%	14,231	51.90%	505	1.84%
2000	10,773	45.04%	11,069	46.28%	2,076	8.68%
1996	7,955	36.80%	10,272	47.52%	3,389	15.68%
1992	8,585	35.02%	9,707	39.59%	6,226	25.39%
1988	11,012	50.92%	10,310	47.68%	302	1.40%
1984	11,981	55.03%	9,577	43.99%	212	0.97%
1980	10,332	45.11%	9,814	42.85%	2,757	12.04%
1976	10,436	47.62%	10,939	49.92%	539	2.46%
1972	10,910	56.45%	8,080	41.81%	337	1.74%
1968	7,998	45.85%	8,627	49.46%	818	4.69%
1964	6,345	35.71%	11,397	64.14%	28	0.16%
1960	9,271	52.14%	8,484	47.72%	25	0.14%
1956	9,743	61.30%	6,048	38.05%	102	0.64%
1952	10,723	64.51%	5,834	35.10%	64	0.39%
1948	6,880	44.93%	8,281	54.08%	152	0.99%
1944	8,296	57.19%	6,117	42.17%	93	0.64%
1940	9,599	56.83%	7,187	42.55%	105	0.62%
1936	5,353	34.42%	9,268	59.60%	930	5.98%
1932	4,751	35.70%	8,305	62.41%	252	1.89%
1928	7,459	53.16%	6,484	46.21%	88	0.63%
1924	5,670	43.53%	1,111	8.53%	6,245	47.94%
1920	7,888	69.81%	2,896	25.63%	516	4.57%
1916	2,916	47.94%	2,907	47.80%	259	4.26%
1912	1,042	16.54%	3,004	47.68%	2,254	35.78%
1908	3,014	48.23%	3,072	49.16%	163	2.61%
1904	3,734	61.22%	2,063	33.83%	302	4.95%
1900	3,305	47.35%	3,436	49.23%	239	3.42%
1896	3,935	51.51%	3,528	46.18%	176	2.30%
1892	2,734	39.95%	3,701	54.08%	409	5.98%

Winona County is represented in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Steve Jacob (R) and Gene Pelowski (DFL). Jeremy Miller (R) and Steve Drazkowski (R) represent it in the Minnesota Senate. Winona County is in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, which is represented by Brad Finstad (R). ^[22]

Communities

Cities

• Altura
• Dakota
• Elba
• Goodview
• La Crescent (mostly in Houston County)
• Lewiston
• Minneiska (partly in Wabasha County)
• Minnesota City
• Rollingstone
• St. Charles
• Stockton
• Utica
• Winona (county seat)

Census-designated place

• Homer

Unincorporated communities

• Bethany
• Centerville
• Clyde
• Donehower
• Dresbach
• Fremont
• Lamoille
• Nodine
• Oakridge
• Pickwick
• Pine Creek
• Ridgeway
• Saratoga
• Troy
• Whitman
• Wilson
• Witoka
• Wyattville

Ghost towns

• Ashton
• Beaver
• Enterprise
• Grover
• Whitewater Falls
• Clyde

Townships

• Dresbach
• Elba
• Fremont
• Hart
• Hillsdale
• Homer
• Mount Vernon
• New Hartford
• Norton
• Pleasant Hill
• Richmond
• Rollingstone
• Saint Charles
• Saratoga
• Utica
• Warren
• Whitewater
• Wilson
• Wiscoy

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Winona County, Minnesota

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
4. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. pp.  581–4.
5. Porter, Cynthya (February 1, 2009). "Homecoming To Explore Roles Of American Indian Women". Winona Daily News (reprinted at Diversity Foundation). Retrieved October 21, 2015.
6. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43 - 48. ISBN   978-0-615-50320-2.
7. "ASACE St. Paul District".
8. Winona County MN Google Maps (accessed April 24, 2019)
9. "Find an Altitude/Winona County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
10. Winona County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger (accessed April 24, 2019)
11. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
12. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023" . Retrieved March 18, 2024.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
16. "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.
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Winona County, Minnesota".
18. Post, Winona. "Winona County's dirty little secret: It's the puppy mill capital of Minnesota - Winona Post > Opinion". www.winonapost.com. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
19. "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
20. "College Towns". American Communities Project. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
21. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
22. "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.

Further reading

• DeLorme's Minnesota Atlas and Gazetteer ( ISBN   0-89933-333-8)

External links

• Winona County
• Winona County Health and Demographic Data
• Winona County Board

43°59′N91°46′W / 43.98°N 91.77°W / 43.98; -91.77