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Winona County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 43°59′N 91°46′W / 43.98°N 91.77°W / 43.98; -91.77
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Winona County
County
Winona County Courthouse
Winona County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Winona 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 91°46′W / 43.98°N 91.77°W / 43.98; -91.77
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 23, 1854
Named forWinona (Native American)
SeatWinona
Largest cityWinona
Area
 • Total
642 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Land626 sq mi (1,620 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
49,671
 • Estimate 
(2023)
49,721 Increase
 • Density77/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.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

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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

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Soils of Winona County[6]

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

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Major highways

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Public airports

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas[8]

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  • 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]

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

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18609,208—
187022,319142.4%
188027,10721.5%
189033,79724.7%
190035,6865.6%
191033,398−6.4%
192033,6530.8%
193035,1444.4%
194037,7957.5%
195039,8415.4%
196040,9372.8%
197044,4098.5%
198046,2564.2%
199047,8283.4%
200049,9854.5%
201051,4613.0%
202049,671−3.5%
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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Townships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c 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

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43°59′N 91°46′W / 43.98°N 91.77°W / 43.98; -91.77

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