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Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Cottonwood County Courthouse
Cottonwood County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Cottonwood County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the U.S
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded May 23, 1857 (created)
July 29, 1870 (organized),
Named for Cottonwood River
Seat Windom
Largest city Windom
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

649 sq mi (1,681 km²)
639 sq mi (1,655 km²)
10 sq mi (26 km²), 1.5%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

11,517
18.0/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.cottonwood.mn.us

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]

History[]

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]

County NRHP listings[]

  • The Cottonwood County Courthouse (1904), an example of Neoclassical architecture, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[6]
  • Mountain Park, southeast of Mountain Lake, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973.[7] A 1976 archeological dig unearthed evidence of a Fox Indian habitation there circa 500 B.C., the oldest human habitation to be discovered in Minnesota.[8]
  • The Jeffers Petroglyphs, near Jeffers, contain pre-European Native American rock carvings. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

File:Cottonwood Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

Geography[]

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' (468m) 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]

Watersheds[]

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.

Lakes[]

Des Moines River Watershed Minnesota River Watershed
  • Clear Lake: in Lakeside Township
  • Clear Lake: there is another Clear Lake, mostly in Southbrook Township, but the far southern side stretches into Jackson County
  • Cottonwood Lake: eastern two thirds in Lakeside Township; western third in Great Bend Township
  • Harder Lake: in Dale Township
  • Talcot Lake: mostly in Southbrook Township, but the far western side stretches into Murray County
  • Oaks Lake: mostly in Southbrook Township, but the northern quarter is in Rose Hill Township
  • Parso Lake: in Lakeside Township
  • String Lakes: mostly in Great Bend Township, but the southern tip is in Jackson County
  • Three Lakes: in Lakeside Township
  • Warren Lake: in Great Bend Township
  • Wolf Lake: in Lakeside Township
  • Arnolds Lake: in Dale Township
  • Augusta Lake: in Amo Township
  • Bartsh Lake: in Carson Township
  • Bat Lake (see Rat Lake)
  • Bean Lake: in Westbrook Township
  • Bingham Lake: in Lakeside Township
  • Carey Lake: in Rose Hill Township
  • Clear Lake: there is a third Clear Lake in Westbrook Township
  • Double Lake: in Westbrook Township
  • Eagle Lake: in Carson Township
  • Fish Lake: northern third in Lakeside Township; southern two thirds in Jackson County
  • Hurricane Lake: mostly in Highwater Township but the far western tip is in Westbrook Township and the southern third is in Storden Township
  • Long Lake: in Carson Township
  • Long Lake: there is another Long Lake in Rose Hill Township
  • Maiden Lake: in Carson Township
  • Mountain Lake: in Midway Township
  • Rat Lake: in Carson Township
  • Round Lake: in Westbrook Township
  • Swan Lake: in Dale Township

Major highways[]

  • US 71 U.S. Highway 71
  • MN-30 Minnesota State Highway 30
  • MN-60 Minnesota State Highway 60
  • MN-62 Minnesota State Highway 62

Adjacent counties[]

Protected areas[]

  • Delft State Wildlife Management Area
  • Dynamite Park
  • Lady Bird County Park
  • Little Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mound Creek County Park
  • Mountain County Park
  • Pats Grove County Park
  • Regehr State Wildlife Management Area
  • Red Rock Falls County Park
  • Rock Ridge Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • South Dutch Charlie County Park[13]
  • Talcot County Park

[10]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
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%
Est. 2021 11,569 [14] −4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17]
1990-2000[18] 2010-2020[1]
USA Cottonwood County, Minnesota age pyramid

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the 2000 census,[19] there were 12,167 people, 4,917 households, and 3,338 families in the county. The population density was 19.0/sqmi (7.35/km2). There were 5,376 housing units at an average density of 8.41/sqmi (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.

2020 Census[]

Cottonwood County Racial Composition[20]
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%

Government and politics[]

Cottonwood County reliably votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate.

United States presidential election results for Cottonwood County, Minnesota[21]
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%



County Board of Commissioners[22]
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
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Senate Bill Weber[23] Republican District 22
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Rod Hamilton[24] Republican District 22B
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Brad Finstad[25] Republican 1st
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Amy Klobuchar[26] Democrat N/A
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Tina Smith[27] Democrat N/A

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Bingham Lake
  • Comfrey (partial)
  • Jeffers
  • Mountain Lake
  • Storden
  • Westbrook
  • Windom (county seat)

Unincorporated community[]

  • Delft

Townships[]

  • Amboy Township
  • Amo Township
  • Ann Township
  • Carson Township
  • Dale Township
  • Delton Township
  • Germantown Township
  • Great Bend Township
  • Highwater Township
  • Lakeside Township
  • Midway Township
  • Mountain Lake Township
  • Rose Hill Township
  • Selma Township
  • Southbrook Township
  • Springfield Township
  • Storden Township
  • Westbrook Township

See also[]

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

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cottonwood County, Minnesota" (in en). United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cottonwoodcountyminnesota/PST045221. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 149. https://archive.org/stream/collections17minnuoft#page/148/mode/2up. 
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. p. 93. https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA93. 
  5. ^ "About Cottonwood County". http://www.co.cottonwood.mn.us/visiting/about-cottonwood-county/. 
  6. ^ Nelson, Charles W. (October 26, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form: Cottonwood County Courthouse". 
  7. ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places". NRHP. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MN/Cottonwood/state.html. 
  8. ^ "Cottonwood County Parks". Cottonwood County MN. http://www.co.cottonwood.mn.us/county-departments/parks/county-parks/. 
  9. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  10. ^ a b Cottonwood County MN Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)
  11. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Cottonwood County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)". https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm. 
  12. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt. 
  13. ^ The park is named after the county's first resident of European descent, Charles "Dutch Charlie" Zierke. "Cottonwood County Timeline". Cottonwood County Historical Society. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mncotton/cchs.htm. 
  14. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  17. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt. 
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  20. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cottonwood County, Minnesota". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Cottonwood%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  22. ^ "Cottonwood County :: County Commissioners". https://www.co.cottonwood.mn.us/elected-officials/county-commissioners/. 
  23. ^ "MN State Senate" (in en). https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1199. 
  24. ^ "Rep. Rod Hamilton (22B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/12264. 
  25. ^ "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3598486-republican-rep-brad-finstad-sworn-in-to-finish-hagedorns-house-term/. 
  26. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/. 
  27. ^ "Home" (in en). https://www.smith.senate.gov/. 

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
  • Cottonwood County Minnesota Highway Map, Cottonwood County Highway Department, 2003.
  • DeLorme's Minnesota Atlas and Gazetteer.

External links[]

Template:Cottonwood County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 44°01′N 95°11′W / 44.01, -95.18

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Cottonwood County, Minnesota. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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