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Steele County, Minnesota
CourthouseSteeleCountyMN
Steele County Courthouse in Owatonna
Map of Minnesota highlighting Steele County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the U.S
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded February 20, 1855
Named for Franklin Steele
Seat Owatonna
Largest city Owatonna
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

432 sq mi (1,119 km²)
430 sq mi (1,114 km²)
2.7 sq mi (7 km²), 0.6%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

37,406
87.0/sq mi (34/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.steele.mn.us

Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,406.[1] Its county seat is Owatonna.[2]

Steele County comprises the Owatonna, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

The county was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature on February 20, 1855, using areas partitioned from Rice, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties. Owatonna, the settlement of which had commenced in 1854, was named the county seat. The county was named for Franklin Steele, a prominent early resident of the territory.[3]

Geography[]

File:Steele Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

The Straight River rises in Freeborn County and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing into Rice County on the north. The South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in Steele County and flows eastward into Dodge County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages, completely devoted to agriculture where possible.[5] The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the midpoint of its south border, at 1,293' (394m) ASL.[6] The county has an area of 432 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7]

The Straight River flows northward through the county, and the Le Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in NE Steele County.[8]

Major highways[]

  • I-35 Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes Medford, Clinton Falls, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale.
  • US 14 U.S. Highway 14 – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna.
  • US 218 (MN) U.S. Highway 218 – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna.
  • MN-30 Minnesota State Highway 30 – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.

Airports[5][]

  • Owatonna Degner Regional Airport (OWA) - northwest of Owatonna

Adjacent counties[]

Protected areas[5][]

Somerset WMA Area New Wiki Version

Soils of Somerset WMA area

  • Aurora State Wildlife Management Area
  • Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area
  • Rice Lake State Park
  • Somerset State Wildlife Management Area
  • Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes[5][]

  • Beaver Lake
  • Fosilen Lake
  • Lake Kohlmeier
  • Lonergan Lake
  • Oak Glen Lake
  • Rice Lake (part)
  • Rickert Lake
  • Swan Lake

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1860 2,863
1870 8,271 188.9%
1880 12,400 49.9%
1890 13,232 6.7%
1900 16,524 24.9%
1910 16,146 −2.3%
1920 18,061 11.9%
1930 18,475 2.3%
1940 19,749 6.9%
1950 21,155 7.1%
1960 25,029 18.3%
1970 26,931 7.6%
1980 30,328 12.6%
1990 30,729 1.3%
2000 33,680 9.6%
2010 36,576 8.6%
Est. 2021 37,349 [9] 10.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2000 census[]

USA Steele County, Minnesota age pyramid

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. The population density was 78.3/sqmi (30.2/km2). There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 30.9/sqmi (11.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.19% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.6% were of German, 18.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Czech and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,846 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $53,981. Males had a median income of $36,366 versus $25,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,328. About 4.20% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Bixby
  • Clinton Falls
  • Deerfield
  • Havana
  • Hope
  • Lemond
  • Litomysl
  • Meriden
  • Merton
  • Moland
  • Pratt
  • Saco
  • Steele Center

Ghost town[]

  • Rice Lake

Townships[]

  • Aurora Township
  • Berlin Township
  • Blooming Prairie Township
  • Clinton Falls Township
  • Deerfield Township
  • Havana Township
  • Lemond Township
  • Medford Township
  • Meriden Township
  • Merton Township
  • Owatonna Township
  • Somerset Township
  • Summit Township

Politics[]

Steele County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

State Legislature (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Senate John Jasinski[14] Republican District 24
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Senate Gene Dornink[15] Republican District 27
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives John Petersburg[16] Republican District 24A
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Brian Daniels[17] Republican District 24A
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Jim Hagedorn[18] Republican 1st
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A
United States presidential election results for Steele County, Minnesota[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,656 59.90% 7,917 37.47% 555 2.63%
2016 11,198 58.39% 6,241 32.54% 1,740 9.07%
2012 9,903 51.78% 8,706 45.52% 515 2.69%
2008 10,068 51.22% 9,016 45.87% 572 2.91%
2004 10,389 55.57% 7,994 42.76% 312 1.67%
2000 8,223 51.18% 6,900 42.95% 943 5.87%
1996 5,617 37.54% 6,974 46.61% 2,373 15.86%
1992 5,964 37.77% 5,152 32.63% 4,673 29.60%
1988 7,981 58.64% 5,496 40.38% 133 0.98%
1984 8,780 63.12% 5,060 36.38% 70 0.50%
1980 7,805 54.66% 5,095 35.68% 1,379 9.66%
1976 7,053 51.68% 6,263 45.89% 331 2.43%
1972 7,678 64.69% 4,010 33.79% 180 1.52%
1968 6,193 55.34% 4,631 41.39% 366 3.27%
1964 4,882 44.63% 6,022 55.05% 35 0.32%
1960 6,795 60.13% 4,491 39.74% 15 0.13%
1956 6,435 65.91% 3,293 33.73% 36 0.37%
1952 6,956 70.95% 2,819 28.75% 29 0.30%
1948 4,451 50.49% 4,305 48.83% 60 0.68%
1944 4,760 58.90% 3,307 40.92% 15 0.19%
1940 5,517 59.97% 3,668 39.87% 14 0.15%
1936 3,373 41.01% 4,481 54.49% 370 4.50%
1932 3,365 43.20% 4,318 55.43% 107 1.37%
1928 4,744 62.46% 2,826 37.21% 25 0.33%
1924 3,598 59.50% 796 13.16% 1,653 27.34%
1920 4,243 76.45% 1,167 21.03% 140 2.52%
1916 1,734 52.20% 1,497 45.06% 91 2.74%
1912 651 20.34% 1,294 40.44% 1,255 39.22%
1908 1,899 57.11% 1,284 38.62% 142 4.27%
1904 2,095 63.43% 1,067 32.30% 141 4.27%
1900 1,833 58.32% 1,188 37.80% 122 3.88%
1896 2,046 59.41% 1,248 36.24% 150 4.36%
1892 1,396 48.71% 1,299 45.32% 171 5.97%



See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Steele County, Minnesota" (in en). United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/steelecountyminnesota/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. 531. https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog. 
  4. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  5. ^ a b c d Steele County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
  6. ^ "Find an Altitude/Steele County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
  7. ^ "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. 
  8. ^ Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth ME: DeLorme. 1994. pp. 24, 33. ISBN 0-89933-222-6. 
  9. ^ "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. 
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt. 
  13. ^ "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. 
  14. ^ "MN State Senate" (in en). https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1227. 
  15. ^ Thursday, Sarah Stultz Email the author Published 3:44 pm; November 5; 2020 (November 5, 2020). "Dornink wins District 27 Senate seat". https://www.albertleatribune.com/2020/11/dornink-wins-27-senate-seat/. 
  16. ^ "Rep. John Petersburg (24A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15410. 
  17. ^ "Rep. Brian Daniels (24B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15433. 
  18. ^ "Representative Jim Hagedorn" (in en). https://hagedorn.house.gov/. 
  19. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/. 
  20. ^ "Home" (in en). https://www.smith.senate.gov/. 
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 44°01′N 93°13′W / 44.02, -93.22


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Steele 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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