Steele County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Steele County Courthouse in Owatonna | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°01′N93°13′W / 44.02°N 93.22°W /44.02; -93.22 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | February 20, 1855 |
| Named after | Franklin Steele |
| Seat | Owatonna |
| Largest city | Owatonna |
| Area | |
• Total | 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Land | 430 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Water | 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 37,406 |
• Estimate (2024) | 37,434 |
| • Density | 87/sq mi (34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Steele County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 37,406.[1] Itscounty seat isOwatonna.[2]
Steele County comprises the OwatonnaMicropolitan Statistical Area.
The county was created by theMinnesota Territory legislature on February 20, 1855, using areas partitioned fromRice,Blue Earth, andLe Sueur counties.Owatonna, the settlement of which had commenced in 1854, was named the county seat. The county was named forFranklin Steele, a prominent early resident of the territory.[3]
TheStraight River rises inFreeborn County and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing intoRice County on the north. TheSouth Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in Steele County and flows eastward intoDodge 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 ft (394 m) ASL.[6] The county has an area of 432 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km2) are land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.6%) are water.[7]
TheStraight River flows northward through the county, and theLe Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of theZumbro River rises in NE Steele County.[8]
Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. PassesMedford,Clinton Falls, Owatonna,Hope andEllendale.
U.S. Route 14 – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna..svg)
U.S. Route 218 – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna.
Minnesota State Highway 30 – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.Source:[5]
Source:[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 37,406 | 2.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 37,434 | [9] | 0.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 31,376 | 83.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,359 | 3.63% |
| Native American (NH) | 65 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 330 | 0.9% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 18 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,118 | 3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,140 | 8.4% |
As of the2000 census, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 78.3 per square mile (30.2/km2). There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 30.9 per square mile (11.9/km2). Theracial 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 ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $20,328. About 4.20% of families and 6.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.
Steele County voters have traditionally votedRepublican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024[update]).
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | John Jasinski[15] | Republican | District 24 | |
| Senate | Gene Dornink[16] | Republican | District 27 | |
| House of Representatives | John Petersburg[17] | Republican | District 24A | |
| House of Representatives | Brian Daniels[18] | Republican | District 24A | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Brad Finstad[19] | Republican | 1st | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[20] | Democrat | ||
| Senate | Tina Smith[21] | Democrat | ||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 1,396 | 48.71% | 1,299 | 45.32% | 171 | 5.97% |
| 1896 | 2,046 | 59.41% | 1,248 | 36.24% | 150 | 4.36% |
| 1900 | 1,833 | 58.32% | 1,188 | 37.80% | 122 | 3.88% |
| 1904 | 2,095 | 63.43% | 1,067 | 32.30% | 141 | 4.27% |
| 1908 | 1,899 | 57.11% | 1,284 | 38.62% | 142 | 4.27% |
| 1912 | 651 | 20.34% | 1,294 | 40.44% | 1,255 | 39.22% |
| 1916 | 1,734 | 52.20% | 1,497 | 45.06% | 91 | 2.74% |
| 1920 | 4,243 | 76.45% | 1,167 | 21.03% | 140 | 2.52% |
| 1924 | 3,598 | 59.50% | 796 | 13.16% | 1,653 | 27.34% |
| 1928 | 4,744 | 62.46% | 2,826 | 37.21% | 25 | 0.33% |
| 1932 | 3,365 | 43.20% | 4,318 | 55.43% | 107 | 1.37% |
| 1936 | 3,373 | 41.01% | 4,481 | 54.49% | 370 | 4.50% |
| 1940 | 5,517 | 59.97% | 3,668 | 39.87% | 14 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 4,760 | 58.90% | 3,307 | 40.92% | 15 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 4,451 | 50.49% | 4,305 | 48.83% | 60 | 0.68% |
| 1952 | 6,956 | 70.95% | 2,819 | 28.75% | 29 | 0.30% |
| 1956 | 6,435 | 65.91% | 3,293 | 33.73% | 36 | 0.37% |
| 1960 | 6,795 | 60.13% | 4,491 | 39.74% | 15 | 0.13% |
| 1964 | 4,882 | 44.63% | 6,022 | 55.05% | 35 | 0.32% |
| 1968 | 6,193 | 55.34% | 4,631 | 41.39% | 366 | 3.27% |
| 1972 | 7,678 | 64.69% | 4,010 | 33.79% | 180 | 1.52% |
| 1976 | 7,053 | 51.68% | 6,263 | 45.89% | 331 | 2.43% |
| 1980 | 7,805 | 54.66% | 5,095 | 35.68% | 1,379 | 9.66% |
| 1984 | 8,780 | 63.12% | 5,060 | 36.38% | 70 | 0.50% |
| 1988 | 7,981 | 58.64% | 5,496 | 40.38% | 133 | 0.98% |
| 1992 | 5,964 | 37.77% | 5,152 | 32.63% | 4,673 | 29.60% |
| 1996 | 5,617 | 37.54% | 6,974 | 46.61% | 2,373 | 15.86% |
| 2000 | 8,223 | 51.18% | 6,900 | 42.95% | 943 | 5.87% |
| 2004 | 10,389 | 55.57% | 7,994 | 42.76% | 312 | 1.67% |
| 2008 | 10,068 | 51.22% | 9,016 | 45.87% | 572 | 2.91% |
| 2012 | 9,903 | 51.78% | 8,706 | 45.52% | 515 | 2.69% |
| 2016 | 11,198 | 58.39% | 6,241 | 32.54% | 1,740 | 9.07% |
| 2020 | 12,656 | 59.90% | 7,917 | 37.47% | 555 | 2.63% |
| 2024 | 12,742 | 61.05% | 7,650 | 36.65% | 480 | 2.30% |
Places adjacent to Steele County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofSteele County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
