Wabasha County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Wabasha County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°17′N92°14′W / 44.28°N 92.24°W /44.28; -92.24 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | October 27, 1849 |
| Named after | Wabasha (city) |
| Seat | Wabasha |
| Largest city | Lake City |
| Area | |
• Total | 550 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Land | 523 sq mi (1,350 km2) |
| • Water | 27 sq mi (70 km2) 4.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,387 |
• Estimate (2024) | 21,574 |
| • Density | 40.9/sq mi (15.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Wabasha County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 21,387.[1] Itscounty seat isWabasha.[2]
Wabasha County is part of theRochesterMetropolitan Statistical Area.
The recently organizedMinnesota Territory legislature created Wabasha County on October 27, 1849, one of nine original counties in the territory. An area on theMississippi River's west bank, originally called Cratte's Landing, had grown into a town named Wabasha, then a city, and when the legislature created the county west of the river around this city, Wabasha was designated the county seat. The city had been named for three successive chiefs of Mississippi bands ofDakota Indians.[3]
Wabasha County's area was reduced in 1853 when sections were partitioned off to createFillmore,Goodhue, andRice counties. More area was partitioned off in 1854 to createWinona County, and another part in 1855 to createOlmsted County. The county boundaries have remained the same since 1855.
Wabasha County lies on Minnesota's border withWisconsin (across theMississippi River. The Mississippi flows southeast along the county's eastern line. The North Fork of the Whitewater River flows east through the southern part of the county, then discharges into theWhitewater inOlmsted County. The combined Whitewater then enters the southeastern part of Wabasha County, flowing northeast to its discharge point into the Mississippi. TheZumbro River flows east-northeast through the county to its discharge point into the Mississippi. East Indian Creek and Miller Creek drain the northern part of the county into the Mississippi. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, considerably rutted by drainages, with all available area devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on its upper west border at 1,191 ft (363 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 550 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 523 square miles (1,350 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (4.8%) is water.[7] Wabasha is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soils than either forest or prairie soils.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 243 | — | |
| 1860 | 7,228 | 2,874.5% | |
| 1870 | 15,850 | 119.3% | |
| 1880 | 18,206 | 14.9% | |
| 1890 | 16,972 | −6.8% | |
| 1900 | 18,924 | 11.5% | |
| 1910 | 18,554 | −2.0% | |
| 1920 | 17,919 | −3.4% | |
| 1930 | 19,613 | 9.5% | |
| 1940 | 17,653 | −10.0% | |
| 1950 | 16,878 | −4.4% | |
| 1960 | 17,007 | 0.8% | |
| 1970 | 17,224 | 1.3% | |
| 1980 | 19,335 | 12.3% | |
| 1990 | 19,744 | 2.1% | |
| 2000 | 21,610 | 9.5% | |
| 2010 | 21,676 | 0.3% | |
| 2020 | 21,387 | −1.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 21,574 | [9] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 19,921 | 93.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 121 | 0.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 32 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 97 | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 6 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 502 | 2.35% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 708 | 3.31% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 21,610 people, 8,277 households, and 5,876 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 41.3 per square mile (15.9/km2). There were 9,066 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97%White, 0.25%Black orAfrican American, 0.27%Native American, 0.43%Asian, 0.62% fromother races, and 0.45% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 53.3% were ofGerman, 11.1%Norwegian, 7.3%Irish and 5.0%American ancestry.
There were 8,277 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% weremarried couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% 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 3.07.
The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,117, and the median income for a family was $50,480. Males had a median income of $33,053 versus $24,316 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,664. About 4.10% of families and 6.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.
Wabasha County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 1,580 | 43.16% | 1,774 | 48.46% | 307 | 8.39% |
| 1896 | 2,530 | 58.86% | 1,630 | 37.92% | 138 | 3.21% |
| 1900 | 2,114 | 57.68% | 1,406 | 38.36% | 145 | 3.96% |
| 1904 | 2,315 | 66.14% | 1,083 | 30.94% | 102 | 2.91% |
| 1908 | 2,150 | 58.36% | 1,416 | 38.44% | 118 | 3.20% |
| 1912 | 797 | 23.32% | 1,422 | 41.62% | 1,198 | 35.06% |
| 1916 | 1,787 | 53.11% | 1,449 | 43.06% | 129 | 3.83% |
| 1920 | 4,907 | 77.11% | 1,275 | 20.03% | 182 | 2.86% |
| 1924 | 2,834 | 44.93% | 644 | 10.21% | 2,829 | 44.85% |
| 1928 | 3,944 | 55.84% | 3,087 | 43.71% | 32 | 0.45% |
| 1932 | 2,319 | 33.23% | 4,540 | 65.06% | 119 | 1.71% |
| 1936 | 2,663 | 34.60% | 4,122 | 53.55% | 912 | 11.85% |
| 1940 | 5,656 | 67.95% | 2,655 | 31.90% | 13 | 0.16% |
| 1944 | 4,213 | 62.62% | 2,482 | 36.89% | 33 | 0.49% |
| 1948 | 3,297 | 46.42% | 3,730 | 52.52% | 75 | 1.06% |
| 1952 | 5,461 | 69.63% | 2,356 | 30.04% | 26 | 0.33% |
| 1956 | 4,728 | 66.89% | 2,301 | 32.56% | 39 | 0.55% |
| 1960 | 4,566 | 55.70% | 3,628 | 44.26% | 3 | 0.04% |
| 1964 | 3,133 | 41.75% | 4,367 | 58.20% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1968 | 4,081 | 51.75% | 3,452 | 43.77% | 353 | 4.48% |
| 1972 | 5,158 | 61.31% | 3,017 | 35.86% | 238 | 2.83% |
| 1976 | 4,484 | 49.55% | 4,286 | 47.36% | 279 | 3.08% |
| 1980 | 4,986 | 52.75% | 3,712 | 39.27% | 755 | 7.99% |
| 1984 | 5,299 | 57.31% | 3,872 | 41.87% | 76 | 0.82% |
| 1988 | 4,681 | 50.80% | 4,442 | 48.20% | 92 | 1.00% |
| 1992 | 3,397 | 33.25% | 3,736 | 36.57% | 3,084 | 30.18% |
| 1996 | 3,452 | 36.06% | 4,523 | 47.25% | 1,598 | 16.69% |
| 2000 | 5,245 | 49.81% | 4,522 | 42.94% | 764 | 7.25% |
| 2004 | 6,120 | 51.71% | 5,548 | 46.88% | 167 | 1.41% |
| 2008 | 5,935 | 49.90% | 5,646 | 47.47% | 312 | 2.62% |
| 2012 | 6,049 | 51.42% | 5,415 | 46.03% | 299 | 2.54% |
| 2016 | 6,989 | 59.07% | 3,866 | 32.67% | 977 | 8.26% |
| 2020 | 8,153 | 62.13% | 4,696 | 35.78% | 274 | 2.09% |
| 2024 | 8,523 | 63.09% | 4,721 | 34.95% | 265 | 1.96% |
Places adjacent to Wabasha County, Minnesota | |
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Municipalities and communities ofWabasha County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
