Waseca County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Waseca County Courthouse in 2007 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°01′N93°35′W / 44.02°N 93.59°W /44.02; -93.59 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | February 27, 1857[1] |
| Named after | Waseca (settlement) |
| Seat | Waseca |
| Largest city | Waseca |
| Area | |
• Total | 433 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Land | 423 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Water | 9.6 sq mi (25 km2) 2.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,968 |
• Estimate (2024) | 18,684 |
| • Density | 44.8/sq mi (17.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Waseca County (/wəˈsiːkə/)[2] is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 18,968.[3] Itscounty seat isWaseca.[4]
In 1849, the newly organizedMinnesota Territory legislature authorized nine counties across the territory. One of those,Dakota, was partially subdivided in 1853 to createBlue Earth,Le Sueur, andRice counties. In 1855, parts of those counties were partitioned to createSteele. On February 27, 1857, the territorial legislature authorized partitioning western Steele County to create Waseca County, with its seat at Wilton, a settlement which began in 1854. The county name was taken from the area's first farming settlement, started in 1855, near the present location ofthe city of Waseca. That settlement name came from theDakota word meaning "rich," a reference to the fertile soil in the area.
The Winona and Saint Peter Railroad line past the town of Waseca was completed in the latter half of the 1860s, causing the town to bloom. By 1870 the vote was taken to relocate the county seat to that settlement.[5]
Waseca County's boundaries have not changed since its creation.
TheLe Sueur River flows westward through the county toward its confluence with theBlue Earth River inBlue Earth County. It is augmented by theLittle Le Sueur, which drains the southeast part of the county. Bull Run Creek flows westward from Silver Lake through the lower central part of the county into Blue Earth County; theLittle Cobb River rises in southern Waseca County and flows westward into Blue Earth County to its confluence with the Cobb River.
The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages and dotted with lakes. The area is devoted to agriculture wherever possible.[7] The terrain slopes to the north and west, with its highest point near its southeast corner, at 1,240 ft (380 m) ASL.[8] The county has an area of 433 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 423 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 9.6 square miles (25 km2) (2.2%) is water.[9]
Waseca is one of seven southern Minnesota counties that have no forest ecosystems, only prairie and savanna soils.
U.S. Highway 14
Minnesota State Highway 13
Minnesota State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 60 (runs along north border of county only)
Minnesota State Highway 83| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2,601 | — | |
| 1870 | 7,854 | 202.0% | |
| 1880 | 12,385 | 57.7% | |
| 1890 | 13,313 | 7.5% | |
| 1900 | 14,760 | 10.9% | |
| 1910 | 13,466 | −8.8% | |
| 1920 | 14,133 | 5.0% | |
| 1930 | 14,412 | 2.0% | |
| 1940 | 15,186 | 5.4% | |
| 1950 | 14,957 | −1.5% | |
| 1960 | 16,041 | 7.2% | |
| 1970 | 16,663 | 3.9% | |
| 1980 | 18,448 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 18,079 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 19,526 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 19,136 | −2.0% | |
| 2020 | 18,968 | −0.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 18,684 | [10] | −1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[3] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 16,538 | 87.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 336 | 1.8% |
| Native American (NH) | 114 | 0.6% |
| Asian (NH) | 111 | 0.6% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 12 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 586 | 3.1% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 1,271 | 6.7% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 19,526 people, 7,059 households, and 4,990 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 46.2 per square mile (17.8/km2). There were 7,427 housing units at an average density of 17.6 per square mile (6.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.65%White, 2.26%Black orAfrican American, 0.59%Native American, 0.46%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 1.29% fromother races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.90% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 47.6% were ofGerman, 15.5%Norwegian, 7.4%Irish and 5.5%American ancestry.
There were 7,059 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% weremarried couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.
The county population contained 25.8% under 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 111.3 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,440, and the median income for a family was $50,081. Males had a median income of $34,380 versus $22,630 for females. Theper capita income was $18,631. About 4.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.8% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or over.
Waseca County has traditionally voted Republican. In only three presidential elections since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic nominee (as of 2024).
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Julie Rosen[16] | Republican | District 23 | |
| Senate | John Jasinski[17] | Republican | District 24 | |
| House of Representatives | Jeremy Munson[18] | Republican | District 23B | |
| House of Representatives | John Petersburg[19] | Republican | District 24A | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Brad Finstad[20] | Republican | 1st | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[21] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[22] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 1,090 | 44.86% | 1,042 | 42.88% | 298 | 12.26% |
| 1896 | 1,902 | 58.79% | 1,244 | 38.45% | 89 | 2.75% |
| 1900 | 1,744 | 58.46% | 1,155 | 38.72% | 84 | 2.82% |
| 1904 | 1,714 | 70.13% | 631 | 25.82% | 99 | 4.05% |
| 1908 | 1,455 | 54.99% | 1,085 | 41.01% | 106 | 4.01% |
| 1912 | 553 | 20.53% | 1,062 | 39.42% | 1,079 | 40.05% |
| 1916 | 1,522 | 54.11% | 1,178 | 41.88% | 113 | 4.02% |
| 1920 | 3,626 | 71.79% | 1,257 | 24.89% | 168 | 3.33% |
| 1924 | 2,081 | 37.13% | 442 | 7.89% | 3,082 | 54.99% |
| 1928 | 3,251 | 56.94% | 2,418 | 42.35% | 41 | 0.72% |
| 1932 | 2,012 | 34.08% | 3,805 | 64.46% | 86 | 1.46% |
| 1936 | 2,482 | 39.10% | 3,520 | 55.45% | 346 | 5.45% |
| 1940 | 4,515 | 62.60% | 2,673 | 37.06% | 25 | 0.35% |
| 1944 | 4,146 | 65.04% | 2,207 | 34.62% | 22 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 3,511 | 52.56% | 3,120 | 46.71% | 49 | 0.73% |
| 1952 | 4,962 | 69.76% | 2,132 | 29.97% | 19 | 0.27% |
| 1956 | 4,663 | 67.69% | 2,215 | 32.15% | 11 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 4,838 | 63.36% | 2,793 | 36.58% | 5 | 0.07% |
| 1964 | 3,570 | 49.47% | 3,633 | 50.34% | 14 | 0.19% |
| 1968 | 4,292 | 56.44% | 3,057 | 40.20% | 256 | 3.37% |
| 1972 | 5,064 | 63.89% | 2,767 | 34.91% | 95 | 1.20% |
| 1976 | 4,582 | 52.04% | 4,002 | 45.45% | 221 | 2.51% |
| 1980 | 4,801 | 51.62% | 3,535 | 38.01% | 965 | 10.38% |
| 1984 | 5,509 | 60.60% | 3,527 | 38.80% | 55 | 0.60% |
| 1988 | 4,471 | 53.95% | 3,721 | 44.90% | 95 | 1.15% |
| 1992 | 3,118 | 34.62% | 3,146 | 34.93% | 2,742 | 30.45% |
| 1996 | 3,171 | 37.43% | 3,819 | 45.08% | 1,482 | 17.49% |
| 2000 | 4,608 | 51.99% | 3,694 | 41.67% | 562 | 6.34% |
| 2004 | 5,457 | 55.68% | 4,179 | 42.64% | 164 | 1.67% |
| 2008 | 5,211 | 52.70% | 4,401 | 44.51% | 276 | 2.79% |
| 2012 | 5,116 | 52.49% | 4,370 | 44.83% | 261 | 2.68% |
| 2016 | 5,967 | 61.81% | 2,838 | 29.40% | 848 | 8.78% |
| 2020 | 6,624 | 63.76% | 3,496 | 33.65% | 269 | 2.59% |
| 2024 | 6,770 | 65.18% | 3,402 | 32.75% | 215 | 2.07% |
Places adjacent to Waseca County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWaseca 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 | |
| Other | |
