Editing Mower County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Mower County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = February 20, 1855 (created)<br>March 1, 1856 (organized)
 | seat wl              = Austin
 | largest city wl      = Austin
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 711.5
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 711.3
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.2
 | area percentage      = 0.03
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 40029
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 40900 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 56.3
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.mower.mn.us
 | named for            = [[John Edward Mower]]
 | ex image             = MowerCountyMNCourthouse2008.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Mower County Courthouse in Austin
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Mower County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|aʊ|.|ər}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |title=Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-87351-396-7 |edition=3rd |page=385}}</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 40,029.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mowercountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The county seat is [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Mower County comprises the Austin [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] and is included in the [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]]-Austin [[Rochester, Minnesota, metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]]. [[Lake Louise State Park]] is in southeastern Mower County, near [[Le Roy, Minnesota|Le Roy]].

==History==
The federal government established [[Wisconsin Territory]] effective July 3, 1836, and included what is now Minnesota, until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as [[Wisconsin]]) in 1848.

Congress established the [[Minnesota Territory]] effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. Two of the original counties, [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]] and [[Wabasha County, Minnesota|Wabashaw (later Wabasha)]], had portions reassigned on March 5, 1853, to create [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]].

In 1852, Jacob McQuillin's family settled in southern Rice County, beginning a settlement movement that rapidly grew. On February 20, 1855, the territorial legislature created the present county from the southernmost part of Rice County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}}</ref> The new county was named for [[John Edward Mower]], a member of the [[Minnesota Territory|territorial]] legislature.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n378 <!-- pg=359 --> Upham, Warren. ''Minnesota Geographic Names'' (1920), p. 359 (accessed May 3, 2019)]</ref>

On March 1, 1856, Territorial Governor [[Willis A. Gorman]] signed the legislative act that organized the county. He appointed three commissioners, who first met in [[Frankford Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Frankford Township]]. In January 1857 those commissioners designated the permanent seat in [[Austin Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Austin Township]]. In July 1857 the location within Austin Township was further defined, within [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin village]], which had been platted during the spring of 1856.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/historyofmowerco00curt The History of Mower County (pp. 44-56). Accessed May 3, 2019.]</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Mower Co pie chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Mower County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]
Mower County lies on Minnesota's border with [[Iowa]]. The [[Cedar River (Iowa River)|Cedar River]] flows south through the western part of the county, into [[Mitchell County, Iowa]]. The [[Upper Iowa River]] rises in Mower County. Its branches, the Little Iowa and Upper Branch Upper Iowa, merge near [[Le Roy, Minnesota|Le Roy]] and flow east-southeast out of the county's southeast corner into Mitchell County, Iowa. Deer Creek drains the southeastern part of the county, flowing northeast into [[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore County]]. Bear Creek drains the northern part of the county, flowing east into Fillmore County. Carey Creek drains the northeastern part of the county, flowing northeast into [[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted County]]. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages and gullies. The area is devoted to agriculture where possible.<ref name="MCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mower+County,+MN/@42.9376912,-92.612265,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f0b7c29c66cc7b:0xb5b9b046a312f1ef!8m2!3d43.6824988!4d-92.6983868 Mower County MN Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and south from an elevated center ridge running west–east,<ref>{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Mower County MN" Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> with its highest point {{convert|1.6|mi|km}} east of [[Elkton, Minnesota|Elkton]], at {{convert|1,440|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=6409 Mower County High Point, Minnesota PeakBagger.com (accessed May 3, 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|712|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|711|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}} (0.03%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Lakes===
One of only four [[List of lakes in Minnesota|counties in Minnesota without any natural lakes]] (along with Olmsted, Pipestone, and Rock), Mower County does have four small [[pond]]s and [[lake]]s created by [[dam]]s:
*[[East Side Lake]]: in the northeast quadrant of [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]]
*Lake Louise: in [[Lake Louise State Park]] near [[Le Roy, Minnesota|Le Roy]]
*Mill Pond: in downtown [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]] near the [[Hormel]] plant
*Ramsey Mill Pond: in Ramsey Golf Course, near the [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] settlement of [[Lansing Township, Mower County, Minnesota#Ramsey|Ramsey]]
The [[Cedar River (Iowa River)|Cedar River]] (sometimes called the Red Cedar River) flows south into the county from its source in [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]] and continues through the county into [[Mitchell County, Iowa]]. It flows through Mower County's four westernmost townships: [[Udolpho Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Udolpho]], [[Lansing Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lansing]], [[Austin Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Austin]], and [[Lyle Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lyle]].

===Transit===
*[[Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit]]

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{jct|state=MN|I|90}}
* {{jct|state=MN|BL|90|dab1=Austin}}
* {{jct|state=MN|US|63}}
* {{jct|state=MN|US|218}}
* [[Image:MN-16.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 16]]
* [[Image:MN-56.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 56]]
* [[Image:MN-105.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 105]]
* [[Image:MN-251.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 251]]
{{div col end}}

===Airports===
* [[Austin Municipal Airport]] (AUM) - east of [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]] - north
* [[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted County]] - northeast
* [[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore County]] - east
* [[Howard County, Iowa]] - southeast
* [[Mitchell County, Iowa]] - south
* [[Worth County, Iowa]] - southwest
* [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn County]] - west
* [[Steele County, Minnesota|Steele County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas===
Source:<ref name=MCM/>
{{div col}}
* [[Lake Louise State Park]]
* Larson State Wildlife Management Area
* Red Cedar State Wildlife Management Area
* Rose State Wildlife Management Area
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3217
|1870= 10447
|1880= 16799
|1890= 18019
|1900= 22335
|1910= 22640
|1920= 25993
|1930= 28065
|1940= 36113
|1950= 42277
|1960= 48498
|1970= 44919
|1980= 40390
|1990= 37385
|2000= 38603
|2010= 39163
|2020= 40029
|estyear=2024
|estimate=40900
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br>1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

The county population has declined since its peak in 1960, as younger people have moved to urban areas for economic opportunities.

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Mower County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mower County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Mower%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|29,804
|74.45%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,613
|4.03%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|57
|0.14%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|2,052
|5.13%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|225
|0.64%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|1,167
|2.92%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|5,081
|12.7%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:MowerCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Mower County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 38,603 people, 15,582 households, and 10,315 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|54.3|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.9|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.6% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], <0.1% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.2% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races. 4.3% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 35.9% identified as being of [[German people|German]], 24.4% as [[norwegian people|Norwegian]] and 7.0% as of [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry.

There were 15,582 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,654, and the median income for a family was $45,154. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $23,317 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,795. About 6.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Mower County has a county-council style of government, made up of five county commissioners, each elected from a [[single-member district]]. They are elected to four-year terms, and elected on a staggered basis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Board of Commissioners &#124; Mower County, MN |url=https://www.co.mower.mn.us/200/County-Board-of-Commissioners}}</ref>

* First district cities: [[Brownsdale, Minnesota|Brownsdale]], [[Mapleview, Minnesota|Mapleview]], [[Waltham, Minnesota|Waltham]] and the 1st ward, 1st precinct of [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]]
** Townships: [[Lansing Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lansing Township]], [[Red Rock Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Red Rock Township]], [[Udolpho Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Udolpho Township]], [[Waltham Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Waltham Township]]
*** Commissioner: John Mueller
* Second district cities: [[Adams, Minnesota|Adams]], [[Dexter, Minnesota|Dexter]], [[Elkton, Minnesota|Elkton]], [[Grand Meadow, Minnesota|Grand Meadow]], [[Le Roy, Minnesota|Le Roy]], [[Racine, Minnesota|Racine]], [[Sargeant, Minnesota|Sargeant]], [[Taopi, Minnesota|Taopi]]
** Townships: [[Adams Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Adams Township]], [[Bennington Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Bennington Township]], [[Clayton Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Clayton Township]], [[Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Dexter Township]], [[Frankford Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Frankford Township]], [[Grand Meadow Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Grand Meadow Township]], [[Le Roy Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Le Roy Township]], [[Lodi Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lodi Township]], [[Marshall Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Marshall Township]], [[Pleasant Valley Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Pleasant Valley Township]], [[Racine Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Racine Township]], [[Sargeant Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Sargeant Township]]
*** Commissioner: Polly Glynn
* Third district cities: Lyle, Rose Creek and the 2nd ward, 2nd precinct of Austin.
** Townships: Austin, Lyle, Nevada and Windom.
*** Commissioner: Jerry Reinartz
* Fourth district: all of the 3rd ward of Austin.
** Commissioner: Dan Sparks
* Fifth district: the 1st ward, 2nd precinct and the 2nd ward, 1st precinct of Austin.
** Commissioner: Mike Ankeny

From its first participating election in [[1860 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1860]] through [[1928 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1928]], Mower County was traditionally Republican, voting for the Republican nominee in every election save [[1912 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1912]], when it voted for [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Bull Moose]] nominee and former Republican president [[Theodore Roosevelt]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=County winners, 1836-2016 |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZmDRzvm83BYurKX7LsrET-C7tcIsE5Em42Wt-gTydXk/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=January 10, 2021 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}</ref> After the [[New Deal coalition|New Deal]] realignment in [[1932 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1932]], Mower County leaned Democratic for about 80 years, voting for the Democrat in every presidential election through [[2012 United States presidential election in Minnesota|2012]] save in [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]]'s two landslides ([[1952 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1952]] and [[1956 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1956]]), and [[1960 United States presidential election in Minnesota|1960]], when it voted for [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] over [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] (despite having only narrowly voted for Eisenhower four years earlier). In [[2016 United States presidential election in Minnesota|2016]], [[Donald Trump]] became the first Republican to carry the county since 1960, winning a high plurality of 49.8%. In [[2020 United States presidential election in Minnesota|2020]], he carried it again, this time with a majority, making it the first time the county had voted Republican two elections in a row since 1956 and 1960. In 2024, Trump increased his portion of the vote again, the best Republican performance in the county since 1928.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2021-2023)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Gene Dornink]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stultz |first=Sarah |date=November 5, 2020 |title=Dornink wins District 27 Senate seat |url=https://www.albertleatribune.com/2020/11/dornink-wins-27-senate-seat/ |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=Albert Lea Tribune}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]
|District 27
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Peggy Bennett]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Peggy Bennett (27A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15430 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 27A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|Patricia Mueller<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Patricia Mueller - RELEASE: Mueller Sworn In, Named to House Committees |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/Profile/News/15561/44078 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]
|District 27B
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2021-2023)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Brad Finstad]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2022 |title=Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3598486-republican-rep-brad-finstad-sworn-in-to-finish-hagedorns-house-term/}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 1st congressional district|1st]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=www.klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|N/A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Tina Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=Senator Tina Smith |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|N/A
|}
{{PresHead|place=Mower County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|10,297|8,312|360|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,025|8,899|421|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,823|7,437|1,455|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|6,938|11,129|472|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|7,075|11,605|507|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|7,591|12,334|297|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|6,873|10,693|914|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4,994|10,413|2,656|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,147|9,935|5,128|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|6,969|11,893|163|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|8,054|12,498|95|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|7,908|10,538|1,879|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|8,163|12,837|487|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|9,929|10,286|315|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|7,736|11,022|728|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,510|13,573|57|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|11,040|9,961|67|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,570|9,219|101|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,862|8,551|138|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|5,672|9,468|161|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|6,588|7,199|48|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|7,169|7,988|60|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,743|8,228|516|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,005|6,421|173|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,209|3,587|46|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,061|564|3,463|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,339|1,061|325|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,520|1,572|148|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,321|1,228|1,628|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,629|1,206|308|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,769|552|252|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,076|1,081|191|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,379|1,407|123|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|2,234|1,310|420|Minnesota}}

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Adams, Minnesota|Adams]]
* [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]] (county seat)
* [[Brownsdale, Minnesota|Brownsdale]]
* [[Dexter, Minnesota|Dexter]]
* [[Elkton, Minnesota|Elkton]]
* [[Grand Meadow, Minnesota|Grand Meadow]]
* [[Le Roy, Minnesota|Le Roy]]
* [[Lyle, Minnesota|Lyle]]
* [[Mapleview, Minnesota|Mapleview]]
* [[Racine, Minnesota|Racine]]
* [[Rose Creek, Minnesota|Rose Creek]]
* [[Sargeant, Minnesota|Sargeant]]
* [[Taopi, Minnesota|Taopi]]
* [[Waltham, Minnesota|Waltham]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Lansing, Minnesota|Lansing]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Andyville, Minnesota|Andyville]]
* [[Corning, Minnesota|Corning]] (part)
* [[Johnsburg, Minnesota|Johnsburg]]
* [[Mayville, Minnesota|Mayville]]
* [[Nicolville, Minnesota|Nicolville]]
* [[Ramsey, Mower County, Minnesota|Ramsey]]
* [[Renova, Minnesota|Renova]]
* [[Varco, Minnesota|Varco]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Mower County's land is divided into 20 townships that each contain 36 square miles (six miles on a side). Mower County is five townships wide ({{convert|30|mi|km}} west to east) and four townships from north to south (24 miles).
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Adams Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Adams]]
* [[Austin Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Austin]]
* [[Bennington Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Bennington]]
* [[Clayton Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Clayton]]
* [[Dexter Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Dexter]]
* [[Frankford Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Frankford]]
* [[Grand Meadow Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Grand Meadow]]
* [[Lansing Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lansing]]
* [[Le Roy Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Le Roy]]
* [[Lodi Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lodi]]
* [[Lyle Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Lyle]]
* [[Marshall Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Marshall]]
* [[Nevada Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Nevada]]
* [[Pleasant Valley Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Pleasant Valley]]
* [[Racine Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Racine]]
* [[Red Rock Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Red Rock]]
* [[Sargeant Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Sargeant]]
* [[Udolpho Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Udolpho]]
* [[Waltham Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Waltham]]
* [[Windom Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Windom]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Mower County, Minnesota]]

==References==
<references/>

===Further reading===
* {{Cite book |last=History Committee (Mower County, Minn.) |title=Mill on the willow: a history of Mower County, Minnesota |date=1984 |publisher=History Committee |location=Mower County MN}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.mower.mn.us/ Mower County Official Page]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnmower/ Mower County Genealogy]
* [http://www.mowercountyfair.com/ Mower County Fair]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Mower County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]]
|Northeast = [[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted County]]
|East      = [[Fillmore County, Minnesota|Fillmore County]]
|Southeast = [[Howard County, Iowa]]
|South     = [[Mitchell County, Iowa]]
|Southwest = [[Worth County, Iowa]]
|West      = [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn County]]
|Northwest = [[Steele County, Minnesota|Steele County]]
}}

{{Mower County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}

{{coord|43.67|-92.75|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mower County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1855]]