Editing Steele County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Steele County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 20
 | founded year         = 1855
 | seat wl              = Owatonna
 | largest city wl      = Owatonna
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 432
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 430
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.7
 | area percentage      = 0.6%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 37406
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 37421 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 87.0
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.steele.mn.us
 | named for            = [[Franklin Steele]]
 | ex image             = CourthouseSteeleCountyMN.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Steele County Courthouse (Minnesota)|Steele County Courthouse]] in Owatonna
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Steele County''' 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 37,406.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/steelecountyminnesota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 13, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Owatonna, Minnesota|Owatonna]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Steele County comprises the Owatonna [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The county was created by the [[Minnesota Territory]] legislature on February 20, 1855, using areas partitioned from [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]], [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth]], and [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur]] counties. [[Owatonna, Minnesota|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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n548 531]|access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Stack|[[File:Steele Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Steele County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]}}
The [[Straight River (southern Minnesota)|Straight River]] rises in [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn County]] and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing into [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]] on the north. The [[Zumbro River#Course|South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River]] rises in Steele County and flows eastward into [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]]. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages, completely devoted to agriculture where possible.<ref name=SCM>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Steele+County,+MN/@44.0225793,-93.3661423,53529m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f6de9907a28907:0xd252a13124bb1b5b!8m2!3d43.9758523!4d-93.1779659 Steele County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the midpoint of its south border, at {{convert|1,293|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Steele County MN"  Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|432|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|430|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|2.7|sqmi}} (0.6%) are water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 25, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|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}}</ref>

The [[Straight River (southern Minnesota)|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.<ref>{{cite book|title= Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer|year=1994|publisher=[[DeLorme]]|location=Yarmouth ME|isbn=0-89933-222-6|pages=24, 33}}</ref>

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

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-35.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35 in Minnesota|Interstate 35]] – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes [[Medford, Minnesota|Medford]], [[Clinton Falls, Minnesota|Clinton Falls]], Owatonna, [[Hope, Minnesota|Hope]] and [[Ellendale, Minnesota|Ellendale]].
* [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 14 in Minnesota|U.S. Route 14]] – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna.
* [[Image:US 218 (MN).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 218]] – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna.
* [[Image:MN-30.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 30]] – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.

===Airports<ref name=SCM/>===
* [[Owatonna Degner Regional Airport]] (OWA) - northwest of Owatonna

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]] – north
* [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge]] – east
* [[Mower County, Minnesota|Mower]] – southeast
* [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn]] – south
* [[Waseca County, Minnesota|Waseca]] – west
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas<ref name=SCM/>===
{{div col}}
* 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
{{div col end}}

===Lakes<ref name=SCM/>===
{{div col}}
* Beaver
* Fosilen
* [[Lake Kohlmeier|Kohlmeier]]
* Lonergan
* Oak Glen
* Rice (part)
* Rickert
* Swan
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 2863
|1870= 8271
|1880= 12400
|1890= 13232
|1900= 16524
|1910= 16146
|1920= 18061
|1930= 18475
|1940= 19749
|1950= 21155
|1960= 25029
|1970= 26931
|1980= 30328
|1990= 30729
|2000= 33680
|2010= 36576
|2020= 37406
|estyear=2023
|estimate=37421
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |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 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 25, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Steele 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) – Steele County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Steele%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230211215808/https://data.census.gov/table?q=Steele+County,+Minnesota&t=Race+and+Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |publisher=United States Census}}</ref>
!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%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:SteeleCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Steele County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|78.3|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of {{convert|30.9|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#2000 census|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 people|German]], 18.5% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 5.2% [[czech people|Czech]] and 5.1% [[Irish people|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 [[Marriage|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===
{{div col}}
* [[Blooming Prairie, Minnesota|Blooming Prairie]] (partly in [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]])
* [[Ellendale, Minnesota|Ellendale]]
* [[Medford, Minnesota|Medford]]
* [[Owatonna, Minnesota|Owatonna]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bixby, Minnesota|Bixby]]
* [[Clinton Falls, Minnesota|Clinton Falls]]
* [[Deerfield, Minnesota|Deerfield]]
* [[Havana, Minnesota|Havana]]
* [[Hope, Minnesota|Hope]]
* [[Lemond, Minnesota|Lemond]]
* [[Litomysl, Minnesota|Litomysl]]
* [[Meriden, Minnesota|Meriden]]
* [[Merton, Minnesota|Merton]]
* [[Moland, Minnesota|Moland]]
* [[Pratt, Minnesota|Pratt]]
* [[Saco, Minnesota|Saco]]
* [[Steele Center, Minnesota|Steele Center]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost town===
* [[Rice Lake (ghost town), Minnesota|Rice Lake]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Aurora Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Aurora]]
* [[Berlin Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Berlin]]
* [[Blooming Prairie Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Blooming Prairie]]
* [[Clinton Falls Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Clinton Falls]]
* [[Deerfield Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Deerfield]]
* [[Havana Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Havana]]
* [[Lemond Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Lemond]]
* [[Medford Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Medford]]
* [[Meriden Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Meriden]]
* [[Merton Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Merton]]
* [[Owatonna Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Owatonna]]
* [[Somerset Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Somerset]]
* [[Summit Township, Steele County, Minnesota|Summit]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Steele County voters have traditionally voted [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate ({{As of|2024|lc=y}}).
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2021-2023)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[Minnesota Senate|Senate]]
|[[John Jasinski (politician)|John Jasinski]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senator John R. Jasinski (19, R) |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418224431/https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1227 |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=MN State Senate |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 24
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Gene Dornink]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stultz |first=Sarah |last2= |last3= |date=November 5, 2020 |title=Dornink wins District 27 Senate seat |url=https://www.albertleatribune.com/2020/11/dornink-wins-27-senate-seat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421140551/https://www.albertleatribune.com/2020/11/dornink-wins-27-senate-seat/ |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |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)}}" |
|[[Minnesota House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[John Petersburg]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. John Petersburg (24A) |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15410 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211220606/https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15410 |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 24A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Brian Daniels (politician)|Brian Daniels]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Brian Daniels (24B) |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15433 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204074620/https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15433 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 24A
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2021-2023)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Brad Finstad]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Schnell |first=Mychael |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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006100338/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3598486-republican-rep-brad-finstad-sworn-in-to-finish-hagedorns-house-term/ |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |website=The Hill}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 1st congressional district|1st]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624031119/https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |archive-date=June 24, 2020 |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
|[[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]]
|
|}
{{PresHead|place=Steele County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|12,742|7,650|480|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,656|7,917|555|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,198|6,241|1,740|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,903|8,706|515|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,068|9,016|572|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,389|7,994|312|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,223|6,900|943|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|5,617|6,974|2,373|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,964|5,152|4,673|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,981|5,496|133|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,780|5,060|70|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,805|5,095|1,379|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|7,053|6,263|331|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|7,678|4,010|180|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|6,193|4,631|366|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,882|6,022|35|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,795|4,491|15|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,435|3,293|36|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,956|2,819|29|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,451|4,305|60|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,760|3,307|15|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,517|3,668|14|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,373|4,481|370|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,365|4,318|107|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,744|2,826|25|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,598|796|1,653|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,243|1,167|140|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,734|1,497|91|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|651|1,294|1,255|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,899|1,284|142|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,095|1,067|141|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,833|1,188|122|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,046|1,248|150|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,396|1,299|171|Minnesota}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.steele.mn.us/ Steele County government's website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160831173416/http://www.steelehistorymuseum.org/ Steele County Historical Society]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180323222704/http://community.owatonna.mn.us/ City of Owatonna]
* [http://www.medfordminnesota.com/ City of Medford]
* [http://www.bloomingprairie.com/ City of Blooming Prairie]
* [http://www.ellendalemn.com/ City of Ellendale]
* [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/rice_lake/index.html Rice Lake State Park]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Steele County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]]
|East      = [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]]
|Southeast = [[Mower County, Minnesota|Mower County]]
|South     = [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn County]]
|West      = [[Waseca County, Minnesota|Waseca County]]
}}

{{Steele County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}

{{coord|44.02|-93.22|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

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