Editing Waseca County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Waseca County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 27
 | founded year         = 1857<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |access-date=March 19, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Waseca
 | largest city wl      = Waseca
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 433
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 423
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.6
 | area percentage      = 2.2%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 18968
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 18981 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.waseca.mn.us
 | named for            = [[Waseca, Minnesota|Waseca (settlement)]]
 | ex image             = Waseca County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Waseca County Courthouse]] in 2007
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Waseca County''' ({{IPAc-en|w|ə|ˈ|s|iː|k|ə}})<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 More Minnesota Towns You're Pronouncing Wrong |url=http://highwayhighlights.com/2014/08/5-more-minnesota-towns-youre-pronouncing-wrong/}}</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 18,968.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wasecacountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Waseca, Minnesota|Waseca]].<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>

==History==
In 1849, the newly organized [[Minnesota Territory]] legislature authorized nine counties across the territory. One of those, [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]], was partially subdivided in 1853 to create [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth]], [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur]], and [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]] counties. In 1855, parts of those counties were partitioned to create [[Steele County, Minnesota|Steele]]. 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 of [[Waseca, Minnesota|the city of Waseca]]. That settlement name came from the [[Sioux|Dakota]] 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog |title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |year=1920 |page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n581 564] |access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref>

Waseca County's boundaries have not changed since its creation.

==Geography==
{{Stack|[[File:Waseca Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Waseca County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011) ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]}}
The [[Le Sueur River]] flows westward through the county toward its confluence with the [[Blue Earth River]] in [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]]. It is augmented by the [[Le Sueur River#Course|Little 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; the [[Cobb River (Minnesota)#Course|Little 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.<ref name="WCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Waseca+County,+MN/@44.0222919,-93.7272903,53530m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f6a2fccb6c379b:0x3aa641477c466d90!8m2!3d43.961388!4d-93.6623239 Waseca County MN Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the north and west, with its highest point near its southeast corner, at {{convert|1,240|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Waseca County MN"  Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|433|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|423|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.6|sqmi}} (2.2%) 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/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Waseca is one of seven southern Minnesota counties that have no forest ecosystems, only prairie and savanna soils.

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

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 14 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 14]]
* [[Image:MN-13.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 13]]
* [[Image:MN-30.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 30]]
* [[Image:MN-60.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 60]] (runs along north border of county only)
* [[Image:MN-83.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 83]]
* Minnesota State Highway 230
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]] - northeast
* [[Steele County, Minnesota|Steele County]] - east
* [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn County]] - southeast
* [[Faribault County, Minnesota|Faribault County]] - southwest
* [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]] - west
* [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas<ref name=WCM/>===
{{div col}}
* Findley State Wildlife Management Area
* Kanne State Wildlife Management Area
* Moonan State Wildlife Management Area
* Mueller State Wildlife Management Area
* Senn-Rich State Wildlife Management Area
* Teal State Wildlife Management Area
* Waseca State Wildlife Management Area
{{div col end}}

===Lakes<ref name=WCM/>===
{{div col}}
* Buffalo Lake
* Clear Lake
* Everson Lake
* Goose Lake
* Hayes Lake
* Knutsen Lake
* Lake Elysian (part)
* Lilly Lake
* Lily Lake (part)
* Loon Lake
* Mott Lake
* Reeds Lake
* Reese Lake
* Rice Lake ([[Janesville Township, Minnesota|Janesville Township]])
* Rice Lake ([[Woodville Township, Minnesota|Woodville Township]])
* Saint Olaf Lake
* Sibert Lake
* Silver Lake
* Toners Lake
* Trenton Lake (part)
* Watkins Lake
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 2601
|1870= 7854
|1880= 12385
|1890= 13313
|1900= 14760
|1910= 13466
|1920= 14133
|1930= 14412
|1940= 15186
|1950= 14957
|1960= 16041
|1970= 16663
|1980= 18448
|1990= 18079
|2000= 19526
|2010= 19136
|2020= 18968
|estyear=2023
|estimate=18981
|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 25, 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 25, 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 25, 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 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Waseca 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) – Waseca County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Waseca%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|16,538
|87.2%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|336
|1.8%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|114
|0.6%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|111
|0.6%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|12
|0.06%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|586
|3.1%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,271
|6.7%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:WasecaCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Waseca County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 19,526 people, 7,059 households, and 4,990 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|46.2|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 7,427 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17.6|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.59% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.90% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 47.6% were of [[German people|German]], 15.5% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 7.4% [[Irish people|Irish]] and 5.5% [[United States|American]] ancestry.

There were 7,059 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were [[Marriage|married 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. The [[per capita income]] was $18,631. About 4.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.8% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Elysian, Minnesota|Elysian]] (part)
* [[Janesville, Minnesota|Janesville]]
* [[New Richland, Minnesota|New Richland]]
* [[Waldorf, Minnesota|Waldorf]]
* [[Waseca, Minnesota|Waseca]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Alma City, Minnesota|Alma City]]
* [[Lake Elysian, Minnesota|Lake Elysian]]
* [[Matawan, Minnesota|Matawan]]
* [[Otisco, Minnesota|Otisco]]
* [[Palmer, Minnesota|Palmer]]
* [[St. Mary, Minnesota|Saint Mary]]
* [[Smiths Mill, Minnesota|Smiths Mill]]
* [[Vista, Minnesota|Vista]]
* [[Wilton, Waseca County, Minnesota|Wilton]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Alton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Alton Township]]
* [[Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Blooming Grove Township]]
* [[Byron Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Byron Township]]
* [[Freedom Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Freedom Township]]
* [[Iosco Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Iosco Township]]
* [[Janesville Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Janesville Township]]
* [[New Richland Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|New Richland Township]]
* [[Otisco Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Otisco Township]]
* [[St. Mary Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|St. Mary Township]]
* [[Vivian Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Vivian Township]]
* [[Wilton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Wilton Township]]
* [[Woodville Township, Waseca County, Minnesota|Woodville Township]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Waseca County has traditionally voted Republican. In only three presidential elections since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic nominee (as of 2024).
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2021–2023)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Julie Rosen]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=MN State Senate |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1053 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=www.senate.mn |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 23
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[John Jasinski (politician)|John Jasinski]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=MN State Senate |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1227 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=www.senate.mn |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]
|District 24
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Jeremy Munson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jeremy Munson (23B) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15496 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 23B
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[John Petersburg]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. John Petersburg (24A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15410 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}</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)}}" |
|[[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=Waseca 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>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 940 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 63 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 62 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 14 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,770|3,402|215|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,624|3,496|269|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,967|2,838|848|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,116|4,370|261|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,211|4,401|276|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,457|4,179|164|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,608|3,694|562|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,171|3,819|1,482|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,118|3,146|2,742|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,471|3,721|95|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,509|3,527|55|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,801|3,535|965|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,582|4,002|221|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,064|2,767|95|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,292|3,057|256|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,570|3,633|14|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,838|2,793|5|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,663|2,215|11|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,962|2,132|19|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,511|3,120|49|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,146|2,207|22|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,515|2,673|25|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,482|3,520|346|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,012|3,805|86|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,251|2,418|41|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|2,081|442|3,082|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,626|1,257|168|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,522|1,178|113|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|553|1,062|1,079|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,455|1,085|106|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,714|631|99|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,744|1,155|84|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,902|1,244|89|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,090|1,042|298|Minnesota}}

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.waseca.com Waseca.com - Waseca's Information Site]
* [http://www.co.waseca.mn.us/ Waseca County government’s website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Waseca County, Minnesota
|Northeast = [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]]
|East      = [[Steele County, Minnesota|Steele County]]
|Southeast = [[Freeborn County, Minnesota|Freeborn County]]
|Southwest = [[Faribault County, Minnesota|Faribault County]]
|West      = [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth County]]
|Northwest = [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur County]]
}}

{{Waseca County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}

{{coord|44.02|-93.59|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Waseca County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]