Cottonwood County, Minnesota

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Not to be confused with Cottonwood, Minnesota.
Cottonwood County, Minnesota
Map of Minnesota highlighting Cottonwood County
Location in the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded May 23, 1857 (created)
1870 (organized)[1]
Named for Cottonwood River
Seat Windom
Largest city Windom
Area
 • Total 649 sq mi (1,681 km2)
 • Land 639 sq mi (1,655 km2)
 • Water 10 sq mi (26 km2), 1.5%
Population
 • (2010) 11,687
 • Density 18/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.cottonwood.mn.us

Cottonwood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,687.[2] Its county seat is Windom.[3] The county was formed in 1857 and organized in 1870.[4]

History

Cottonwood County was established July 29, 1870. It was named after the Cottonwood River which runs through the northeast corner of Germantown Township.[4] The river received its name from the abundance of cottonwood trees on its banks.[5]

Minnesota Governor Austin appointed three county commissioners when the county was established. They met at a private home about six miles northwest of Windom on the Des Moines River at Big Bend. During this meeting, they designated the commissioners districts and changed various county officers. In the fall of 1870, the first general election was held. The first deed on record was filed on January 10, 1870. The first land assessments were made in 1871, and in 1872, the first taxes were paid.[citation needed]

Windom[3] was declared the county seat in the 1872 general election and a proclamation was signed by the governor.

Mountain Park, located southeast of Mountain Lake, has been listed since 1973 on the National Register of Historic Places.[6] The park is the site of the oldest human habitation yet to be discovered in the state of Minnesota. A 1976 archeological dig unearthed evidence of Fox Indian inhabitation there from as early as 500 years before Christ.[7]

The Jeffers Petroglyphs, near the town of Jeffers, is a site containing pre-European Native American rock carvings also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Presidential Election Results 2000-2008
Year Democratic Republican
2008 45.71% 2759 52.30% 3157
2004 42.80% 2726 55.85% 3557
2000 40.50% 2503 54.51% 3369
File:Cottonwood Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf
Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 649 square miles (1,680 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is water.[9]

Watersheds

The northeast part of the county drains north to the Minnesota River through numerous small creeks, the Cottonwood River and Watonwan River. The southwest part of the county drains south through the Des Moines River. These two watersheds come together at the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa. Most wetlands in the county have been drained for agricultural use.

Lakes

Des Moines River Watershed Minnesota River Watershed

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 12 —
1870 534 4,350.0%
1880 5,533 936.1%
1890 7,412 34.0%
1900 12,069 62.8%
1910 12,651 4.8%
1920 14,570 15.2%
1930 14,782 1.5%
1940 16,143 9.2%
1950 15,763 −2.4%
1960 16,166 2.6%
1970 14,887 −7.9%
1980 14,854 −0.2%
1990 12,694 −14.5%
2000 12,167 −4.2%
2010 11,687 −3.9%
Est. 2014 11,633 [10] −0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000,[15] there were 12,167 people, 4,917 households, and 3,338 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 5,376 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.23% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.63% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 50.2% were of German and 18.6% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 4,917 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,943, and the median income for a family was $40,237. Males had a median income of $28,993 versus $19,934 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,647. About 7.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.40% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

County parks

  • Dynamite (Great Bend Township)
  • Lady Bird (Southbrook Township)
  • Pat's Grove (Springfield Township)[16]
  • Mountain (Mountain Lake Township)
  • Red Rock (Germantown Township)
  • South Dutch Charlie (Westbrook Township)[17][18]
  • Talcot Lake (Southbrook Township)

Communities

Cities

Townships

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Unincorporated community

See also

Footnotes

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  8. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69 - 70. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ The park is named after the county's first resident of European descent, Charles "Dutch Charlie" Zierke. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

  • John A. Brown (ed.), History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota: Their People, Industries, and Institutions: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families. In Two Volumes. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen and Company, 1916. Volume 1 | Volume 2
  • Cottonwood County Minnesota Highway Map, Cottonwood County Highway Department, 2003.
  • DeLorme's Minnesota Atlas and Gazetteer.

External links

 Redwood County Brown County
Murray County Watonwan County
  Cottonwood County, Minnesota  
Nobles County Jackson County Martin County

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