Cottonwood County, Minnesota


Cottonwood County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,517. Its county seat is Windom.
WWW co.cottonwood.mn.us

History

The county was created on May 23, 1857, named for the river in Germantown Township. Minnesota Governor Horace Austin appointed three county commissioners when the county was established. They met at a 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. The county organization was completed on July 29, 1870. The first general election was held in the county that November. The first deed of record was filed on January 10, 1870. The first land assessments were made in 1871, and the first taxes were paid in 1872.

County NRHP listings

Geography

The Heron Lake Outflow flows east through the lower part of Cottonwood County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the east, with the northern portion also sloping north and the lower portion sloping south. The highest point is on the midpoint of the west border, at ASL. The county has an area of, of which is land and is water.

Watersheds

The northeastern part of the county drains north to the Minnesota River through numerous small creeks, the Cottonwood River and Watonwan River. The southwestern part 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

Source:

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Source:
  • Arnolds Lake WMA
  • Banks WMA
  • Bennett WMA
  • Blixseth WPA
  • Budolfson WMA
  • Carpenter WMA
  • Clear Lake WPA
  • Cottonwood Lake WPA
  • Delft State Wildlife Management Area
  • Des Moines River WPA
  • Dynamite Park
  • Expandere WMA
  • Farhagen WMA
  • Harder Lake WPA
  • Hurricane Lake WMA
  • Lady Bird County Park
  • Lake Augusta WPA
  • Little Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Long Lake WPA
  • Mound Creek County Park
  • Mountain County Park
  • Mountain Lake WMA
  • Mountain Lake WPA
  • Pats Grove County Park
  • Pats Pasture WMA
  • Pennington Prairie SNA
  • Regehr State Wildlife Management Area
  • Red Rock Falls County Park
  • Rock Ridge Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • Rock Ridge WMA
  • South Dutch Charlie County Park
  • String Lakes WMA
  • Storden WPA
  • Talcot County Park
  • Talcot Lake WMA
  • Typhoon WMA
  • Voit WMA
  • Watonwan WPA
  • Wolf Lake WPA

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,517. The median age was 42.5 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.7 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 83.5% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian, 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.9% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.7% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,671 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.7% were married-couple households, 19.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 5,152 housing units, of which 9.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.9% were owner-occupied and 23.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,167 people, 4,917 households, and 3,338 families in the county. The population density was. There were 5,376 housing units at an average density of. 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.
The county population contained 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.

Government and politics

Cottonwood County reliably votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Townships