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Steele County
County
Steele County Courthouse in Owatonna
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°01′N 93°13′W / 44.02°N 93.22°W / 44.02; -93.22
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1855
Named for	Franklin Steele
Seat	Owatonna
Largest city	Owatonna
Area
• Total	432 sq mi (1,120 km)
• Land	430 sq mi (1,100 km)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (7 km)  0.6%
Population
• Total	37,406
• Estimate	37,421
• Density	87.0/sq mi (33.6/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.steele.mn.us

Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,406. Its county seat is Owatonna.

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, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties. 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.

Geography

The Straight River rises in Freeborn County and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing into Rice County on the north. The South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in Steele County and flows eastward into Dodge County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages, completely devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the midpoint of its south border, at 1,293 ft (394 m) ASL. The county has an area of 432 square miles (1,120 km), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km) are land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km) (0.6%) re water.

The 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.

Transit

• Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

Major highways

• Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes Medford, Clinton Falls, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale.
• U.S. Route 14 – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna.
• U.S. Route 218 – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna.
• Minnesota State Highway 30 – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.

Airports

• Owatonna Degner Regional Airport (OWA) - northwest of Owatonna

Adjacent counties

• Rice – north
• Dodge – east
• Mower – southeast
• Freeborn – south
• Waseca – west

Protected areas

• 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

Lakes

• Beaver
• Fosilen
• Kohlmeier
• Lonergan
• Oak Glen
• Rice (part)
• Rickert
• Swan

Demographics

2020 census

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. The population density was 78.3 per square mile (30.2/km). There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 30.9 per square mile (11.9/km). The 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, 18.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Czech and 5.1% 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 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

• Blooming Prairie (partly in Dodge County)
• Ellendale
• Medford
• Owatonna (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Bixby
• Clinton Falls
• Deerfield
• Havana
• Hope
• Lemond
• Litomysl
• Meriden
• Merton
• Moland
• Pratt
• Saco
• Steele Center

Ghost town

• Rice Lake

Townships

• Aurora
• Berlin
• Blooming Prairie
• Clinton Falls
• Deerfield
• Havana
• Lemond
• Medford
• Meriden
• Merton
• Owatonna
• Somerset
• Summit

Politics

Steele County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Steele County, Minnesota

References

1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 531. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
4. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
5. ^ Steele County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
6. "Find an Altitude/Steele County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
8. Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth ME: DeLorme. 1994. pp. 24, 33. ISBN 0-89933-222-6.
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Steele County, Minnesota". United States Census. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023.
15. "Senator John R. Jasinski (19, R)". MN State Senate. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
16. Stultz, Sarah (November 5, 2020). "Dornink wins District 27 Senate seat". Albert Lea Tribune. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
17. "Rep. John Petersburg (24A)". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
18. "Rep. Brian Daniels (24B)". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
19. Schnell, Mychael (August 12, 2022). "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022.
20. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". klobuchar.senate.gov. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
21. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
22. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.

External links

• Steele County government's website
• Steele County Historical Society
• City of Owatonna
• City of Medford
• City of Blooming Prairie
• City of Ellendale
• Rice Lake State Park

v t e Places adjacent to Steele County, Minnesota
Rice County Waseca County Steele County, Minnesota Dodge County Freeborn County Mower County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Steele County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: Owatonna
Cities	Blooming Prairie‡ Ellendale Medford Owatonna
Townships	Aurora Berlin Blooming Prairie Clinton Falls Deerfield Havana Lemond Medford Meriden Merton Owatonna Somerset Summit
Unincorporated communities	Bixby Clinton Falls Deerfield Havana Hope Lemond Litomysl Meriden Merton Moland‡ Pratt Saco Steele Center
Ghost town	Rice Lake‡
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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44°01′N 93°13′W / 44.02°N 93.22°W / 44.02; -93.22

• Minnesota counties
• Steele County, Minnesota
• 1855 establishments in Minnesota Territory
• Populated places established in 1855