Steele County, Minnesota

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 ASL. The county has an area of 432 sqmi, of which 430 sqmi are land and 2.7 sqmi (0.6%) are 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

• [[Image:I-35.svg|20px]] Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes Medford, Clinton Falls, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale.
• [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] 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

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

Adjacent counties

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

Protected areas

Source:

• 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

Source:

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

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 37,406. The median age was 39.9 years. 25.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.0% White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.4% of the population.

70.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 29.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,823 households in the county, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.2% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 15,691 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.1% were owner-occupied and 23.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

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 /mi2. There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 30.9 /mi2. 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 ().

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Upham, Warren. (1920). "Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance". Minnesota Historical Society.
4. Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN. 978-0-615-50320-2.
5. [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)]
6. [https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Steele County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)]
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. (1994). "Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer". [[DeLorme]].
9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau.
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11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
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.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
18. "Senator John R. Jasinski (19, R)".
19. Stultz, Sarah. (November 5, 2020). "Dornink wins District 27 Senate seat".
20. "Rep. John Petersburg (24A)".
21. "Rep. Brian Daniels (24B)".
22. Schnell, Mychael. (August 12, 2022). "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term".
23. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar".
24. "Home".
25. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections".