Waseca County, Minnesota

In 1849, the newly organized Minnesota Territory legislature authorized nine counties across the territory. One of those, Dakota, was partially subdivided in 1853 to create Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Rice counties. In 1855, parts of those counties were partitioned to create 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 the city of Waseca. That settlement name came from the 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.{{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}}

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

{{Stack|File:Waseca Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf}}

The Le Sueur River flows westward through the county toward its confluence with the Blue Earth River in Blue Earth County. It is augmented by the 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 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.[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)] 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.[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Waseca County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 22, 2019)] 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.{{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}}

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

• Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

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• 20px U.S. Highway 14
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 13
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 30
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 60 (runs along north border of county only)
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 83
• Minnesota State Highway 230

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• Rice County - northeast
• Steele County - east
• Freeborn County - southeast
• Faribault County - southwest
• Blue Earth County - west
• Le Sueur County - northwest

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• 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

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• 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)
• Rice Lake (Woodville Township)
• Saint Olaf Lake
• Sibert Lake
• Silver Lake
• Toners Lake
• Trenton Lake (part)
• Watkins Lake

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{{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={{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}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{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}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900-1990{{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}}
1990-2000{{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}} 2010-2020

}}

File:WasecaCountyMn2022PopPyr.png for Waseca County, from 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% White, 2.26% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.6% were of German, 15.5% Norwegian, 7.4% Irish and 5.5% American ancestry.

There were 7,059 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were 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.

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• Elysian (part)
• Janesville
• New Richland
• Waldorf
• Waseca (county seat)

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• Alma City
• Lake Elysian
• Matawan
• Otisco
• Palmer
• Saint Mary
• Smiths Mill
• Vista
• Wilton

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• Alton Township
• Blooming Grove Township
• Byron Township
• Freedom Township
• Iosco Township
• Janesville Township
• New Richland Township
• Otisco Township
• St. Mary Township
• Vivian Township
• Wilton Township
• Woodville Township

{{div col end}}

Waseca County has traditionally voted Republican. In only three presidential elections since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic nominee (as of 2024).

{{PresHead|place=Waseca County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1={{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}}|source2=The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 940 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 63 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 62 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 14 votes.}}

{{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}}

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

{{reflist|30em}}

• [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

|East = Steele County

|Southeast = Freeborn County

|Southwest = Faribault County

|West = Blue Earth County

|Northwest = Le Sueur County

}}

{{Waseca County, Minnesota}}

{{Minnesota}}

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

{{authority control}}

Category:Minnesota counties

Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin

Category:1857 establishments in Minnesota Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1857