Watonwan County, Minnesota

Infobox U.S. County
county = Watonwan County
state = Minnesota


founded year = 1860 [http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/govseries/No34.htm]
founded date = February 25
seat wl = St. James
largest city wl = St. James
area_total_sq_mi = 440
area_total_km2 = 1139
area_land_sq_mi = 435
area_land_km2 = 1125
area_water_sq_mi = 5
area_water_km2 = 14
area percentage = 1.23%
census yr = 2000
pop = 11876
density_sq_mi = 27
density_km2 = 11
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = www.co.watonwan.mn.us
named for = Taken from the Dakota word, "watanwan," meaning "fish bait," or "where fish bait abounds."

Watonwan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2000, the population is 11,876. Its county seat is St. JamesGR|6. The county was organized in 1860, two years after Minnesota was granted statehood.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 440 square miles (1,139 km²), of which, 435 square miles (1,125 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (14 km²) of it (1.23%) is water. The county is drained by the Watonwan River and its tributaries; the river flows eastwardly through the northern part of the county. [cite book| title= Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer |year=1994 |publisher= DeLorme |location=Yarmouth, Me. |isbn= 0-89933-222-6 |pages= pp. 21-22]

Major highways

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Lakes

*Bergdahl Lake: in Madelia Township
*Bullhead Lake: in Rosendale Township
*Butterfield Lake: in Butterfield Township
*Case Lake: in Fieldon Township
*Cottonwood Lake: in Adrian Township
*Ewy Lake: in Butterfield Township
*Fedji Lake: in Madelia Township
*Irish Lake: in Odin Township
*Long Lake: in Long Lake Township
*Mary Lake: in Long Lake Township
*Mud Lake: in Odin Township
*Kansas Lake: in Long Lake Township
*School Lake: in Madelia Township
*School Lake: there is another School Lake in Odin Township
*St. James Lake: in St. James Township
*Sulem Lake: in Odin Township
*Wood Lake: mostly in Adrian Township, but the northern fifth stretches into Brown County

Adjacent counties

*Brown County (north)
*Blue Earth County (east)
*Martin County (south)
*Jackson County (southwest)
*Cottonwood County (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,876 people, 4,627 households, and 3,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.54% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.78% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 15.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.9% were of German, 17.3% Norwegian and 5.8% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 4,627 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,441, and the median income for a family was $42,321. Males had a median income of $29,242 versus $19,788 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,413. About 7.80% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

† Ormsby is located in both Watonwan and Martin County.

References