Cottonwood County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cottonwood County
U.S. county
Cottonwood County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	May 23, 1857 (created) July 29, 1870 (organized)
Named for	Cottonwood River
Seat	Windom
Largest city	Windom
Area
• Total	649 sq mi (1,680 km2)
• Land	639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
• Water	10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,517
• Estimate  (2023)	11,319
• Density	18.0/sq mi (6.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 7th

Cottonwood County is a county in the state of Minnesota. In 2020, about 11,517 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Windom.

Cottonwood County History

Cottonwood County was officially created on May 23, 1857. It got its name from the Cottonwood River. The word "Waraju" in the Dakota Sioux language means "cottonwood."

Minnesota Governor Horace Austin chose three people to be the first county commissioners. They met near Windom to set up the county. They decided on different areas for the commissioners and changed some county jobs. The county was fully organized on July 29, 1870. The first election for the county was held that November. The first land records were made in 1870. People started paying taxes on their land in 1872.

Important Places in History

Several important places in Cottonwood County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special and protected because of their history.

• The Cottonwood County Courthouse was built in 1904. It's a great example of Neoclassical architecture, a style that looks like old Greek and Roman buildings.
• Mountain Park is southeast of Mountain Lake. It was added to the National Register in 1973. In 1976, scientists found signs of an ancient village there. It was home to the Meskwaki people around 500 B.C. This is the oldest human settlement found in Minnesota!
• The Jeffers Petroglyphs, near Jeffers, are ancient rock carvings. Native Americans made these carvings long before Europeans came to America. They are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cottonwood County Geography

Cottonwood County has low, rolling hills. Most of the land is used for farming. The land generally slopes towards the east. The highest point in the county is about 1,535 feet (468 meters) above sea level. The county covers about 649 square miles. Most of this (639 square miles) is land, and a small part (10 square miles) is water.

Rivers and Waterways

The northeastern part of the county drains into the Minnesota River. This happens through many small creeks and the Cottonwood River and Watonwan River. The southwestern part of the county drains into the Des Moines River. Both of these watersheds eventually flow into the Mississippi River in Iowa. Many wetlands in the county have been drained to create more farmland.

Lakes in Cottonwood County

Here are some of the lakes found in Cottonwood County:

Main Roads

Neighboring Counties

Protected Natural Areas

Cottonwood County has many protected areas. These include Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), and Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs). These places help protect local wildlife and nature.

Cottonwood County Population

The population of Cottonwood County has changed over the years. In 2020, the county had 11,517 people.

People in Cottonwood County (2020 Census)

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Cottonwood County, based on the 2020 census:

Communities in Cottonwood County

Cities

Unincorporated Community

• Delft (This is a small community that is not officially a city.)

Townships

Townships are smaller local government areas within the county.

Images for kids

• 

  The Cottonwood County Courthouse, built in 1904.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Cottonwood para niños