Dodge County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dodge County
U.S. county
Dodge County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1855
Named for	Henry Dodge
Seat	Mantorville
Largest city	Kasson
Area
• Total	440 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Land	439 sq mi (1,140 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.07%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,867
• Estimate  (2023)	21,088
• Density	47.5/sq mi (18.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Dodge County is a place in Minnesota, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 20,867 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Mantorville. Dodge County is also part of the larger Rochester area.

History of Dodge County

Long ago, the land that is now Dodge County was used for hunting and battles. The Mdewakanton Sioux people lived here. They sometimes fought with the Sauk and Fox Indians who came into their area.

Around 1655, a French fur trader from Canada might have been the first non-Native person to visit. Later, settlers from New England came to live here. Many people moved to the area in the 1820s and 1830s. This was easier because the Erie Canal was finished in 1825. Also, the Black Hawk War ended in 1831, making the area safer.

These early settlers cared a lot about education. They started many schools. They also strongly supported ending slavery, which was called abolitionism. In 1853, government workers mapped out the land into townships. In 1854, the Mantor brothers and Eli P. Waterman settled in the area of what is now Mantorville.

In early 1855, Dodge County was officially set up for local government. It was named after Henry Dodge. He was the first governor of Wisconsin from 1836 to 1841.

On May 11, 1858, Dodge County became part of Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District. The county courthouse was built in 1865. It is still used today and is the oldest courthouse in Minnesota. As the 1900s began, more people came to Minnesota from Germany, Sweden, and Norway. They brought new cultures and religions, like Catholic and Lutheran faiths.

Geography and Nature

Dodge County is in southeastern Minnesota. It is about 24 miles (39 km) long and 18 miles (29 km) wide. The Zumbro River flows through the middle of the county. Other creeks like Salem Creek and Harkcom Creek also cross the land.

The county has rolling hills, which means gentle slopes. Farmers use much of this land for growing crops. The land slopes down towards the northeast. The highest point is about 1,352 feet (412 meters) above sea level.

The central and northern parts of the county have hills and many trees. The soil here is loose and has pebbles, which is good for growing wheat. The southern part is flat and wet. This land is better for raising animals like cattle. The soil in the south is very rich and dark.

Dodge County is one of seven counties in southern Minnesota that do not have large forests. Instead, it has mostly prairie and savanna lands. These are open grasslands with some scattered trees.

The county also has a lot of sand and rock. This makes it a good place for building materials. Quarries in Mantorville used to be busy places. They had thick layers of stone that could be cut into different shapes. The town of Wasioja is known for its excellent "Wasioja stone."

Streams

Lakes

• Rice Lake (part)
• Zumbro River Reservoir

Major Roads

Airport

• Dodge Center Municipal Airport

Neighboring Counties

Population Information

The population of Dodge County has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown:

2020 Census Details

The 2020 census showed the different groups of people living in Dodge County:

Towns and Areas

Dodge County has several cities and smaller communities.

Cities

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller places that are not officially cities.

Townships

Townships are smaller local government areas.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Dodge (Minnesota) para niños