Goodhue County, Minnesota Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Goodhue County

Goodhue County Courthouse in Red Wing, Minnesota

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Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Minnesota

Founded

March 5, 1853

Named for

James M. Goodhue

Seat

Red Wing

Largest city

Red Wing

Area

• Total

780 sq mi (2,000 km²)

• Land

757 sq mi (1,960 km²)

• Water

24 sq mi (60 km²) 3.0%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

47,582

• Estimate

(2023)

48,035

• Density

62.9/sq mi (24.3/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

1st

Goodhue County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. In 2020, about 47,582 people lived here. The main city and place where the county government is located is Red Wing. A large part of the Prairie Island Indian Community is also found within Goodhue County.

Goodhue County is part of the Red Wing, MN area. It is also included in the larger Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI area.

History of Goodhue County
Geography and Nature
Communities in Goodhue County
- Cities
- Other Communities
Education in Goodhue County
Images for kids
See also

History of Goodhue County

Goodhue County was created on March 5, 1853. It was formed from a part of Wabasha County. The county is named after James Madison Goodhue (1810–1852). He started the first newspaper in the Minnesota area, called The Minnesota Pioneer.

Early Settlers and Values

The first settlers in Goodhue County mainly came from New England or upstate New York. They were often descendants of English Puritans. These early settlers brought their values with them. They strongly believed in education and were against slavery. They built farms, schools, and government buildings using local materials.

Later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, many immigrants from Germany and Norway moved to the area. There were also some Swedish immigrants.

First College in Minnesota

Hamline University, Minnesota's first college, began in Red Wing in 1854. It closed during the Civil War. The college later reopened in 1869 in Saint Paul.

Wheat Farming and Changes

In the mid-1800s, Goodhue County was a top producer of wheat. For a few years, it grew more wheat than any other county in the country. However, fires at two mills in Red Wing in the 1880s changed things. Also, new railroad lines made it easier for farmers to send their wheat to mills in Minneapolis. This caused Goodhue County's importance in the wheat trade to decrease around 1900.

Goodhue County was also home to Minnesota's first public swimming pool.

Presidential Visit

In October 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Goodhue County. He came for a special event to open the Hiawatha Bridge. This new bridge replaced the Old High Bridge, which had crossed the Mississippi River since 1895. About 20,000 people came to see President Eisenhower. He hoped his visit would help Richard Nixon win the 1960 presidential election. However, John F. Kennedy won the election and became president.

Geography and Nature

Rural Goodhue County from U.S. Route 61/63

Goodhue County is located on Minnesota's border with Wisconsin. Lake Pepin is across the border. The Cannon River flows east through the northern part of the county. It empties into Lake Pepin. The Little Cannon River flows north and joins the Cannon River at Cannon Falls. The North Fork of the Zumbro River flows east through the southern part of the county.

The county has rolling hills and high cliffs along the river valleys. The land slopes towards the east and north. The highest point is about 1,260 feet (384 meters) above sea level. Goodhue County covers about 780 square miles (2,020 km²). About 757 square miles (1,961 km²) is land, and 24 square miles (62 km²) is water. Goodhue is one of 17 Minnesota counties that has more savanna soils than prairie or forest soils.