Steele County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steele County
U.S. county
Steele County Courthouse in Owatonna
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	Franklin Steele
Seat	Owatonna
Largest city	Owatonna
Area
• Total	432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Land	430 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.6%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,406
• Estimate  (2021)	37,349
• Density	87.0/sq mi (33.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,406. Its county seat is Owatonna.

Steele County comprises the Owatonna, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 432 square miles (1,120 km²), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km²) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) (0.6%) is water.

Soils of Somerset WMA area

The Straight River flows northward through the county, and the Le Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of the Zumbro River has its headwaters in the county's northeast.

Lakes

• Beaver Lake: in Berlin Township
• Fosilen Lake: in Berlin Township
• Lake Kohlmeier: in Owatonna, Owatonna Township
• Lonergan Lake: in Berlin Township
• Oak Glen Lake: in Blooming Prairie Township
• Rice Lake: mostly in Havana Township, but the far eastern edge extends into Dodge County
• Rickert Lake: in Blooming Prairie Township
• Swan Lake: in Deerfield Township

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 14
• U.S. Highway 218
• Minnesota State Highway 30

Adjacent counties

• Rice County (north)
• Dodge County (east)
• Mower County (southeast)
• Freeborn County (south)
• Waseca County (west)

Demographics

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.19% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.6% were of German, 18.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Czech and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,846 households out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $53,981. Males had a median income of $36,366 versus $25,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,328. About 4.20% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Blooming Prairie (partly in Dodge County)
• Ellendale
• Medford
• Owatonna (county seat)

Townships

Unincorporated communities

• Bixby
• Clinton Falls
• Deerfield
• Havana
• Hope
• Lemond
• Litomysl
• Meriden
• Merton
• Moland
• Pratt
• Saco
• Steele Center

Ghost town

• Rice Lake

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Steele (Minnesota) para niños