Waseca County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waseca County
U.S. county
Waseca County Courthouse in 2007
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 27, 1857
Named for	Waseca (settlement)
Seat	Waseca
Largest city	Waseca
Area
• Total	433 sq mi (1,120 km2)
• Land	423 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Water	9.6 sq mi (25 km2)  2.2%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,968
• Estimate  (2023)	18,981
• Density	43.81/sq mi (16.914/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Waseca County (/wəˈsiːkə/) is a county located in the state of Minnesota, USA. It is a part of the United States. In 2020, about 18,968 people lived here. The main city and government center, called the county seat, is Waseca.

Discovering Waseca County's Past

Waseca County has an interesting history. In 1849, when Minnesota Territory was first set up, its leaders created nine counties. Over the next few years, some of these large counties were divided into smaller ones.

How Waseca County Was Formed

On February 27, 1857, the leaders decided to create Waseca County. They took land from the western part of Steele County. The first county seat was a settlement called Wilton, which started in 1854.

The name "Waseca" comes from the Dakota language. It means "rich," which describes the very fertile soil in the area. This name was first used for a farming settlement that began in 1855, close to where the city of Waseca is today.

Growth and Change in the County Seat

In the late 1860s, a railroad line, the Winona and Saint Peter Railroad, was built through the town of Waseca. This helped the town grow a lot. By 1870, people voted to move the county seat from Wilton to the growing town of Waseca. The borders of Waseca County have stayed the same since it was created.

Exploring Waseca County's Geography

Waseca County is a beautiful area with low, rolling hills. Rivers and streams flow through the land, and there are many lakes. Most of the land is used for farming because of its rich soil.

Rivers and Waterways

The Le Sueur River flows west through the county. It eventually joins the Blue Earth River in Blue Earth County. The Little Le Sueur River also helps drain the southeastern part of the county. Other important waterways include Bull Run Creek and the Little Cobb River.

Land and Lakes

The highest point in Waseca County is about 1,240 feet (378 meters) above sea level, located near its southeastern corner. The county covers about 433 square miles (1,121 square kilometers). Most of this is land (423 square miles or 1,096 square kilometers), and about 9.6 square miles (25 square kilometers) is water, which is about 2.2% of the total area.

Waseca County is one of seven counties in southern Minnesota that mostly have prairie and savanna soils, meaning there are no large forest areas.

Getting Around: Transit and Highways

• Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

Major Roads in Waseca County

Neighboring Counties

Protected Natural Areas