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  (2024)	18,684
• Density	43.81/sq mi (16.914/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Waseca County is a county located in the state of Minnesota in the United States. In 2020, about 18,968 people lived there. The main town and government center of the county is Waseca.

The Story of Waseca County

Waseca County was officially created on February 27, 1857. It was formed from a part of Steele County by the Minnesota Territory government. The first county seat, or main town for government, was Wilton.

The name "Waseca" comes from the Dakota language. It means "rich," which describes the fertile soil in the area. This name was first used for a farming settlement started in 1855. Later, the city of Waseca grew near this settlement.

In the late 1860s, a railroad line was built through the town of Waseca. This helped the town grow quickly. By 1870, people voted to move the county seat to the city of Waseca. The borders of Waseca County have stayed the same since it was first created.

Exploring Waseca County's Land

Waseca County has many rivers and streams. The Le Sueur River flows west through the county. It joins the Blue Earth River in a nearby county. The Little Le Sueur River also helps drain water from the southeast. Other streams like Bull Run Creek and the Little Cobb River flow through the county.

The land in Waseca County has gentle, rolling hills. Many lakes dot the landscape. Most of the land is used for farming. The highest point in the county is about 1,240 feet (378 meters) above sea level.

Waseca County covers about 433 square miles (1,121 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with about 9.6 square miles (25 square kilometers) being water. This county is special because it has no large forests. Instead, it has rich prairie and savanna soils, which are great for farming.

Getting Around Waseca County

The county has a public transportation service called Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit. Many important roads also cross through Waseca County. These roads help people travel and transport goods.

Main Roads in Waseca County

Neighboring Counties

Waseca County shares its borders with several other counties:

Special Natural Areas

Waseca County has several protected areas. These are called State Wildlife Management Areas. They help protect local wildlife and their homes.

Lakes of Waseca County

Many beautiful lakes can be found in Waseca County:

People of Waseca County

This chart shows the age groups of people in Waseca County in 2022.

Population in 2020

According to the 2020 census, Waseca County had a population of 18,968 people.

Towns and Communities

Cities

Smaller Communities

Townships

How Waseca County Votes

Waseca County usually votes for the Republican Party in presidential elections. Since 1936, the county has chosen a Democratic candidate only a few times.

State Government Representatives (2021–2023)

National Government Representatives (2021–2023)

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Waseca para niños