Windom, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Windom
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Shops in downtown Windom
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Location of Windom
within Cottonwood County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Cottonwood |
| Platted | June 20, 1871 |
| Incorporated | April 15, 1875 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.26 sq mi (11.03 km2) |
| • Land | 4.09 sq mi (10.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,358 ft (414 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,798 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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4,742 |
| • Density | 1,171.67/sq mi (452.38/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
56101
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| Area code(s) | 507 |
| FIPS code | 27-70798 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397339 |
| Sales tax | 6.875% |
Windom is a city in Minnesota, United States. It is the main city, also known as the county seat, of Cottonwood County. In 2020, about 4,798 people lived there. Windom is located on a high area called the Coteau des Prairies.
Even though it is mostly a small farming community, Windom has several fun parks. One of these is Mayflower Park, which has a disc golf course. The Des Moines River flows through Windom. It is a calm river, perfect for canoeing without strong rapids.
Contents
History of Windom
Windom was officially planned out on June 20, 1871. An engineer named A.L. Beach, who worked for the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad, created the city's layout. On the very first day, twelve pieces of land were sold for $100 each.
The city became an official village in 1875. It was re-established as a city on September 9, 1884. Judson W. Bishop named the city after William Windom. He was a United States senator from Minnesota. He also served as the United States Secretary of the Treasury for three different presidents.
Geography and Climate
Windom is located about 1,358 feet (414 meters) above sea level. The city covers a total area of 4.33 square miles (11.21 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Windom is on the Coteau des Prairies. This is a long ridge that stretches from South Dakota to Iowa. This ridge divides Cottonwood County into two watersheds. These watersheds send water to the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. The Des Moines River also flows through Windom.
Windom's Weather
Windom experiences all four seasons with different temperatures.
- The average temperature in winter is about 16°F (minus 8.9°C).
- In spring, it averages 44.7°F (7.1°C).
- Summer temperatures average 69.8°F (21°C).
- Fall temperatures average 46.1°F (7.8°C).
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Windom was 105°F (40.6°C) on August 1, 1988. The coldest temperature was minus 36°F (minus 37.8°C) on January 7, 1988. The most rain in one day was 8.84 inches (22.5 cm) on September 23, 2010.
| Climate data for Windom, Minnesota | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
66 (19) |
84 (29) |
93 (34) |
98 (37) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
100 (38) |
91 (33) |
80 (27) |
64 (18) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 27 (−3) |
32 (0) |
44 (7) |
60 (16) |
72 (22) |
82 (28) |
85 (29) |
82 (28) |
75 (24) |
61 (16) |
43 (6) |
29 (−2) |
85 (29) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7 (−14) |
12 (−11) |
24 (−4) |
35 (2) |
47 (8) |
57 (14) |
62 (17) |
59 (15) |
50 (10) |
37 (3) |
24 (−4) |
11 (−12) |
7 (−14) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −36 (−38) |
−31 (−35) |
−25 (−32) |
6 (−14) |
20 (−7) |
33 (1) |
42 (6) |
32 (0) |
22 (−6) |
9 (−13) |
−17 (−27) |
−28 (−33) |
−36 (−38) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | .9 (23) |
.75 (19) |
1.97 (50) |
3.24 (82) |
3.55 (90) |
4.56 (116) |
4.05 (103) |
3.52 (89) |
3.29 (84) |
2.18 (55) |
1.67 (42) |
.98 (25) |
30.66 (778) |
| Source: Weather.com | |||||||||||||
People of Windom
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 443 | — | |
| 1890 | 835 | 88.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,944 | 132.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,749 | −10.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,123 | 21.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,123 | 0.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,807 | 32.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,165 | 12.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,691 | 16.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,952 | 7.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,666 | 18.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,283 | −8.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,490 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,646 | 3.5% | |
| 2020 | 4,798 | 3.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 4,742 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2010 Population Facts
In 2010, there were 4,646 people living in Windom. They lived in 1,994 households, which are like homes or family units. About 1,201 of these were families. The city had about 1,117 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Windom were White (92.1%). Other groups included African American (1.4%), Native American (0.3%), and Asian (1.2%). About 8.0% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 26.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (47.4%) were married couples. The average household had 2.25 people, and the average family had 2.91 people.
The average age in Windom was 42.6 years old. About 23.2% of residents were under 18. About 21.2% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (48.2%) and females (51.8%).
City Infrastructure
Getting Around Windom
Three main roads help people travel through Windom. These are U.S. Highway 71, Minnesota Highway 60, and Minnesota Highway 62.
Windom's Economy
In 1987, Windom joined the Minnesota "Star City" program. This program helps cities grow their economy. Windom earned the "Star City" title in August 1988.
The biggest employers in Windom are Toro, Windom Public Schools, and Fortune Transportation. Toro employs 600 people, the schools employ 176, and Fortune Transportation employs 175. Windom is home to one of Toro's eight manufacturing factories. It is also where Big Game Treestands has its main office.
Windom has a workforce of 2,378 people. Most of them (2,295) have jobs. This means the unemployment rate is low, at 3.5%. The largest job areas are education, healthcare, and social help (26.3% of workers). Manufacturing is also a big industry (18.6% of workers).
Local Media
Windom has its own weekly newspaper called the Cottonwood County Citizen.
The town also has three radio stations. Two are commercial, and one is non-commercial.
| Callsign | Frequency | Type of Music/Shows | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDOM | 1580 | Full Service (various programs) | Windom Radio Incorporated |
| KDOM-FM | 94.3 | Country | Windom Radio Incorporated |
| KJWR | 90.9 | Religious | Minn-Iowa Christian Broadcasting Inc. |
| KRLP-FM | 88.1 | Religious | Educational Media Foundation |
Education in Windom
Windom has several schools for students of different ages:
- Windom Area Middle/High School
- Winfair Elementary School
- Bridges Preschool
- Red Rock Ridge ALC
There are also two private or church preschools: Busy Bees and Sunshine School.
Windom Area Middle/High School
Windom Area Middle/High School teaches students from 4th to 12th grade. This is because of building changes made in 2003. The school first housed grades 5-12 after the renovations. However, in 2011, 4th graders also moved in because the elementary school was too full.
About 300 students attend the high school (grades 9-12). Around 350 students attend the middle school (grades 4-8). The school is led by Principal Bryan Joyce and Superintendent Jamie Frank.
Fun Things to Do
Riverfest: Summer Fun!
Windom hosts an annual summer festival called Riverfest. It happens every year during the second weekend of June. A special event at Riverfest is a pageant where they crown a "Miss Riverfest." They also choose a First Runner-Up, Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, and a Little Miss Riverfest.
Other fun activities at Riverfest include:
- Fireworks displays
- The Vickie Schendel 5K Walk/Run
- A tennis tournament
- A fishing tournament
- Exciting turtle races
- A kiddie tractor pull
- A street dance
- A grand parade
Winter-River-Fest: Cold Weather Fun!
In February 2011, Windom started a new festival called "Winter-River-Fest." This festival celebrates winter with many activities. Some of the past activities have included:
- A chili feed (where people eat chili)
- Open fires to keep warm
- Dodgeball games
- Snow sculpting contests
- The "Darn Cold Croquet Contest"
Famous People from Windom
- Larry Buhler - A professional football player.
- Shorty Elness - Another professional football player.
- Dennis C. Frederickson - A businessman, Minnesota state lawmaker, and former Mayor of Windom.
- Elaine Harder - A Minnesota state lawmaker.
- Aaron Horkey - A well-known artist.
- Johnny Olson - A famous game show announcer.
- Maria Schneider - A jazz composer who has won Grammy Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Windom (Minnesota) para niños
