# Cottonwood County, Minnesota *County in Minnesota; county seat Windom* Cottonwood County is one of the counties of the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]], and its seat of government is Windom. The 2020 census counted 11,517 residents.[^1] The county dates from May 23, 1857. It takes its name from the river in Germantown Township.[^2] According to the county's Wikipedia account, Minnesota [[governor]] [[Horace Austin]] named three commissioners at the county's establishment.[^3] The county's organization was completed on July 29, 1870, and its first general election followed that November.[^4] Farming occupies the county's low rolling hills.[^5] In presidential elections the county has favored Republican candidates. It has chosen the Democratic nominee only once since 1964.[^6] ## History Cottonwood County was established on May 23, 1857. Its name comes from the river in Germantown Township. According to the Wikipedia account, "cottonwood" is the English meaning of the [[Dakota]] Sioux word "Waraju".[^2] At the county's establishment, Governor Horace Austin appointed three commissioners. They met at a home on the Des Moines River at Big Bend, roughly six miles northwest of Windom. At that meeting they set out the commissioners' districts and made changes among county officers.[^3] The first deed of record in the county was filed on January 10, 1870. The county's organization was completed on July 29 of that year, and the first general election was held that November. Land was first assessed in 1871, and the first taxes were paid in 1872.[^4] Cottonwood remained a dry county until May 1965, when county option was eliminated. Until then, beverages above 3.2% alcohol could not be sold there.[^7] ### County NRHP listings The county courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1904 in the Neoclassical style. Mountain Park, southeast of Mountain Lake, has been on the Register since 1973. A 1976 archeological excavation there found evidence of Meskwaki habitation dating to about 500 B.C. The Wikipedia account calls it the oldest human habitation found in Minnesota.[^8] The Jeffers Petroglyphs, near Jeffers, are pre-European Native American rock carvings, and they are also listed on the Register.[^9] ## Geography Cottonwood County covers 649 square miles (1,680 km²). Of that area, 639 square miles (1,660 km²) is land and 10 square miles (26 km²), or 1.5%, is water. Farming occupies its low rolling hills. The land falls generally toward the east. The northern portion also falls toward the north, and the lower portion toward the south. The county's high point lies at the middle of the western border, at 1,535 ft (468 m) above sea level.[^5] ### Watersheds The Heron Lake Outflow runs eastward across the lower part of the county. The county is split between two drainages. The northeast sends its water north to the [[Minnesota River]], by way of many small creeks and the Cottonwood and Watonwan rivers. The southwest drains south through the Des Moines River. The two systems meet at the [[Mississippi River]] near Keokuk, Iowa. Most of the county's wetlands have been drained for farming.[^10] ### Adjacent counties and highways The neighboring counties are: - Redwood, to the north - Brown, to the northeast - Watonwan, to the east - Jackson, to the south - Nobles, to the southwest - Murray, to the west The county's major highways are U.S. Highway 71 and Minnesota State Highways 30, 60 and 62.[^11] ### Protected areas The county's protected areas include wildlife management areas such as Arnolds Lake WMA, Banks WMA, Delft State Wildlife Management Area, Little Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area and Regehr State Wildlife Management Area. They also include waterfowl production areas such as Cottonwood Lake WPA, Des Moines River WPA and Mountain Lake WPA. County parks include Lady Bird, Mound Creek, Mountain, Pats Grove and Red Rock Falls. Pennington Prairie SNA is also on the list.[^12] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census recorded 11,517 residents, with a median age of 42.5. Children under 18 made up 23.9% of the population, and residents aged 65 or older made up 23.0%. There were 100.1 males per 100 females overall, and 98.7 per 100 among adults.[^13] By race, the census recorded the county's residents as follows: - 83.5% White - 1.2% Black or African American - 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native - 3.2% Asian - 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander - 5.9% some other race - 5.0% two or more races Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 9.7% of the population. Fewer than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, and 100.0% in rural areas.[^13] The county had 4,671 households, and 28.0% of them included children under 18. Married couples made up 50.7% of households. A further 19.5% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% a female householder with no spouse or partner present. Households made up of individuals were 31.8% of the total. In 14.6% of households, someone aged 65 or older lived alone.[^14] Of 5,152 housing units, 9.3% stood vacant. Owners occupied 76.9% of occupied units and renters 23.1%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[^14] ### 2000 census The 2000 census counted 12,167 people, living in 4,917 households and 3,338 families. That was 19.0 persons per square mile (7.3/km²). Housing units numbered 5,376, an average of 8.41 per square mile (3.25/km²). The racial makeup included 95.23% White and 0.34% Black or African American residents.[^15] ## Government and politics Presidential returns in Cottonwood County have consistently favored Republicans. Since 1964 the county has backed the Democratic candidate in a single election.[^6] ## Communities The county's cities are: - Bingham Lake - Comfrey (in part) - Jeffers - Mountain Lake - Storden - Westbrook - Windom, the county seat Delft is an unincorporated community.[^16] The county has eighteen townships: Amboy, Amo, Ann, Carson, Dale, Delton, Germantown, Great Bend, Highwater, Lakeside, Midway, Mountain Lake, Rose Hill, Selma, Southbrook, Springfield, Storden and Westbrook.[^16] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, lead section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 population of 11,517; county seat Windom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — creation on May 23, 1857; naming for the river in Germantown Township; "Waraju". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Governor Horace Austin's appointment of three commissioners; their meeting at Big Bend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — first deed (January 10, 1870); organization completed July 29, 1870; first election; first assessments (1871) and taxes (1872). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Geography section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — area, terrain, slope and highest point. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Republican voting pattern; one Democratic presidential choice since 1964. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — dry-county status until May 1965; 3.2% alcohol limit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, County NRHP listings (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 1904 courthouse; Mountain Park listed since 1973; 1976 dig and Meskwaki habitation c. 500 B.C. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, County NRHP listings (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Jeffers Petroglyphs and their National Register listing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Geography and Watersheds sections (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Heron Lake Outflow; drainage to the Minnesota and Des Moines rivers; drained wetlands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Adjacent counties and Major highways sections (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — neighboring counties and highways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Protected areas section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — list of protected areas (truncated in the cached text). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, age, sex ratio, racial and ethnic makeup, urban/rural split. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — household composition, housing units, tenure and vacancy rates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^15]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2000 census (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2000 population, households, families, densities and partial racial makeup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota [^16]: Wikipedia, *Cottonwood County, Minnesota*, Communities section (rev. 1375318846, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated community and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_County,_Minnesota