# Houston County, Minnesota *County in southeastern Minnesota, United States* Houston County is a county in [[Minnesota]] at the state's southeast corner. Wisconsin lies across the [[Mississippi River]] to the east, and Iowa lies to the south.[^1] The 2020 census counted 18,843 residents. Caledonia is the county seat, and the county is part of the La Crosse–Onalaska Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^2] The territorial legislature of the [[Minnesota Territory]] created the county from sections of Wabashaw County on February 23, 1854. It was named for Sam Houston.[^3] The seat moved from the village of Houston to Caledonia after the county records were taken there in 1855, and referendums had settled the seat in Caledonia by 1874.[^4] ## History Before Minnesota's territorial period, the land now in Houston County was organized in 1839 as part of St. Croix County in the Wisconsin Territory. On October 27, 1849, a portion of St. Croix County was split off to form Wabashaw County in the Minnesota Territory.[^3] On February 23, 1854, the territorial legislature authorized carving Fillmore County and Houston County out of Wabashaw. County government was completed after an election held on April 4, 1854.[^3] The county's namesake, Sam Houston, had served as president of the Republic of Texas and as a U.S. senator from Texas.[^3] The village of Houston was the first seat. After a land speculator pressed to relocate it to Caledonia, the [[County Board]] moved the county records there in 1855. Caledonia then served as the seat in practice and later became the legal seat after several county votes.[^4] That year the records were kept in the cabin of Commissioner Samuel McPhail, which also housed the county's first court hearings. Caledonia gained a one-story courthouse and jail in 1857 and a two-story building in 1867, and referendums had fixed the seat there by 1874.[^4] Afterward Caledonia grew and Houston gradually declined. La Crescent, which drew on its link to La Crosse, Wisconsin, was the county's one other place of note.[^4] ## Geography Houston County forms Minnesota's southeast corner. Wisconsin lies across the Mississippi River on the east, and Iowa lies on the south. The Mississippi runs south-southeast along the eastern edge.[^1] The Root River crosses the northern part of the county eastward to the Mississippi. Pine Creek runs east-southeast through the northeast, and Crooked Creek runs east across the south; both also drain into the Mississippi.[^1] In the west the land is made up of low rolling hills, which give way eastward to hills cut by drainages. The central and western county is a plateau, and its highest point, 1,273 ft (388 m) above sea level, lies near the southwest corner.[^5] The county covers 569 square miles: 552 square miles of land and 17 square miles (2.9%) of water.[^5] It belongs to the Driftless Zone, where glacial drift is absent and streams have cut the bedrock into steep hills. Around Caledonia the plateau holds flat, fertile farmland and hilly pasture.[^5] ### Lakes The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge lies along the county's eastern edge. Four of the refuge's lakes are inside the county: Blue Lake, Hayshore Lake, Lawrence Lake and Target Lake.[^6] ### Adjacent counties Houston County borders six counties:[^7] - Winona County to the north - La Crosse County, Wisconsin, to the northeast - Vernon County, Wisconsin, to the east - Allamakee County, Iowa, to the south - Winneshiek County, Iowa, to the southwest - Fillmore County to the west ### Protected areas The county contains Beaver Creek Valley State Park, the Mound Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, and a portion of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.[^8] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census counted 18,843 residents, with a median age of 44.9 years. Of these residents, 22.3% were under 18 and 22.6% were 65 or older.[^9] There were 99.2 males for every 100 females, and 96.8 males per 100 females among residents 18 and over.[^9] By race, residents were:[^10] - White: 95.0% - Black or African American: 0.5% - American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% - Asian: 0.5% - Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: less than 0.1% - Some other race: 0.5% - Two or more races: 3.1% Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 1.3% of the population.[^10] Rural residents made up 71.0% of the population and urban residents 29.0%.[^10] The census counted 8,013 households. Of these, 26.4% included children under 18, and 52.6% were married-couple households. A male householder with no spouse or partner present headed 17.8% of households, and a female householder with no spouse or partner present headed 23.0%.[^11] About 30.4% of households consisted of one person, and in 15.1% a person 65 or older lived alone.[^11] The county had 8,731 housing units, and 8.2% of them stood vacant. Owners occupied 80.3% of occupied units and renters 19.7%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1%, and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.[^12] ### 2000 census The 2000 census recorded 19,718 people in 7,633 households, including 5,411 families. The population density was 35.7 per square mile. The census also counted 8,168 housing units, an average of 14.8 per square mile.[^13] ## Transportation La Crosse MTU provides transit service. The county's major highways are U.S. Highways 14 and 61 and Minnesota State Highways 16, 26, 44 and 76. Houston County Airport serves the county.[^14] ## Communities The county's seven cities are Brownsville, Caledonia (the county seat), Eitzen, Hokah, Houston, La Crescent (partly in Winona County) and Spring Grove.[^15] Its unincorporated communities include Bee, Black Hammer, Freeburg, Jefferson, Mayville, Money Creek, Newhouse, Pine Creek (partial), Reno, River Junction, Willington Grove, Wilmington and Yucatan.[^15] The county has seventeen townships: Black Hammer, Brownsville, Caledonia, Crooked Creek, Hokah, Houston, Jefferson, La Crescent, Mayville, Money Creek, Mound Prairie, Sheldon, Spring Grove, Union, Wilmington, Winnebago and Yucatan.[^15] ## Government and politics In the 21st century, the county's voters have generally favored Republicans. Through 2024, the county had chosen the Republican presidential candidate in 75% of elections since 1980.[^16] ## Education Six school districts serve the county:[^17] - Caledonia Public School District - Houston Public Schools - La Crescent-Hokah School District - Mabel-Canton Public Schools - Rushford-Peterson Public Schools - Spring Grove School District ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Geography section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25, CC BY-SA 4.0) — southeast-corner location, Wisconsin and Iowa borders, Mississippi, Root River, Pine Creek and Crooked Creek courses. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, lead section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 population of 18,843, Caledonia as county seat, La Crosse–Onalaska MSA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — organization in 1839, partition of October 27, 1849, creation authorized February 23, 1854, election of April 4, 1854, and naming for Sam Houston. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — move of the seat to Caledonia (1855), McPhail cabin, courthouses of 1857 and 1867, referendums by 1874, and later development. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Geography section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — terrain, highest point of 1,273 ft, area of 569 sq mi (552 land, 17 water), and Driftless Zone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Geography: Lakes (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — refuge along the eastern border and four lakes within the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Geography: Adjacent counties (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — the six bordering counties and their directions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Geography: Protected areas (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — state park, scientific and natural area, and part of the federal refuge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2020 census (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, median age, age shares, and sex ratios. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2020 census (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — census racial and Hispanic-origin percentages and urban/rural shares. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2020 census (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — household count and household composition percentages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2020 census (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — housing units, vacancy, tenure, and vacancy rates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Demographics: 2000 census (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, households, families, density, and housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Transportation section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — transit, major highways, and airport. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^15]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Communities section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities, and the seventeen listed townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^16]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Republican voting tendency and 75% presidential share since 1980, as of 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota [^17]: Wikipedia contributors, *Houston County, Minnesota*, Education section (rev. 1375319736, retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts serving the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_County,_Minnesota