# Le Sueur County, Minnesota *County in south-central Minnesota, United States* Le Sueur County lies in the south-central part of [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 28,674 residents, and the seat of county government is Le Center.[^1] The county is counted within the [[Minneapolis]]–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] The legislature of the [[Minnesota Territory]] created the county on March 5, 1853, one of several counties it organized that year. It named the county after Pierre-Charles Le Sueur, a French explorer who had visited the area in 1700.[^2] The county seat began at Le Sueur on the river and passed to Cleveland in 1875. It has been at Le Sueur Center, renamed Le Center in 1930, since 1876.[^2] The [[Minnesota River]] runs northeast along the county's western edge toward the Mississippi.[^3] The county's voters usually favor Republican candidates. No Democrat has won an outright majority there since Jimmy Carter in 1976, and Donald Trump took 66% of its vote in 2024.[^4] ## History In 1853 the territorial legislature organized several counties, and this one dates from March 5 of that year. Its namesake, Pierre-Charles Le Sueur, had come through the area in 1700.[^2] Two rival settlements, Le Sueur and Le Sueur City, were both platted on the east bank of the Minnesota River in 1852. The legislature designated the combined area as the first county seat. Because the seat lay far from most of the county, residents faced hardship: dense hardwood forest covered the county, and the roads of the time could not be traveled when wet.[^2] Residents sought a more central seat more than once. In the early 1870s Cleveland held a referendum to become the seat. Cleveland had been founded in 1857 away from the river, in the county's southwest. The measure passed but was contested over voting irregularities.[^2] A second referendum in 1875 made Cleveland the seat for 1875–1876. In 1876 voters approved a move to Le Sueur Center, a newly created town, and the seat was transferred promptly.[^2] Le Sueur Center had been platted that year by Waterville businessmen. They had acquired a quarter-section near the county's center and cleared its timber. The town, renamed Le Center in 1930, has held the seat continuously since 1876.[^2] Rail service reached the county in 1867, opening a period of easier access and movement. Le Sueur Center's first purpose-built courthouse went up in 1896–97. It has since been heavily remodeled and expanded on two occasions.[^2] ## Geography The Minnesota River forms the county's western border and flows northeast toward its meeting with the Mississippi. The landscape is made up of low, rolling hills with scattered lakes and ponds, over rich black soil.[^3] The land falls away toward the north and east. The highest ground, at 1,145 ft (349 m) above sea level, lies near the middle of the eastern border.[^3] The county covers 474 square miles (1,230 km²). Of that area, 449 square miles (1,160 km²) are land and 25 square miles (65 km²), or 5.3%, are water.[^3] It is among seven counties in Minnesota's savanna region that have no forest soils, and among 17 counties in which savanna soils predominate.[^3] ### Lakes Lakes lying wholly or partly in the county include Clear Lake, Diamond Lake, Fish Lake, Lake Emily, Lake Jefferson and Lake Washington. There are two separate lakes named Goose Lake, one in Cordova Township and one in Waterville Township. Part of Sakatah Lake lies in the county, as does Tetonka Lake, which forms the headwaters of the Cannon River.[^3] ### Protected areas The protected areas in the county include the Bardel and Chadderdon state wildlife management areas.[^3] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 count put the population at 28,674, with a median age of 41.5. Residents under 18 made up 23.8% of the population, and those 65 or older made up 18.2%.[^5] There were 103.3 males for every 100 females overall, and 102.6 for every 100 among adults.[^5] The census recorded the county's racial makeup as follows:[^5] - 90.6% White - 0.9% Black or African American - 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native - 0.5% Asian - 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander - 2.4% some other race - 5.1% two or more races Of residents of any race, 6.5% were Hispanic or Latino.[^5] Rural residents accounted for 85.8% of the population and urban residents for 14.2%. The county had 11,287 households, of which 30.2% included children under 18 and 55.9% were married couples.[^5] Men with no spouse or partner present headed 17.6% of households, and women with no spouse or partner present headed 18.5%. About 25.0% of households consisted of one person, and 11.0% were a person 65 or older living alone.[^5] Of 12,811 housing units, 11.9% stood vacant. Among occupied units, 81.9% were owner-occupied and 18.1% were rented. The vacancy rate was 1.2% for homeowner units and 8.3% for rentals.[^5] ### 2000 census The 2000 census recorded 25,426 people in 9,630 households and 6,923 families. Population density was 56.6 people per square mile (21.9/km²).[^5] There were 10,858 housing units, an average of 24.2 per square mile (9.3/km²). White residents made up 96.56% of the population and Black or African American residents 0.15%.[^5] ## Communities The cities in the county are Cleveland, Heidelberg, Kasota, Kilkenny, Le Center (the county seat), Montgomery and Waterville. The cities of Elysian, Le Sueur, [[Mankato]] and New Prague extend partly into the county.[^6] The unincorporated communities are Cordova, Greenland, Henderson Station, Lexington, Ottawa, St. Henry and St. Thomas, together with parts of Marysburg and Union Hill. Okaman is a former community.[^6] The county's fourteen townships are Cleveland, Cordova, Derrynane, Elysian, Kasota, Kilkenny, Lanesburgh, Lexington, Montgomery, Ottawa, Sharon, Tyrone, Washington and Waterville.[^6] ## Politics Republican candidates usually carry the county. Jimmy Carter in 1976 was the most recent Democrat to receive an absolute majority of its vote.[^4] Bill Clinton won the county in 1992 and 1996 with narrow pluralities amid strong third-party votes. In 1988 Michael Dukakis fell 5 votes short of carrying it.[^4] Donald Trump's 2020 result in the county was the strongest by any Republican since Warren G. Harding in 1920. He exceeded it in 2024, winning 66% of the vote.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Le Sueur County, Minnesota*, lead section (rev. 1375326516, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, 2020 population, county seat and metropolitan statistical area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Sueur_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Le Sueur County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375326516, retrieved 2026-10-25) — creation on March 5, 1853; naming; county-seat history 1852–1930; railroad and courthouse dates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Sueur_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Le Sueur County, Minnesota*, Geography section (rev. 1375326516, retrieved 2026-10-25) — river course, terrain, elevation, area, soils, lakes and protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Sueur_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Le Sueur County, Minnesota*, Politics section (rev. 1375326516, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting history, 1920–2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Sueur_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Le Sueur County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (rev. 1375326516, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census population, age, composition, households and housing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Sueur_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Le Sueur County, Minnesota*, Communities section (rev. 1375326516, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities, former communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Sueur_County,_Minnesota