Goodhue County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goodhue County
U.S. county
Goodhue County Courthouse in Red Wing, Minnesota
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	March 5, 1853
Named for	James M. Goodhue
Seat	Red Wing
Largest city	Red Wing
Area
• Total	780 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Land	757 sq mi (1,960 km2)
• Water	24 sq mi (60 km2)  3.0%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	47,582
• Estimate  (2021)	47,968
• Density	62.9/sq mi (24.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd

Goodhue County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 47,582. Its county seat is Red Wing. Nearly all of Prairie Island Indian Community is within the county.

Goodhue County comprises the Red Wing, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

The county was formed from territory within Wabasha County on March 5, 1853. County boundaries were defined in 1854 and further refined again in 1855.

Hamline University, Minnesota's first college of higher learning, was originally located in Red Wing, Minnesota. It opened its doors in 1854 but closed during the Civil War due to low enrollment. Hamline University re-opened in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1869.

The county was a leading producer of wheat during the mid-nineteenth century, and for several years the county boasted the highest wheat production in the country, sending wheat through numerous mills in Red Wing and then transporting the grain along the Mississippi River.

The effect of fires at two of Red Wing's mills in the 1880s and developing railroad routes across Minnesota encouraged farmers from neighboring counties to begin sending their wheat to Minneapolis mills, reducing the county's importance in the wheat trade around the start of the 20th century.

The first municipal swimming pool in the state was built in the county.

In October 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the county for a bridge dedication ceremony. The Hiawatha Bridge had been built to replace the Old High Bridge that spanned the Mississippi River since 1895. This visit drew 20,000 people. Eisenhower hoped that his visit would help in the elections, swaying Minnesota voters to vote for Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election in the coming month. The visit wasn't enough, however, as John F. Kennedy carried the state on his way to being elected the next president.

Soils of Warsaw WMA area

Geography

Rural Goodhue County from U.S. Route 61/63

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 780 square miles (2,000 km²), of which 757 square miles (1,960 km²) is land and 24 square miles (62 km²) (3.0%) is water. Goodhue is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils.

Lakes

• Birch Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Brewer Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Cannon Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Clear Lake: in Welch Township
• Devils Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Espen Lakes: in Wacouta Township
• Goose Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Lake Byllesby: the northern half is in Dakota County and the southern half is in Stanton Township
• Larson Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Nelson Lake: in Wacouta Township
• North Lake: in Welch Township
• Rattling Springs Lake: in Welch Township
• Spring Banks Lake: in Welch Township
• Spring Creek Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Sturgeon Lake: in Wacouta Township
• Twin Lakes: in Welch Township

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Pierce County, Wisconsin (northeast)
• Pepin County, Wisconsin (northeast)
• Wabasha County (east)
• Olmsted County (southeast)
• Dodge County (southwest)
• Rice County (west)
• Dakota County (northwest)

Demographics

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 44,127 people, 16,983 households, and 11,905 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 17,879 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.57% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.1% were of German, 22.0% Norwegian, 7.9% Swedish and 6.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 16,983 households out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,972, and the median income for a family was $55,689. Males had a median income of $36,282 versus $25,442 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,934. About 3.70% of families and 5.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Census-designated place

• Frontenac

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost town

• Thoten/Belvidere

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Goodhue para niños