Mower County, Minnesota

Mower County
Mower County
County
	Mower County Courthouse in Austin
	Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
	Minnesota's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 43°40′N 92°45′W / 43.67°N 92.75°W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1855 (created); March 1, 1856 (organized)
Named for	John Edward Mower
Seat	Austin
Largest city	Austin
Area
• Total	711.5 sq mi (1,843 km2)
• Land	711.3 sq mi (1,842 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.03%
Population (2020)
• Total	40,029
• Estimate (2023)	40,058
• Density	56.3/sq mi (21.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.mower.mn.us

Mower County (/ˈmaʊ.ər/)^[1] is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,029.^[2] The county seat is Austin.^[3] Mower County comprises the Austin Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Rochester-Austin Combined Statistical Area. Lake Louise State Park is in southeastern Mower County, near Le Roy.

History

The federal government established Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836, and included what is now Minnesota, until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848.

Congress established the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. Two of the original counties, Dakota and Wabashaw (later Wabasha), had portions reassigned on March 5, 1853, to create Rice County.

In 1852, Jacob McQuillin's family settled in southern Rice County, beginning a settlement movement that rapidly grew. On February 20, 1855, the territorial legislature created the present county from the southernmost part of Rice County.^[4] The new county was named for John Edward Mower, a member of the territorial legislature.^[5]

On March 1, 1856, Territorial Governor Willis A. Gorman signed the legislative act that organized the county. He appointed three commissioners, who first met in Frankford Township. In January 1857 those commissioners designated the permanent seat in Austin Township. In July 1857 the location within Austin Township was further defined, within Austin village, which had been platted during the spring of 1856.^[6]

Geography

Mower County lies on Minnesota's border with Iowa. The Cedar River flows south through the western part of the county, into Mitchell County, Iowa. The Upper Iowa River rises in Mower County. Its branches, the Little Iowa and Upper Branch Upper Iowa, merge near Le Roy and flow east-southeast out of the county's southeast corner into Mitchell County, Iowa. Deer Creek drains the southeastern part of the county, flowing northeast into Fillmore County. Bear Creek drains the northern part of the county, flowing east into Fillmore County. Carey Creek drains the northeastern part of the county, flowing northeast into Olmsted County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages and gullies. The area is devoted to agriculture where possible.^[8] The terrain slopes to the east and south from an elevated center ridge running west–east,^[9] with its highest point 1.6 miles (2.6 km) east of Elkton, at 1,440 ft (440 m) ASL.^[10] The county has an area of 712 square miles (1,840 km²), of which 711 square miles (1,840 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (0.03%) is water.^[11]

Lakes

One of only four counties in Minnesota without any natural lakes (along with Olmsted, Pipestone, and Rock), Mower County does have four small ponds and lakes created by dams:

East Side Lake: in the northeast quadrant of Austin
Lake Louise: in Lake Louise State Park near Le Roy
Mill Pond: in downtown Austin near the Hormel plant
Ramsey Mill Pond: in Ramsey Golf Course, near the unincorporated settlement of Ramsey

The Cedar River (sometimes called the Red Cedar River) flows south into the county from its source in Dodge County and continues through the county into Mitchell County, Iowa. It flows through Mower County's four westernmost townships: Udolpho, Lansing, Austin, and Lyle.

Transit

Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

Major highways

Airports

Austin Municipal Airport (AUM) - east of Austin

Adjacent counties

Dodge County - north
Olmsted County - northeast
Fillmore County - east
Howard County, Iowa - southeast
Mitchell County, Iowa - south
Worth County, Iowa - southwest
Freeborn County - west
Steele County - northwest

Protected areas^[8]

Lake Louise State Park
Larson State Wildlife Management Area
Red Cedar State Wildlife Management Area
Rose State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	3,217		—
1870	10,447		224.7%
1880	16,799		60.8%
1890	18,019		7.3%
1900	22,335		24.0%
1910	22,640		1.4%
1920	25,993		14.8%
1930	28,065		8.0%
1940	36,113		28.7%
1950	42,277		17.1%
1960	48,498		14.7%
1970	44,919		−7.4%
1980	40,390		−10.1%
1990	37,385		−7.4%
2000	38,603		3.3%
2010	39,163		1.5%
2020	40,029		2.2%
2023 (est.)	40,058	^[12]	0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[13] 1790-1960^[14] 1900-1990^[15] 1990-2000^[16] 2010-2020^[2]

The county population has declined since its peak in 1960, as younger people have moved to urban areas for economic opportunities.

2020 Census

Mower County Racial Composition^[17]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	29,804	74.45%
Black or African American (NH)	1,613	4.03%
Native American (NH)	57	0.14%
Asian (NH)	2,052	5.13%
Pacific Islander (NH)	225	0.64%
Other/Mixed (NH)	1,167	2.92%
Hispanic or Latino	5,081	12.7%

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Mower County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,603 people, 15,582 households, and 10,315 families in the county. The population density was 54.3 per square mile (21.0/km²). There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of 22.9 per square mile (8.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 4.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.9% identified as being of German, 24.4% as Norwegian and 7.0% as of Irish ancestry.

There were 15,582 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

The county population contained 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,654, and the median income for a family was $45,154. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $23,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,795. About 6.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Mower County has a county-council style of government, made up of five county commissioners, each elected from a single-member district. They are elected to four-year terms, and elected on a staggered basis.^[18]

First district cities: Brownsdale, Mapleview, Waltham and the 1st ward, 1st precinct of Austin
- Townships: Lansing Township, Red Rock Township, Udolpho Township, Waltham Township
  - Commissioner: John Mueller
Second district cities: Adams, Dexter, Elkton, Grand Meadow, Le Roy, Racine, Sargeant, Taopi
- Townships: Adams Township, Bennington Township, Clayton Township, Dexter Township, Frankford Township, Grand Meadow Township, Le Roy Township, Lodi Township, Marshall Township, Pleasant Valley Township, Racine Township, Sargeant Township
  - Commissioner: Polly Glynn
Third district cities: Lyle, Rose Creek and the 2nd ward, 2nd precinct of Austin.
- Townships: Austin, Lyle, Nevada and Windom.
  - Commissioner: Jerry Reinartz
Fourth district: all of the 3rd ward of Austin.
- Commissioner: Dan Sparks
Fifth district: the 1st ward, 2nd precinct and the 2nd ward, 1st precinct of Austin.
- Commissioner: Mike Ankeny

From its first participating election in 1860 through 1928, Mower County was traditionally Republican, voting for the Republican nominee in every election save 1912, when it voted for Bull Moose nominee and former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt.^[19] After the New Deal realignment in 1932, Mower County leaned Democratic for about 80 years, voting for the Democrat in every presidential election through 2012 save in Eisenhower's two landslides (1952 and 1956), and 1960, when it voted for Nixon over Kennedy (despite having only narrowly voted for Eisenhower four years earlier). In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to carry the county since 1960, winning a high plurality of 49.8%. In 2020, he carried it again, this time with a majority, making it the first time the county had voted Republican two elections in a row since 1956 and 1960.

State Legislature (2021-2023)
	Name	Affiliation	District
Senate	Gene Dornink^[20]	Republican	District 27
House of Representatives	Peggy Bennett^[21]	Republican	District 27A
House of Representatives	Patricia Mueller^[22]	Republican	District 27B

U.S Congress (2021-2023)
	Name	Affiliation	District
House of Representatives	Brad Finstad^[23]	Republican	1st
Senate	Amy Klobuchar^[24]	Democrat	N/A
Senate	Tina Smith^[25]	Democrat	N/A

United States presidential election results for Mower County, Minnesota^[26]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	10,025	51.82%	8,899	46.00%	421	2.18%
2016	8,823	49.81%	7,437	41.98%	1,455	8.21%
2012	6,938	37.42%	11,129	60.03%	472	2.55%
2008	7,075	36.87%	11,605	60.48%	507	2.64%
2004	7,591	37.54%	12,334	60.99%	297	1.47%
2000	6,873	37.19%	10,693	57.86%	914	4.95%
1996	4,994	27.65%	10,413	57.65%	2,656	14.70%
1992	5,147	25.47%	9,935	49.16%	5,128	25.37%
1988	6,969	36.63%	11,893	62.51%	163	0.86%
1984	8,054	39.01%	12,498	60.53%	95	0.46%
1980	7,908	38.91%	10,538	51.85%	1,879	9.24%
1976	8,163	37.99%	12,837	59.74%	487	2.27%
1972	9,929	48.36%	10,286	50.10%	315	1.53%
1968	7,736	39.70%	11,022	56.56%	728	3.74%
1964	6,510	32.32%	13,573	67.39%	57	0.28%
1960	11,040	52.40%	9,961	47.28%	67	0.32%
1956	9,570	50.66%	9,219	48.80%	101	0.53%
1952	9,862	53.16%	8,551	46.09%	138	0.74%
1948	5,672	37.07%	9,468	61.88%	161	1.05%
1944	6,588	47.62%	7,199	52.03%	48	0.35%
1940	7,169	47.11%	7,988	52.49%	60	0.39%
1936	4,743	35.17%	8,228	61.01%	516	3.83%
1932	4,005	37.79%	6,421	60.58%	173	1.63%
1928	6,209	63.09%	3,587	36.45%	46	0.47%
1924	5,061	55.69%	564	6.21%	3,463	38.11%
1920	6,339	82.06%	1,061	13.73%	325	4.21%
1916	2,520	59.43%	1,572	37.08%	148	3.49%
1912	1,321	31.63%	1,228	29.40%	1,628	38.98%
1908	2,629	63.46%	1,206	29.11%	308	7.43%
1904	2,769	77.50%	552	15.45%	252	7.05%
1900	3,076	70.75%	1,081	24.86%	191	4.39%
1896	3,379	68.83%	1,407	28.66%	123	2.51%
1892	2,234	56.36%	1,310	33.05%	420	10.60%

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Lansing

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Mower County's land is divided into 20 townships that each contain 36 square miles (six miles on a side). Mower County is five townships wide (30 miles (48 km) west to east) and four townships from north to south (24 miles).