# Steele County, Minnesota

Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,406. Its county seat is Owatonna.
Steele County comprises the Owatonna Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

The county was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature on February 20, 1855, using areas partitioned from Rice, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties. Owatonna, the settlement of which had commenced in 1854, was named the county seat. The county was named for Franklin Steele, a prominent early resident of the territory.

## Geography

The Straight River rises in Freeborn County and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing into Rice County on the north. The South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in Steele County and flows eastward into Dodge County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages, completely devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the midpoint of its south border, at 1,293 ft (394 m) ASL. The county has an area of 432 square miles (1,120 km$^2$), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km$^2$) are land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km$^2$) (0.6%) are water.
The Straight River flows northward through the county, and the Le Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in NE Steele County.

### Transit

* Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

### Major highways

* Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes Medford, Clinton Falls, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale.
* U.S. Route 14 – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna.
* U.S. Route 218 – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna.
* Minnesota State Highway 30 – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.

### Airports

* Owatonna Degner Regional Airport (OWA) - northwest of Owatonna

### Adjacent counties

* Rice – north
* Dodge – east
* Mower – southeast
* Freeborn – south
* Waseca – west

### Protected areas

* Aurora State Wildlife Management Area
* Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area
* Rice Lake State Park
* Somerset State Wildlife Management Area
* Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area

### Lakes

* Beaver
* Fosilen
* Kohlmeier
* Lonergan
* Oak Glen
* Rice (part)
* Rickert
* Swan

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Steele County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 31,376 | 83.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,359 | 3.63% |
| Native American (NH) | 65 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 330 | 0.9% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 18 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,118 | 3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,140 | 8.4% |

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. The population density was 78.3 per square mile (30.2/km$^2$). There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 30.9 per square mile (11.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.19% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.6% were of German, 18.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Czech and 5.1% Irish ancestry.
There were 12,846 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.
The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $53,981. Males had a median income of $36,366 versus $25,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,328. About 4.20% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Blooming Prairie (partly in Dodge County)
* Ellendale
* Medford
* Owatonna (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

* Bixby
* Clinton Falls
* Deerfield
* Havana
* Hope
* Lemond
* Litomysl
* Meriden
* Merton
* Moland
* Pratt
* Saco
* Steele Center

### Ghost town

* Rice Lake

### Townships

* Aurora
* Berlin
* Blooming Prairie
* Clinton Falls
* Deerfield
* Havana
* Lemond
* Medford
* Meriden
* Merton
* Owatonna
* Somerset
* Summit

## Politics

Steele County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
State Legislature (2021-2023) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| Senate | John Jasinski | Republican | District 24 |
| Senate | Gene Dornink | Republican | District 27 |
| House of Representatives | John Petersburg | Republican | District 24A |
| House of Representatives | Brian Daniels | Republican | District 24A |
U.S Congress (2021-2023) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| House of Representatives | Brad Finstad | Republican | 1st |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat | |
| Senate | Tina Smith | Democrat | |
United States presidential election results for Steele County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 12,742 | 61.05% | 7,650 | 36.65% | 480 | 2.30% |
| 2020 | 12,656 | 59.90% | 7,917 | 37.47% | 555 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | 11,198 | 58.39% | 6,241 | 32.54% | 1,740 | 9.07% |
| 2012 | 9,903 | 51.78% | 8,706 | 45.52% | 515 | 2.69% |
| 2008 | 10,068 | 51.22% | 9,016 | 45.87% | 572 | 2.91% |
| 2004 | 10,389 | 55.57% | 7,994 | 42.76% | 312 | 1.67% |
| 2000 | 8,223 | 51.18% | 6,900 | 42.95% | 943 | 5.87% |
| 1996 | 5,617 | 37.54% | 6,974 | 46.61% | 2,373 | 15.86% |
| 1992 | 5,964 | 37.77% | 5,152 | 32.63% | 4,673 | 29.60% |
| 1988 | 7,981 | 58.64% | 5,496 | 40.38% | 133 | 0.98% |
| 1984 | 8,780 | 63.12% | 5,060 | 36.38% | 70 | 0.50% |
| 1980 | 7,805 | 54.66% | 5,095 | 35.68% | 1,379 | 9.66% |
| 1976 | 7,053 | 51.68% | 6,263 | 45.89% | 331 | 2.43% |
| 1972 | 7,678 | 64.69% | 4,010 | 33.79% | 180 | 1.52% |
| 1968 | 6,193 | 55.34% | 4,631 | 41.39% | 366 | 3.27% |
| 1964 | 4,882 | 44.63% | 6,022 | 55.05% | 35 | 0.32% |
| 1960 | 6,795 | 60.13% | 4,491 | 39.74% | 15 | 0.13% |
| 1956 | 6,435 | 65.91% | 3,293 | 33.73% | 36 | 0.37% |
| 1952 | 6,956 | 70.95% | 2,819 | 28.75% | 29 | 0.30% |
| 1948 | 4,451 | 50.49% | 4,305 | 48.83% | 60 | 0.68% |
| 1944 | 4,760 | 58.90% | 3,307 | 40.92% | 15 | 0.19% |
| 1940 | 5,517 | 59.97% | 3,668 | 39.87% | 14 | 0.15% |
| 1936 | 3,373 | 41.01% | 4,481 | 54.49% | 370 | 4.50% |
| 1932 | 3,365 | 43.20% | 4,318 | 55.43% | 107 | 1.37% |
| 1928 | 4,744 | 62.46% | 2,826 | 37.21% | 25 | 0.33% |
| 1924 | 3,598 | 59.50% | 796 | 13.16% | 1,653 | 27.34% |
| 1920 | 4,243 | 76.45% | 1,167 | 21.03% | 140 | 2.52% |
| 1916 | 1,734 | 52.20% | 1,497 | 45.06% | 91 | 2.74% |
| 1912 | 651 | 20.34% | 1,294 | 40.44% | 1,255 | 39.22% |
| 1908 | 1,899 | 57.11% | 1,284 | 38.62% | 142 | 4.27% |
| 1904 | 2,095 | 63.43% | 1,067 | 32.30% | 141 | 4.27% |
| 1900 | 1,833 | 58.32% | 1,188 | 37.80% | 122 | 3.88% |
| 1896 | 2,046 | 59.41% | 1,248 | 36.24% | 150 | 4.36% |
| 1892 | 1,396 | 48.71% | 1,299 | 45.32% | 171 | 5.97% |