Windom, Minnesota

**Windom** is a city in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States.  The population was 4,798 at the 2020 census.  It is the county seat of Cottonwood County.

Windom is a small farming town.  It also has many parks including one with a disc golf course.  The Des Moines River flows through Windom and some people canoe there.

## History

The city was named for William Windom, who was a United States Senator from Minnesota from 1881–1883, and was United States Secretary of the Treasury under presidents James Garfield, Chester Arthur and Benjamin Harrison.

## Geography

Windom is located at  (43.866346, -95.116937). It is  above sea level. The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.0 km²).  4.1 square miles (10.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (3.8%) is water.

## Politics

Windom is located in Minnesota's 7th congressional district, represented by Michelle Fischbach, a Republican. At the state level, Windom is located in Senate District 21, represented by Republican Bill Weber, and in House District 21B, represented by Republican Marj Fogelman.

## Transportation

U.S. Highway 71, Minnesota Highway 60, and  Minnesota Highway 62 are three of the main routes in the city.

## Industry

Windom is home to one of 8 Toro manufacturing facilities.  It is also the home to Big Game Treestands.

## Communications

The local paper is the _Cottonwood County Citizen_.http://www.windomnews.com
The local radio station is KDOM Radio.http://www.kdomradio.com/

## Education

Windom is home to three schools: Windom Area Middle/High School, Winfair Elementary School, and Red Rock Ridge ALC.  It is also home to two preschools: Busy Bees and Sunshine School.

### Windom Area Middle/High School

Windom Area Middle/High School is home to students grade 4-12 due to renovations in 2003.  There are roughly 300 students attending the high school (grades 9-12) and 350 attending the middle school (grades 4-10).  The school is led by Principal Eric Hanson and Superintendent Wayne Wormstadt.

##### Sports

- Football home of Top Minnesota recruits Michael Rivera and Tent Bever
- Volleyball - State Champions in 2008, State Runner up in 2007 2013 section 2A champs
- Cross Country - Boys and Girls- John Curley and Emily Turner, State Participants, 2010 (800 meter dash winner 7th grade John Turner)
- Basketball- Boys and Girls Hoops that Like to throw Alley-oops. Stepping stone to Intermural glory.
- Gymnastics-voted all state academics 12 years running
- Wrestling- Jeff Stuckenbroker, Nick Kulseth, A.J. Stevens, Drake Borsgard, Joe Fischenich, Billy Hochstein, Sam Fischenich, and Wyatt Stevens have all been state place winners.
- Golf - State Runner-up in 2008 lead by Jordan Higley.
- Lacrosse established in 2008 coached by Johnathan Smith who has a 21-46 career record star players have been Sean Mcgire, Phillip Symens, and Nolan Jones.
- Tennis only all state player in school history Brendon Chester

##### Arts

- Band
- Stage Band
- Choir
- Pop Group
- Flags and Rifles
- Fall Musical
- Winter Play
- Mass Media

##### Academics

- Knowledge Bowl State Participants in 3 successive years 2009, 2010, and 2011
- YES! Team
- Speech-Many state participants, including Morgan Potter, State Champion in Prose
- FFA
- Student Senate

### Riverfest

Windom holds an annual summer festival called _Riverfest_ during the second weekend of June.  A pageant corresponds to this celebration which crowns a Miss Riverfest, a First Runner-Up, Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and a Little Miss Riverfest.  Other activities in this weekend celebration include: fireworks, Vickie Schendel 5K Walk/Run, tennis tourney, fishing tourney, turtle races, kiddie tractor pull, street dance, grand parade, and many more.

### Winter-River-Fest

In February 2011 Windom started a new festival dubbed "Winter-River-Fest."  Activities included a chili feed, open fires, dodge ball, snow sculpting, and the Darn Cold Croquet Contest.

## Notable natives

- Maria Schneider - Composer
- Johnny Olson - Gameshow announcer
- Larry Buhler - Professional football player

## References

- Brown, John A.  _History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota: Their People, Industries, and Institutions._  B.F. Bowen & Co.: Indianapolis, 1916.

## Other websites

- City of Windom
- Windom Community Guide

## Infobox (settlement)

- **official name**: Windom, Minnesota
- **settlement type**: City
- **image skyline**: Downtown Windom MN.JPG
- **imagesize**: 275px
- **image caption**: Shops in downtown Windom
- **image map**: Cottonwood_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Windom_Highlighted.svg
- **mapsize**: 250px
- **map caption**: Location of Windom
within Cottonwood County, Minnesota
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: United States
- **subdivision type1**: U.S. state, State
- **subdivision name1**: Minnesota
- **subdivision type2**: List of counties in Minnesota, County
- **subdivision name2**: Cottonwood County, Minnesota, Cottonwood
- **government type**: Mayor–council government, Mayor–council
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **established title**: Platted
- **established date**: June 20, 1871
- **established title1**: Municipal corporation, Incorporated
- **established date1**: April 15, 1875
- **unit pref**: Imperial
- **area total km2**: 11.03
- **area land km2**: 10.61
- **area water km2**: 0.42
- **area total sq mi**: 4.26
- **area land sq mi**: 4.09
- **area water sq mi**: 0.16
- **population as of**: 2020 United States census, 2020
- **population total**: 4798
- **population density km2**: 452.38
- **population density sq mi**: 1171.67
- **timezone**: Central Time Zone, Central (CST)
- **utc offset**: –6
- **timezone dst**: CDT
- **utc offset dst**: –5
- **elevation m**: 414
- **elevation ft**: 1358
- **postal code type**: ZIP Code
- **postal code**: 56101
- **area code**: Area code 507, 507
- **blank name**: Federal Information Processing Standards, FIPS code
- **blank info**: 27-70798
- **blank1 name**: Geographic Names Information System, GNIS feature ID
- **blank1 info**: 2397339