Cottonwood County, Minnesota
| Cottonwood County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Location in the U.S. state of Minnesota |
|
 Minnesota's location in the U.S. |
|
| Founded | May 23, 1857 (created) 1870 (organized) |
| Named for | Cottonwood River |
| Seat | Windom |
| Largest city | Windom |
| Area | |
| • Total | 649 sq mi (1,681 km2) |
| • Land | 639 sq mi (1,655 km2) |
| • Water | 10 sq mi (26 km2), 1.5% |
| Population (est.) | |
| • (2015) | 11,549 |
| • Density | 18/sq mi (7/km²) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 7th |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www |
Cottonwood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,687. Its county seat is Windom. The county was formed in 1857 and organized in 1870.
Cottonwood County was established May 23, 1857 and formally organized on July 29, 1870. It was named after the Cottonwood River - a translation of the Dakota Sioux name, "Waraju" - which runs through the northeast corner of Germantown Township. The river received its name from the abundance of cottonwood trees on its banks.
Minnesota Governor Austin appointed three county commissioners when the county was established. They met at a private home about six miles northwest of Windom on the Des Moines River at Big Bend. During this meeting, they designated the commissioners districts and changed various county officers. In the fall of 1870, the first general election was held. The first deed on record was filed on January 10, 1870. The first land assessments were made in 1871, and in 1872, the first taxes were paid.
The city of Windom was declared the county seat in the 1872 general election and a proclamation was signed by the governor.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 649 square miles (1,680 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is water.
The northeast part of the county drains north to the Minnesota River through numerous small creeks, the Cottonwood River and Watonwan River. The southwest part of the county drains south through the Des Moines River. These two watersheds come together at the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa. Most wetlands in the county have been drained for agricultural use.
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