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Le Sueur County, Minnesota
2009-0805-MN-116-LeCenter-CtyCrtJail
Le Sueur County Courthouse and Jail
Map of Minnesota highlighting Le Sueur County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the U.S
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded March 5, 1853[1]
Named for Pierre-Charles Le Sueur
Seat Le Center
Largest city Le Sueur
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

474 sq mi (1,228 km²)
449 sq mi (1,163 km²)
25 sq mi (65 km²), 5.3%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

28,674
63.9/sq mi (25/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.le-sueur.mn.us

Le Sueur County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,674.[2] Its county seat is Le Center.[3]

Le Sueur County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

The Minnesota Territory legislature established several counties in 1853. This county was created on March 5 of that year. It was named for French explorer Pierre-Charles Le Sueur, who visited the area in 1700.[4]

The settlement of Le Sueur (actually two competing settlements, Le Sueur and Le Sueur City) had sprung up on the east bank of the Minnesota River, both being platted in 1852. The legislature named the combined area as the first county seat. However, its remoteness from most of the county meant hardship for most of the area's residents since the county was covered with dense hardwood forest and existing roads were impassable when wet.

Several efforts were made to acquire a more central location. In the early 1870s, Cleveland (established in 1857, inland from the river in the SW part of the county) held a referendum to become the county seat. The referendum passed, but was challenged due to voting irregularities. In 1875 another referendum made Cleveland the county seat (1875-1876). In 1876, another referendum approved moving the seat to the newly created town of Le Sueur Center; the seat was promptly moved there.[5] In the 1870s, businessmen from Waterville gained ownership of a quarter-section of land near the county's center, cleared the timber, and platted the city of Le Sueur Center (1876). The seat was moved there after a county referendum approved it. The county seat has remained in Le Sueur Center (renamed Le Center in 1930) since 1876.

The first railroad entered the county in 1867. This began the era of greater access and mobility. The first purpose-built courthouse in Le Sueur Center was constructed in 1896–7. It has been extensively remodeled and enlarged two times since.[6]File:Le Sueur Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

Geography[]

The Minnesota River flows northeastward along the west border of Le Sueur County, on its way to discharge into the Mississippi. The terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds. The soil is rich and black.[6][8] The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near the midpoint of its east border, at 1,145' (349m) ASL.[9] The county has an area of 474 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 449 square miles (1,160 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (5.3%) is water.[10] Le Sueur is one of seven Minnesota savanna region counties where no forest soils exist and one of 17 counties where savanna soils dominate. File:Sakatah Lake State Park Native Vegetation Wiki Version.pdf

Lakes[]

The following lakes are partially or completely within Le Sueur County:[8]

  • Borer Lake
  • Bossuot Lake
  • Clear Lake
  • Decker Lake
  • Diamond Lake
  • Dietz Lake
  • Dog Lake
  • Dora Lake
  • Eggert Lake
  • Ely Lake
  • Emily Lake
  • Fish Lake
  • German Lake
  • Goldsmith Lake
  • Goose Lake (Cordova Township)
  • Goose Lake (Waterville Township)
  • Gorman Lake
  • Greenleaf Lake
  • Harkridge Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake (part)
  • Huoy Lake
  • Lake Emily
  • Lake Frances
  • Lake Henry
  • Lake Jefferson
  • Lake Mabel
  • Lake Pepin
  • Lake Sanborn
  • Lake Tustin
  • Lake Volney
  • Lake Washington
  • Mareks Lake
  • Mary Lake
  • Mud Lake (Cordova Township)
  • Mud Lake (Lanesburgh Township)
  • Mud Lake (Lexington Township)
  • North Goldsmith Lake
  • Perch Lake
  • Rays Lake
  • Rice Lake
  • Roemhildts Lake
  • Round Lake
  • Sabre Lake
  • Sakatah Lake (part)
  • Sanborn Lake
  • Sasse Lake
  • Savidge Lake
  • School Lake
  • Scotch Lake
  • Shanghai Lake
  • Sheas Lake
  • Silver Lake (Cleveland Township)
  • Silver Lake (Elysian Township)
  • Sleepy Eye Lake
  • Steele Lake
  • Sunfish Lake
  • Tetonka Lake (headwaters of Cannon River)
  • Thomas Lake
  • Tyler Lake

Protected areas[]

The following protected areas are within Le Sueur County:[8]

  • Bardel State Wildlife Management Area
  • Chadderdon State Wildlife Management Area
  • Chamberlain Woods Scientific and Natural Area
  • Diamond Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Ottawa State Wildlife Management Area
  • Paddy Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
  • Saint Thomas State Wildlife Management Area
  • Sakatah Lake State Park (part)
  • Seven Mile Creek State Park (part)
  • Shanghai State Wildlife Area
  • Sheas Lake State Wildlife Area

Major highways[]

  • US 169 (MN) US Highway 169
  • MN-13 Minnesota State Highway 13
  • MN-19 Minnesota State Highway 19
  • MN-21 Minnesota State Highway 21
  • MN-22 Minnesota State Highway 22
  • MN-60 Minnesota State Highway 60
  • MN-93 Minnesota State Highway 93
  • MN-99 Minnesota State Highway 99
  • List of county roads

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1860 5,318
1870 11,607 118.3%
1880 16,303 40.5%
1890 19,057 16.9%
1900 20,234 6.2%
1910 18,609 −8.0%
1920 17,870 −4.0%
1930 17,990 0.7%
1940 19,227 6.9%
1950 19,088 −0.7%
1960 19,906 4.3%
1970 21,331 7.2%
1980 23,434 9.9%
1990 23,929 2.1%
2000 25,426 6.3%
2010 27,703 9.0%
Est. 2021 28,841 [11] 13.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]
USA Le Sueur County, Minnesota age pyramid

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census, the county had 25,426 people, 9,630 households, and 6,923 families. The population density was 56.6/sqmi (21.9/km2). There were 10,858 housing units at an average density of 24.2/sqmi (9.34/km2). The county's racial makeup was 96.56% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.02% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 3.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.9% were of German, 9.0% Czech, 9.0% Norwegian and 8.2% Irish ancestry. 94.0% spoke English, 3.5% Spanish and 1.7% Czech as their first language.

There were 9,630 households, of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

27.40% of the county's population was under age 18, 7.50% was from age 18 to 24, 27.80% was from age 25 to 44, 23.20% was from age 45 to 64, and 14.10% were age 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The country's median household income was $45,933, and the median family income was $53,000. Males had a median income of $34,196 versus $24,214 for females. The county's per capita income was $20,151. About 4.80% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census[]

Le Sueur County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 25,463 88.8%
Black or African American (NH) 262 0.9%
Native American (NH) 67 0.2%
Asian (NH) 134 0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH) 20 0.06%
Other/Mixed (NH) 856 3%
Hispanic or Latino 1,872 6.5%

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Cleveland
  • Elysian (partial)
  • Heidelberg
  • Kasota
  • Le Center (county seat)
  • Le Sueur (partial)
  • Kilkenny
  • Mankato (partial)
  • Montgomery
  • New Prague (partial)
  • Waterville

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Cordova
  • Greenland
  • Henderson Station
  • Lexington
  • Marysburg (partial)
  • Ottawa
  • St. Henry
  • St. Thomas
  • Union Hill (partial)

Former communities[]

Townships[]

  • Cleveland Township
  • Cordova Township
  • Derrynane Township
  • Elysian Township
  • Kasota Township
  • Kilkenny Township
  • Lanesburgh Township
  • Lexington Township
  • Montgomery Township
  • Ottawa Township
  • Sharon Township
  • Tyrone Township
  • Washington Township
  • Waterville Township

Politics[]

Le Sueur County residents usually vote Republican. In 78% of national elections since 1980, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Le Sueur County, Minnesota[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 10,775 64.07% 5,672 33.73% 371 2.21%
2016 9,182 61.33% 4,623 30.88% 1,166 7.79%
2012 7,715 52.15% 6,753 45.64% 327 2.21%
2008 7,636 50.88% 6,994 46.60% 379 2.53%
2004 7,746 53.70% 6,466 44.83% 212 1.47%
2000 6,138 49.78% 5,361 43.48% 832 6.75%
1996 3,902 34.81% 5,457 48.68% 1,850 16.50%
1992 3,858 32.27% 4,662 39.00% 3,434 28.73%
1988 5,415 49.57% 5,410 49.52% 100 0.92%
1984 6,033 54.10% 5,070 45.47% 48 0.43%
1980 5,478 47.12% 5,161 44.40% 986 8.48%
1976 4,565 40.11% 6,556 57.60% 260 2.28%
1972 5,388 52.50% 4,725 46.04% 149 1.45%
1968 4,189 43.72% 5,094 53.17% 298 3.11%
1964 3,191 34.22% 6,117 65.60% 17 0.18%
1960 4,426 45.77% 5,234 54.13% 10 0.10%
1956 5,026 58.45% 3,556 41.35% 17 0.20%
1952 5,776 63.19% 3,348 36.63% 16 0.18%
1948 3,858 43.70% 4,890 55.39% 80 0.91%
1944 4,560 57.24% 3,358 42.15% 49 0.62%
1940 5,543 59.52% 3,750 40.27% 20 0.21%
1936 2,849 32.14% 5,077 57.27% 939 10.59%
1932 2,121 26.19% 5,878 72.57% 101 1.25%
1928 3,401 42.23% 4,615 57.30% 38 0.47%
1924 2,475 38.19% 1,199 18.50% 2,807 43.31%
1920 4,059 66.22% 1,853 30.23% 218 3.56%
1916 1,430 43.89% 1,723 52.89% 105 3.22%
1912 886 24.93% 1,488 41.87% 1,180 33.20%
1908 1,819 47.86% 1,699 44.70% 283 7.45%
1904 2,086 59.19% 1,251 35.50% 187 5.31%
1900 1,941 49.02% 1,858 46.92% 161 4.07%
1896 2,235 51.16% 2,003 45.85% 131 3.00%
1892 1,465 39.73% 1,821 49.39% 401 10.88%



See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Le Sueur County, Minnesota

References[]

  1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm. 
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Le Sueur County, Minnesota" (in en). United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lesueurcountyminnesota/PST045221. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 185. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  5. ^ Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names, pp. 300-302 (1920). Accessed 16 March 2019
  6. ^ a b County History (accessed 16 March 2019)
  7. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011)."Savanna Soils of Minnesota."Minnesota:Self.pp43 - 48.ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2
  8. ^ a b c Le Sueur County MN Google Maps (accessed March 16, 2019)
  9. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Le Sueur County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 16, 2019)". https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm. 
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt. 
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt. 
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Le Sueur County, Minnesota". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Le%20Sueur%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  17. ^ Okaman Cemetery MN Google Maps (accessed March 16, 2019)
  18. ^ Minnesota Geographic Names, p. 303 (accessed March 16, 2019)
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 44°22′N 93°44′W / 44.37, -93.73


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Le Sueur County, Minnesota. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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