Mower County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Mower County | state = Minnesota | seal = | founded = February 20, 1855 (created) March 1, 1856 (organized) | seat wl = Austin | largest city wl = Austin | area_total_sq_mi = 711.5 | area_land_sq_mi = 711.3 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.2 | area percentage = 0.03 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 40029 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 40971 {{increase}} | pop_est_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mowercountyminnesota/PST045225 |access-date=March 30, 2026|title=QuickFacts|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> | density_sq_mi = 57.6 | time zone = Central | web = www.co.mower.mn.us | named for = John Edward Mower | ex image = MowerCountyMNCourthouse2008.JPG | ex image cap = Mower County Courthouse in Austin | district = 1st }}

'''Mower County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|aʊ|.|ər}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |title=Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-87351-396-7 |edition=3rd |page=385}}</ref> is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,029.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mowercountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The county seat is Austin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 18, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}}</ref> The new county was named for John Edward Mower, a member of the territorial legislature.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n378  Upham, Warren. ''Minnesota Geographic Names'' (1920), p. 359 (accessed May 3, 2019)]</ref>

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.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/historyofmowerco00curt The History of Mower County (pp. 44-56). Accessed May 3, 2019.]</ref>

==Geography== thumb|right|Soils of Mower County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref> 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.<ref name="MCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mower+County,+MN/@42.9376912,-92.612265,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f0b7c29c66cc7b:0xb5b9b046a312f1ef!8m2!3d43.6824988!4d-92.6983868 Mower County MN Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east and south from an elevated center ridge running west–east,<ref>{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Mower County MN" Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> with its highest point {{convert|1.6|mi|km}} east of Elkton, at {{convert|1,440|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=6409 Mower County High Point, Minnesota PeakBagger.com (accessed May 3, 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|712|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|711|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}} (0.03%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===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=== {{div col}} * {{jct|state=MN|I|90}} * {{jct|state=MN|BL|90|dab1=Austin}} * {{jct|state=MN|US|63}} * {{jct|state=MN|US|218}} * 20px Minnesota State Highway 16 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 56 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 105 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 251 {{div col end}}

===Airports=== * Austin Municipal Airport (AUM) - east of Austin

===Adjacent counties=== {{div col}} * 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 {{div col end}}

===Protected areas=== Source:<ref name=MCM/> {{div col}} * Lake Louise State Park * Larson State Wildlife Management Area * Red Cedar State Wildlife Management Area * Rose State Wildlife Management Area {{div col end}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1860= 3217 |1870= 10447 |1880= 16799 |1890= 18019 |1900= 22335 |1910= 22640 |1920= 25993 |1930= 28065 |1940= 36113 |1950= 42277 |1960= 48498 |1970= 44919 |1980= 40390 |1990= 37385 |2000= 38603 |2010= 39163 |2020= 40029 |estyear=2025 |estimate=40971 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 30, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census:<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 21, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref name="QF" /> | align = right }}

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

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Mower County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Minnesota - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_mnABC-02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=13-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094943/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_mnABC-02.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022|via= Wayback Machine}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Minnesota: Table 4-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-25.pdf|access-date=|page=17-79|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260424191904/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-25.pdf|via= Wayback Machine| archive-date=April 24, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mower County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US27099&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mower County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US27099&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mower County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US27099&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |39,969 |36,728 |35,884 |32,975 |style='background: #ffffe6; |29,804 |98.96% |98.24% |92.96% |84.20% |style='background: #ffffe6; |74.46% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |36 |67 |206 |791 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,613 |0.09% |0.18% |0.53% |2.02% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.03% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |26 |50 |51 |62 |style='background: #ffffe6; |57 |0.06% |0.13% |0.13% |0.16% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14% |- |Asian alone (NH) |120 |290 |564 |636 |style='background: #ffffe6; |2,052 |0.30% |0.78% |1.46% |1.62% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.13% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |2 |36 |style='background: #ffffe6; |255 |x |x |0.01% |0.09% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.64% |- |Other race alone (NH) |60 |2 |24 |30 |style='background: #ffffe6; |123 |0.15% |0.01% |0.06% |0.08% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |226 |495 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,044 |x |x |0.59% |1.26% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.61% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |179 |248 |1,646 |4,138 |style='background: #ffffe6; |5,081 |0.44% |0.66% |4.26% |10.57% |style='background: #ffffe6; |12.69% |- |'''Total''' |'''40,390''' |'''37,385''' |'''38,603''' |'''39,163''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''40,029 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,029. The median age was 38.5 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A099&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 30, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A099&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 30, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 77.0% White, 4.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.2% Asian, 0.6% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.3% from some other race, and 6.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.7% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

63.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.3% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A099&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 30, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 15,700 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.3% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 16,928 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.6% were owner-occupied and 26.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census=== [[File:MowerCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|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 {{convert|54.3|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.9|/mi2|/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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Board of Commissioners | Mower County, MN |url=https://www.co.mower.mn.us/200/County-Board-of-Commissioners}}</ref>

* 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County winners, 1836-2016 |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZmDRzvm83BYurKX7LsrET-C7tcIsE5Em42Wt-gTydXk/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=January 10, 2021 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}</ref> 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. In 2024, Trump increased his vote share again, winning the county by double digits and having the best performance for a Republican since 1928.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422114344/https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-date=2025-04-22 |url-status=live|title=2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate|last=Simon|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Simon|date=November 21, 2024|work=Minnesota Secretary of State|access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+State Legislature (2025-2027) ! colspan="2" |Position !Name !Affiliation !District |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | |Senate |Gene Dornink<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stultz |first=Sarah |date=November 5, 2020 |title=Senator Gene Dornink |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1250 |access-date=December 14, 2025 |website=www.senate.mn}}</ref> |Republican |District 23 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | |House of Representatives |Peggy Bennett<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Peggy Bennett (23A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15430 |access-date=December 14, 2025 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}</ref> |Republican |District 23A |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | |House of Representatives |Patricia Mueller<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Patricia Mueller |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15561 |access-date=December 14, 2025 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us |language=en}}</ref> |Republican |District 23B |} {| class="wikitable" |+U.S Congress (2025-2027) ! colspan="2" |Position !Name !Affiliation !District |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | |House of Representatives |Brad Finstad<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2022 |title=Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3598486-republican-rep-brad-finstad-sworn-in-to-finish-hagedorns-house-term/}}</ref> |Republican |1st |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | |Senate |Amy Klobuchar<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=www.klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref> |Democrat |N/A |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | |Senate |Tina Smith<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=Senator Tina Smith |language=en}}</ref> |Democrat |N/A |} {{PresHead|place=Mower County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,234|1,310|420|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,379|1,407|123|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,076|1,081|191|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,769|552|252|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,629|1,206|308|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,321|1,228|1,628|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,520|1,572|148|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,339|1,061|325|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,061|564|3,463|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,209|3,587|46|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,005|6,421|173|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,743|8,228|516|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|7,169|7,988|60|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|6,588|7,199|48|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|5,672|9,468|161|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,862|8,551|138|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,570|9,219|101|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|11,040|9,961|67|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,510|13,573|57|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|7,736|11,022|728|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1972|Democratic|9,929|10,286|315|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|8,163|12,837|487|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|7,908|10,538|1,879|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1984|Democratic|8,054|12,498|95|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|6,969|11,893|163|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,147|9,935|5,128|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4,994|10,413|2,656|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|6,873|10,693|914|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|7,591|12,334|297|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|7,075|11,605|507|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|6,938|11,129|472|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,823|7,437|1,455|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,025|8,899|421|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|10,297|8,312|360|Minnesota}} {{PresFoot}}

==Communities== ===Cities=== {{div col|colwidth=15em}} * Adams * Austin (county seat) * Brownsdale * Dexter * Elkton * Grand Meadow * Le Roy * Lyle * Mapleview * Racine * Rose Creek * Sargeant * Taopi * Waltham {{div col end}}

===Census-designated place=== * Lansing

===Unincorporated communities=== {{div col}} * Andyville * Corning (part) * Johnsburg * Mayville * Nicolville * Ramsey * Renova * Varco {{div col end}}

===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 ({{convert|30|mi|km}} west to east) and four townships from north to south (24 miles). {{div col|colwidth=15em}} * Adams * Austin * Bennington * Clayton * Dexter * Frankford * Grand Meadow * Lansing * Le Roy * Lodi * Lyle * Marshall * Nevada * Pleasant Valley * Racine * Red Rock * Sargeant * Udolpho * Waltham * Windom {{div col end}}

==References== <references/>

===Further reading=== * {{Cite book |last=History Committee (Mower County, Minn.) |title=Mill on the willow: a history of Mower County, Minnesota |date=1984 |publisher=History Committee |location=Mower County MN}}

==External links== * [http://www.co.mower.mn.us/ Mower County Official Page] * [http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnmower/ Mower County Genealogy] * [http://www.mowercountyfair.com/ Mower County Fair]

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Mower County, Minnesota |North = Dodge County |Northeast = Olmsted County |East = Fillmore County |Southeast = Howard County, Iowa |South = Mitchell County, Iowa |Southwest = Worth County, Iowa |West = Freeborn County |Northwest = Steele County }}

{{Mower County, Minnesota}} {{Minnesota}} {{authority control}} {{coord|43.67|-92.75|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Mower County, Minnesota Category:Minnesota counties Category:1855 establishments in Minnesota Territory Category:Populated places established in 1855