Winona County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 49,671. Its county seat is Winona. Winona County comprises the Winona Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

thumb|left|200px|[[Winona (legend)|Maiden's Rock, from which legend has it the Dakota maiden named Winona leapt to her death]]thumb|[[Winona County History Center]]

The Wisconsin Territory was established by the federal government effective July 3, 1836, and existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. The federal government set up the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. One of those counties, Wabasha, had its southern section partitioned off on March 5, 1853, into a new county, Fillmore. On February 23, 1854, the legislature partitioned the northern part of Fillmore County, plus a small section of Wabasha, to create Winona County, with the village of Winona as county seat. The county name was taken from the village name, which is said to derive from a Dakota legend about a woman, Winona (a relative of Chief Wabasha), who was betrothed to a warrior she did not love. Rather than marry him, she jumped to her death from a rock on Lake Pepin now called "Maiden's Rock". This is known as the Winona legend.

The county boundaries have not changed since 1854.

Geography

Winona County lies on Minnesota's border with Wisconsin and is part of the driftless area that defines southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois. The Mississippi, flowing south-southeast, defines the county's eastern border. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (St. Paul District) maintains the region's lock-and-dam system.

The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point at ASL on a hill east of Wilson. The county has an area of , of which is land and (2.4%) is water.

Winona County borders Wabasha County, Olmsted County, Fillmore County and Houston County.

Transit

  • Winona Transit Service
  • Jefferson Lines
  • Amtrak (Empire Builder)

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 90
  • 20px U.S. Highway 14
  • 20px U.S. Highway 61
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 43
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 74
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 76
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 248

Public airports

  • Winona Municipal Airport (ONA) (Max Conrad Field), NW of Winona

Adjacent counties

  • Wabasha County - northwest
  • Buffalo County, Wisconsin - north
  • Trempealeau County, Wisconsin - northeast
  • La Crosse County, Wisconsin - east
  • Houston County - south
  • Fillmore County - southwest
  • Olmsted County - west

Demographics