Olmsted County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population is 162,847. Its county seat and most populous city is Rochester.
Olmsted County is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.
| Name: | Olmsted County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 27-109 |
| State: | Minnesota |
| Founded: | February 20, 1855 |
| Named for: | David Olmsted |
| Seat: | Rochester |
| Largest city: | Rochester |
| Total Area: | 655 sq mi (1,700 km²) |
| Land Area: | 653 sq mi (1,690 km²) |
| Total Population: | 162,847 |
| Population Density: | 249/sq mi (96/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−6 (Central) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website: | www.olmstedcounty.gov |
Olmsted County location map. Where is Olmsted County?
History
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. Therefore, 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 original counties, Wabasha, had portions partitioned off in 1853 to create Fillmore and Rice counties. Then on February 20, 1855, portions of Rice, Wabasha, and Fillmore counties were partitioned off to create the present county, with Rochester (which was also platted that year) as county seat. The county name recognized David Olmsted (1822-1861), a member of the first territorial council and the first mayor of St. Paul.
The county boundaries have remained unchanged since 1855.
Olmsted County Road Map
Geography
Olmsted County is a fairly unusual mix of urban and rural areas in that there’s no transition or buffer between the two environments. Rochester, Minnesota’s third largest city of roughly 118,000 people, sits in the Zumbro River valley at the center of the county. Outside the valley however, with the exception of a small amount of urban growth in the last few years, remains farmland with small agricultural based communities and no directly adjacent suburbs. Stewartville, the county’s second largest city, is slightly over 1/20th the size at roughly 6,000 people, an unusually large gap for a metropolitan area.
Olmsted County is drained by three rivers, all flowing to the Mississippi. The Zumbro River flows northward through the west central part of the county, into Wabasha County. The Whitewater flows northeast from the northeast part of the county into Winona County, and the Root flows east-southeastward through the lower part of the county into Fillmore County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched by drainage gullies and marked by occasional buttes. The available area is devoted to agriculture or is developed for other productive uses. The county terrain slopes to the east and north, and its highest point is a hill 7.5 miles (12 km) west of Stewartville, at 1,380′ (421m) ASL. The county has a total area of 655 square miles (1,700 km), of which 653 square miles (1,690 km) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km) (0.2%) is water.
It is one of four counties in Minnesota that does not have any natural lakes (the other three being Mower, Pipestone, and Rock).
Transit
- Jefferson Lines
- Rochester Public Transit
Major highways
- Interstate 90
- U.S. Highway 14
- U.S. Highway 52
- U.S. Highway 63
- Minnesota State Highway 30
- Minnesota State Highway 42
- Minnesota State Highway 74
- Minnesota State Highway 247
- Olmsted County Highway 22
Airports
- Mid-Continent Airport
- Rochester International Airport (RST)
Adjacent counties
- Wabasha County – north
- Winona County – east
- Fillmore County – south
- Mower County – southwest
- Dodge County – west
- Goodhue County – northwest
Protected areas
- Chester Woods Park
- High Forest Wildlife Management Area
- Keller Wildlife Management Area
- Marian Marshall Wildlife Management Area
- Nelson Fen Wildlife Management Area
- Oronoco Scientific and Natural Area
- Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
- Root River Park
- Schumann State Wildlife Management Area
- Suess State Wildlife Management Area
- Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (part)
Lakes
Though Olmsted County does not have any natural lakes, it does have six reservoirs created by dams:
- Chester Lake: Eyota Township
- Lake Florence: High Forest Township
- Lake George: Rochester Township
- Mayowood Lake: Rochester Township
- Silver Lake: Haverhill Township and Cascade Township
- Lake Zumbro (part): Oronoco Township
Olmsted County Topographic Map
Olmsted County Satellite Map
Olmsted County Outline Map
