Map of Winona County, Minnesota

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, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Winona County overview:
Name:	Winona County
FIPS code:	27-169
State:	Minnesota
Founded:	February 23, 1854
Named for:	Winona (Native American)
Seat:	Winona
Largest city:	Winona
Total Area:	642 sq mi (1,660 km²)
Land Area:	626 sq mi (1,620 km²)
Total Population:	49,671
Population Density:	79.3/sq mi (30.6/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−6 (Central)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−5 (CDT)
Website:	www.co.winona.mn.us

Winona County location map. Where is Winona County?

Winona County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Winona County. — Location of Winona County in the the United States.

Winona County location on the Minnesota map. Where is Winona County. — Location of Winona County in Minnesota.

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. 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 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 remained unchanged since 1854.

Winona County Road Map

Winona CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Winona County, Minnesota. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Winona CountyMap — Winona Countypolitical map.

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 lock and dam system in this region.

The Whitewater River flows north-northeast through the northwest part of the county toward its discharge into the Mississippi just above Winona County. The eastern part of the county is drained into the Mississippi by east-flowing streams including Rollingstone Creek, Garvin Brook, Cedar Creek, and Big Trout Creek. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills with the east portion particularly etched by drainages, and lightly sprinkled with lakes. The land is devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point at 1,365′ (416m) ASL on a hill two miles (3 km) east of Wilson. The county has an area of 642 square miles (1,660 km), of which 626 square miles (1,620 km) is land and 15 square miles (39 km) (2.4%) is water.

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

Major highways

Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 14
U.S. Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 43
Minnesota State Highway 74
Minnesota State Highway 76
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

Protected areas

Great River Bluffs State Park
John A Latsch State Park
Richard John Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part)
Whitewater State Park
Whitewater State Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Callahan Unit
- McCarthy Ravine Unit
- South Branch Unit
- Upper South Branch Unit

Lakes

Airport Lake
Bartlet Lake
Bollers Lake
Hunters Lake
Lake Goodview
Lake Winona
Rileys Lake