Meeker County is a county in Minnesota, United States, in the west-central part of the state along the Crow River. It had a population of 23,400 at the 2020 census and covers 608 square miles (1,570 km2) of land centred near 45°07′N 94°32′W.
Litchfield is the county seat, and its postal code is 55355. The county has nine cities, seventeen civil townships, and several unincorporated communities. Meeker County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Meeker County
Meeker County has nine incorporated cities plus a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities. All nine cities are self-governing; the communities below have no separate municipal government and are served by their surrounding township.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | City · seat | Litchfield | — | 55355 |
| Dassel | City | Dassel | — | 55325 |
| Eden Valley | City | — | — | 55329 |
| Watkins | City | — | — | 55389 |
| Grove City | City | — | — | 56243 |
| Cosmos | City | Cosmos | — | 56228 |
| Darwin | City | Darwin | — | 55324 |
| Kingston | City | Kingston | — | — |
| Cedar Mills | City | Cedar Mills | — | — |
| Acton | Unincorp. | Acton | — | — |
| Beckville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Corvuso | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Crow River | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Forest City | Unincorp. | Forest City | — | — |
| Greenleaf | Unincorp. | Greenleaf | — | — |
| Jennie | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lamson | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Manannah | Unincorp. | Manannah | — | — |
| Rosendale | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Strout | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Eden Valley sits mostly in neighboring Stearns County, with only a small share of the city inside Meeker County. Manufactured-home parks that appear in older place listings (Litchfield MH Park, Watkins MH Park, Four Jays MH Park, North Side MH Park, Park Village MH Park, Evergreen MH Park, West View Terrace, Cosmos MH Park) are private residential developments rather than separately governed places and are omitted here.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | — | Litchfield |
| Dassel | — | Dassel |
| Acton | — | Acton |
| Cedar Mills | — | Cedar Mills |
| Collinwood | — | — |
| Cosmos | — | Cosmos |
| Danielson | — | — |
| Darwin | — | Darwin |
| Ellsworth | — | — |
| Forest City | — | Forest City |
| Forest Prairie | — | — |
| Greenleaf | — | Greenleaf |
| Harvey | — | — |
| Kingston | — | Kingston |
| Manannah | — | Manannah |
| Swede Grove | — | — |
| Union Grove | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 55355 — Litchfield (also serves Litchfield Township)
- 55325 — Dassel (also serves Dassel Township)
- 55329 — Eden Valley (also serves the Meeker County portion of the city)
- 55389 — Watkins
- 56243 — Grove City
- 56228 — Cosmos (also serves Cosmos Township)
- 55324 — Darwin (also serves Darwin Township)
Kingston and Cedar Mills share ZIP codes with neighboring post offices rather than carrying their own; unincorporated communities such as Acton, Manannah, Forest City and Greenleaf use the ZIP code of their nearest post town.
Geography
Meeker County’s terrain is low rolling hills, lightly wooded and dotted with lakes and ponds, with agriculture covering most of the available land. The land slopes to the south and east; the highest point, about 1,261 feet (384 m) above sea level, lies southwest of Lake Hope near Litchfield. Water makes up 37 square miles (96 km2) of the county’s 645 square miles (1,670 km2) total area, and the North Fork Crow River crosses the county from northwest to southeast.
Meeker County borders Stearns County to the north, Wright County to the east, McLeod County to the southeast, Renville County to the southwest, and Kandiyohi County to the west.
Demographics
Meeker County’s population was 23,400 at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 38.5 people per square mile. Litchfield is the largest city, followed by Dassel. Household income in the county trails the Minnesota median of $85,086, consistent with a rural, agriculture-driven economy rather than the metro job base that lifts statewide figures.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors Meeker County’s economy, with corn, soybeans, and dairy and hog operations dominating the countryside. Litchfield serves as the county’s commercial and government center, home to the county courthouse and Meeker Memorial Hospital. Manufacturing and food processing, including operations tied to Dassel and Litchfield, provide off-farm employment. The Meeker County Fair, held each summer in Litchfield, is the county’s largest annual gathering.
History
Meeker County was organized on February 23, 1856, and named for Bradley B. Meeker, a justice of the Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court from 1849 to 1853. The county is best known as the site of the Acton Incident of August 17, 1862, a killing near the community of Acton that is widely regarded as the spark that ignited the Dakota War of 1862. From 1915 to 1953, Meeker County voted itself “dry,” banning the legal sale of alcohol decades before national Prohibition ended.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 12 and Minnesota Highway 22 are the county’s main routes, crossing near Litchfield.
- Willmar — 25 miles west
- St. Cloud — 35 miles northeast
- Minneapolis — 65 miles southeast
- Hutchinson — 20 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, about 70 miles southeast of Litchfield.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Meeker County?
It is in west-central Minnesota, along the North Fork Crow River, between the St. Cloud and Willmar areas.
What is the population of Meeker County?
23,400 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Meeker County?
608 square miles (1,570 km2) of land, plus 37 square miles (96 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Meeker County?
Litchfield is the county seat.
How many towns are in Meeker County?
Nine incorporated cities, seventeen civil townships, and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Meeker County?
Litchfield uses 55355; other cities include Dassel (55325), Eden Valley (55329), Watkins (55389), Grove City (56243), Cosmos (56228), and Darwin (55324).
What sparked the Dakota War of 1862?
The Acton Incident, a killing near the Meeker County community of Acton on August 17, 1862, is widely cited as the event that triggered the war.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.