Wabasha County is a county in Minnesota, United States, along the Mississippi River in the state’s southeastern corner. It had a population of 21,387 at the 2020 census and covers 523 square miles (1,350 km2) of land centred near 44°17′N 92°14′W.
Wabasha is the county seat and its postal code is 55981. The county has 11 incorporated cities and 13 unincorporated communities spread across 18 civil townships. Wabasha County sits in the Central time zone and is part of the Rochester metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Wabasha County
Minnesota law incorporates every municipality as a city, so the table below lists the county’s 11 cities plus its unincorporated communities. Population figures are 2020 census counts where independently verified; unincorporated places carry no official census count and are marked with a dash.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabasha | City · seat | — | — | 55981 |
| Lake City | City | Lake | — | 55041 |
| Plainview | City | Plainview | — | 55964 |
| Elgin | City | Elgin | — | 55932 |
| Mazeppa | City | Mazeppa | — | 55956 |
| Kellogg | City | — | — | 55945 |
| Zumbro Falls | City | Zumbro | — | 55991 |
| Hammond | City | — | — | 55991 |
| Bellechester | City | — | — | 55027 |
| Millville | City | — | — | 55957 |
| Minneiska | City | Minneiska | — | 55969 |
| Bear Valley | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Camp Lacupolis | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Conception | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Dumfries | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Jarrett | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Maple Springs | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Oak Center | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Reads Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| South Troy | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Theilman | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Weaver | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| West Albany | Unincorp. | West Albany | — | — |
| West Newton | Unincorp. | West Newton | — | — |
Two names in the old county list were dropped: “Maplewood Trailer Park” and “Midland Junction” have no independent trace in the current gazetteer or Wikipedia’s community list for Wabasha County and are not carried over.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Chester | — | — |
| Elgin | — | Elgin |
| Gillford | — | — |
| Glasgow | — | — |
| Greenfield | — | — |
| Highland | — | — |
| Hyde Park | — | — |
| Lake | — | Lake City |
| Mazeppa | — | Mazeppa |
| Minneiska | — | Minneiska |
| Mount Pleasant | — | — |
| Oakwood | — | — |
| Pepin | — | Reads Landing |
| Plainview | — | Plainview |
| Watopa | — | — |
| West Albany | — | West Albany |
| West Newton | — | West Newton |
| Zumbro | — | Zumbro Falls |
ZIP Codes
- 55981 — Wabasha (also serves Reads Landing)
- 55041 — Lake City
- 55964 — Plainview
- 55932 — Elgin
- 55956 — Mazeppa
- 55945 — Kellogg
- 55991 — Zumbro Falls (also serves Hammond)
- 55027 — Bellechester
- 55957 — Millville
- 55969 — Minneiska
Smaller unincorporated places such as Bear Valley, Conception, Dumfries, Jarrett, Maple Springs, Oak Center, South Troy, Theilman, Weaver, West Albany, and West Newton share the ZIP code of their nearest post-office town rather than having their own.
Geography
Wabasha County lies in the Mississippi River bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. The terrain is low rolling hills, cut by drainages, with most of the county’s land in agriculture. The Mississippi River forms the county’s eastern boundary with Wisconsin, and the Zumbro River and Whitewater River drain the interior before reaching it. Of the county’s 550 square miles, 523 are land and 27 are water.
Wabasha County borders Goodhue County to the west and northwest, Pepin County in Wisconsin to the northeast, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, to the east, Winona County to the southeast, and Olmsted County to the south. It also shares links to Goodhue County, Pepin County, and Winona County.
Demographics
Wabasha County had 21,387 residents at the 2020 census, a population density of about 40.9 people per square mile. Lake City and Wabasha are the county’s two largest communities. The county’s 93.9% White population and median age of 45.5 skew older than the Minnesota average. The 2000 census recorded a county median household income of $42,117; a current comparison figure is not confirmed here, but the statewide 2023 ACS median household income is $85,086 for Minnesota as a whole.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county’s economy, with corn, soybeans, and dairy operations across its rolling farmland. The Mississippi River corridor supports tourism, boating, and fishing traffic through Wabasha and Lake City, and the county sits within commuting range of the Mayo Clinic’s home city of Rochester to the south, which employs many county residents. Wabasha is also home to the National Eagle Center, drawing visitors who come to view bald eagles along the river.
History
Wabasha County was organized on October 27, 1849, one of Minnesota’s original counties formed under territorial government. It takes its name from the city of Wabasha, itself named for three successive chiefs of Mississippi bands of the Dakota people. The county’s early economy grew around river commerce and logging before shifting to the farming base that still defines it today.
Getting There
U.S. Highways 61 and 63 and Minnesota State Highways 42, 60, 74, and 247 cross the county, with U.S. 61 tracing the Mississippi River through Wabasha and Lake City.
- Rochester — about 25 miles southwest
- Red Wing — about 20 miles north
- Winona — about 25 miles southeast
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin — about 45 miles northeast
Rochester International Airport, about 25 miles from Wabasha, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wabasha County?
It is in southeastern Minnesota, on the Mississippi River across from Wisconsin, within the Rochester metropolitan area.
What is the population of Wabasha County?
21,387 at the 2020 census.
How big is Wabasha County?
523 square miles (1,350 km2) of land plus 27 square miles (70 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Wabasha County?
Wabasha is the county seat.
How many towns are in Wabasha County?
The county has 11 incorporated cities and 13 unincorporated communities across 18 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Wabasha County?
ZIP codes include 55981 (Wabasha), 55041 (Lake City), 55964 (Plainview), 55932 (Elgin), 55956 (Mazeppa), 55945 (Kellogg), and 55991 (Zumbro Falls/Hammond), among others.
What river runs through Wabasha County?
The Mississippi River forms the county’s eastern edge, and the Zumbro and Whitewater rivers drain its interior.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.