The Town Files

Watonwan County, Minnesota

11,205 people. The median home is worth $162,400 (typical Minnesota town: $301,800) and the median household earns $71,699.

Towns in Watonwan County

Towns in Watonwan County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
St. James4,793$122,100$60,24237.6
Madelia2,396$165,400$76,54834.1
Butterfield601$90,400$64,08345.0

People and housing

Watonwan CountyTypical Minnesota town
Median home value$162,400$301,800
Median rent$834$991
Median household income$71,699$87,375
Median age40.842.7
Bachelor's degree or higher17.2%26.2%
Below the poverty line13.2%6.9%

Jobs and pay

4,510 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,323 a year.

Largest industries in Watonwan CountyManufacturing1,419 jobs · $52,158Health care & social assistan…422 jobs · $60,649Retail316 jobs · $28,131Transportation & warehousing306 jobs · $41,000Construction243 jobs · $64,062Hotels & restaurants191 jobs · $18,435
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Watonwan County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 2.9%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 353 storm events in Watonwan County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Watonwan County by type since 1996Hail80Flood9Tornado14Blizzard31High Wind17Heavy Snow10Flash Flood10Winter Storm52Winter Weather15Cold/Wind Chill8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Watonwan County has been included in 13 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 28, 2024FloodDR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding
April 7, 2020BiologicalDR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3453: Covid-19
June 12, 2019FloodDR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
September 5, 2018FloodDR-4390: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 21, 2014FloodDR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).