Houston County, Minnesota

Founding: 1854
Parent county: Fillmore

Namesake: Samuel Houston, Texas politician
Seat: Houston (1854–1855); Caledonia (1855–)

Land area: 552 square miles

Population (2020): 18,843

Population (historic): 6,645 (1860); 16,332 (1880); 15,400 (1900); 13,834 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1870; 1950s

Subdivisions: Seven cities; 17 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,129 (24.3%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 61.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.8%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.3%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,712
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,361
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,978
Average farm size (1920): 89.2 acres
Sources of settlement: Norway, Germany, Ireland, Wisconsin, and New York
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Caledonia

Namesake: The country of Scotland

Founding: 1854 (platting); 1855 (post office); 1870 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,847

Population (historic): 470 (1870); 927 (1890); 1,372 (1910); 1,554 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1880; 1890–1920; 1930–1960
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 374 (28%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Schech Mill (1875–1876). Mill Road, south of West Beaver Road. Caledonia.
2. Portland Prairie Methodist Church (1876). 22343 Township Road 33. Winnebago. Gothic Revival.

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