Redwood

Formed February 6, 1862 (62^nd county)

Redwood County (15,419), Redwood Falls (5,095)

The 1892 red brick Romanesque Revival structure was modified in 1962 and enlarged in 1970.  It is on the square at Jefferson Avenue and 3^rd Street.  The location is two blocks south of United States Highway 71 in the city.  E. P. Bassford is the building architect.  A canon sits on the grounds.  There was an 1870 courthouse previously.  The county was formed on February 6, 1862 from Brown County as the 62^nd county with Redwood Falls as the only county seat.  The county is named for the Redwood River.  The county seat is named for local falls on the river. 

Redwood County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer, an auditor, an assessor and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Nineteen District Court Judges serve Redwood, Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, and Watonwan counties (judicial.) Redwood County is in the southwest part of the state.  Minneapolis, Minnesota is northeast of the county.  The Minnesota River forms its northeast border.  The county center is 22.3 miles Southwest of Redwood Falls nearer Wabasso.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Renville, Brown, Cottonwood, Murray, Lyon, and Yellow Medicine counties. 

The area of the county is 879.7 square miles.  It is 25 out of 87 in the state.  It ranks 54 out of 87 in population in the state.  It has a density of 17.5 persons per square mile making it 59 out of 87 in the state.  Redwood County has 65.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 14 crosses the southern part of the county east to west from Brown County to Lyon County.  United States Highway 71 goes north to south from Renville County to Cottonwood County.  The county looks like a pistol facing east.  Redwood Falls is on the northern border of the county and extends into Renville County.  Redwood Falls is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 33.0% of the county population.