Minnesota

Steele

37,406
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Steele

Steele, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 2,863. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 37,406.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 14 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202037,406
201036,576
200033,680
199030,729
198030,328
197026,931
196025,029
195021,155
194019,749
193018,475
192018,061
191016,146
190016,524
189013,232
188012,460
18708,271
18602,863
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Steele

National Register of Historic Places listings in Steele, Minnesota.

Owatonna City and Firemen's Hall
Owatonna
National Farmers' Bank
Owatonna
Pillsbury Academy Campus Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Owatonna
Abbott, Ezra, House
Owatonna
Administration Building-Minnesota State Public School For Dependent and Neglected Children
Owatonna
Piper, Daniel S., House
Medford
Bridge No. L-5573
Owatonna
Blooming Prairie Commercial Historic District
Blooming Prairie
Pillsbury Academy Campus Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Owatonna
Owatonna Commercial Historic District
Owatonna
Adair, Dr. John H., House
Owatonna
Owatonna Free Public Library
Owatonna
Browse all Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Minnesota

Explore census history and historic records for more Minnesota counties.

CarverCassChippewaChisagoClayClearwaterCookCottonwoodCrow WingDakotaDodgeDouglasFaribaultFillmoreFreebornGoodhueGrantHennepinHoustonHubbard
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Steele County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Steele County, Minnesota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Steele County, Minnesota report
Or see a real report first

Explore Minnesota records

Minnesotahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Minnesota›

Frequently asked about Steele

When does Steele first appear in the US census?
Steele, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 2,863.
What is the population of Steele?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Steele had a recorded population of 37,406.
How many historic places are in Steele?
14 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Steele, Minnesota.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report