Dodge Center, Minnesota
Dodge Center is a city of 2,880 people in Dodge County, Minnesota.
Why visit Dodge Center
Townapedia lists 7 parks and trails and 7 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Dodge Country Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 4°F, and about 44 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Dodge Center
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Dodge Center
Dodge Center is a city in Dodge County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,844.
From the Wikipedia article Dodge Center, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes7
Plaza Morena
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.6 mi
411 Highway Street West, Dodge Center
Su-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Finne's Home Cookin' Diner
Diner · American
30 West Main Street
Churches and places of worship9
Dodge Center United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist
20 1st Street NE
Grace Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran
404 Central Avenue North
Shopping1
History
The Dodge Center area was first settled by pioneers in the 1850s. The town was created by the railroad system and named for its central location within Dodge County, Minnesota, which was named for Henry Dodge, twice the governor of Wisconsin.
The first train to reach Dodge Center arrived on July 13, 1866. Shortly after, D.L. Tyler moved to Dodge Center from Ashland (which had no railroad) and built its first general store in 1867. Tyler also became the town's first postmaster.
Dodge Center's site was officially platted in 1867 and recorded in July 1869. In January 1870, the legislature passed a bill changing the town's name to Silas. The bill was reconsidered the next day and no further action was taken. The town remained Dodge Center and was incorporated in February 1872 by special act of the legislature.
Early Dodge Center was a farming community known for growing grain. Grain wagons lined up and down Main Street and into the surrounding countryside waiting their turn at either of two grain elevators.
From the History section of Dodge Center, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Map of Dodge Center
41 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 4°F | 1.0 in | 8.8 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 6°F | 1.1 in | 9.6 in |
| Mar | 40°F | 20°F | 2.1 in | 8.8 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 32°F | 3.6 in | 1.2 in |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 4.3 in | 0.6 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 54°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 58°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 55°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 47°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 58°F | 34°F | 2.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 23°F | 1.9 in | 2.8 in |
| Dec | 28°F | 11°F | 1.3 in | 12.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Byron 4North (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Dodge County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-12: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-07-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2010-10-13: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2007-08-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rochester International Airport (RST) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Byron 11 mi east, about 17 min by car
- Blooming Prairie 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
- Rochester 19 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Owatonna 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Austin 25 mi south, about 41 min by car
- Faribault 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- Northfield 33 mi northwest, about 54 min by car
- Cannon Falls 34 mi north, about 54 min by car
- Albert Lea 36 mi southwest, about 58 min by car
- Red Wing 40 mi north, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Dodge Center, Minnesota 5, Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- McNeilus Steel Inc in Dodge Center, Wikideas1, CC0
- Dodge Center airport, Wikideas1, CC0
- Dodge Center, Minnesota, Wikideas1, CC0
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