Why visit Madelia
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 2 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Madelia Theater, West Bridge, Flanders' Block and Shellee's Greenhouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 5°F, and about 50 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Madelia
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Madelia
Madelia is a city in Watonwan County, Minnesota, United States, along the Watonwan River. The population was 2,396 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Madelia, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks5
West Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Bridge in Madelia, Minnesota, United States
Flanders' Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Commercial building in Madelia, Minnesota, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Shellee's Greenhouse
Park · 0.4 mi
Mostly flowers for planting, vegetables, reverished furniture
609 West Main Street, Madelia
Watona Park
Park · 0.5 mi
Sand volleyball, shelter, fishing, frisbee golf, baseball, swings, camp ground
Restaurants and cafes2
Sweet! Indeed
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Bakery
Coffee, espresso, baked goods, lunches, cakes, clothing, household items, free internet
6 West Main Street, Madelia
Tu-Sa 06:00-14:00
History
Madelia was founded in 1857, and named for the daughter of a first settler. A post office has been in operation at Madelia since 1860. Madelia was incorporated in 1872.
In 1876, the remaining members of the James-Younger Gang were captured near Madelia after their failed attempt at bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota. Madelia used to hold an event every September called Younger Brothers Day. The event included several activities including a reenactment of the bank robbery as well as the gunfight and capture of the Younger Brothers.
From 1885-1890 Winfield Scott Hammond served as the Madelia School Superintendent. Hammond later went on to pass the bar exam and serve in Minnesota State Legislature, the U.S. Congress, and eventually ran and was elected as Minnesota's 18th Governor.
Madelia contains two properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the 1872 Flanders' Block and the 1908 West Bridge.
In 2016, a fire greatly damaged downtown, destroying at least eight businesses.
From the History section of Madelia, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Watona Park Campground
Campground · 0.4 mi
410 Everett Christensen Drive, Madelia
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Healthcare1
Map of Madelia
23 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 5°F | 1.1 in | 10.8 in |
| Feb | 28°F | 10°F | 0.8 in | 11.0 in |
| Mar | 40°F | 22°F | 1.8 in | 8.2 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.1 in | 3.5 in |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 4.7 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 58°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 37°F | 2.5 in | 0.6 in |
| Nov | 43°F | 25°F | 1.6 in | 4.9 in |
| Dec | 29°F | 12°F | 1.1 in | 11.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for St James Wwtp (10 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
Watonwan County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2024-06-28: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 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)
- 2018-09-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-07-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Saint James Municipal Airport (JYG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- New Ulm 18 mi north, about 30 min by car
- North Mankato 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Mankato 24 mi east, about 38 min by car
- Fairmont 28 mi south, about 45 min by car
- Eagle Lake 28 mi east, about 45 min by car
- St. Peter 30 mi northeast, about 48 min by car
- Blue Earth 32 mi southeast, about 52 min by car
- Janesville 36 mi east, about 57 min by car
- Fairfax 36 mi northwest, about 59 min by car
- Le Sueur 39 mi northeast, 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, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- TheatreMadeliaMN, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Madelia West Bridge, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Flanders' Block, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.