Waseca, Minnesota
Waseca is a city of 9,164 people in Waseca County, Minnesota, founded in 1867.
Why visit Waseca
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 11 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include John W. Aughenbaugh House and Philo C. Bailey House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 5°F, and about 52 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Waseca
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Waseca
Waseca is a city in Waseca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,229 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat.
From the Wikipedia article Waseca, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks8
John W. Aughenbaugh House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Waseca, Minnesota, United States
Philo C. Bailey House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Minnesota, United States
Roscoe P. Ward House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Waseca, Minnesota, United States
W. J. Armstrong Company Wholesale Grocers Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
United States historic place
Waseca County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
County courthouse in Waseca, United States of America
William R. Wolf House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Waseca, Minnesota, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds18
6 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes11
Oscar's Restaurant
Diner · American · 0.7 mi
1312 North State Street, Waseca
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Pizza Ranch
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.9 mi
212 17th Avenue Northeast, Waseca
11:00-13:30,17:00-20:00
Tasty House
Restaurant · Chinese · 0.9 mi
105 17th Avenue Northeast, Waseca
Tu-We 11:00-20:00; Th-Sa 11:00-21:00
Boat House Grill and Bar
Restaurant · Seafood, Burger, Pizza, American, Steak · 0.5 mi
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 1.0 mi
1905 North State Street, Waseca
Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
Where to stay2
GrandStay Hotel & Suites
Motel and hotel · 1.2 mi
2201 North State Street, Waseca
History
Waseca was platted in July 1867 where the railroad system established a stop. Within a year it was a major shipping hub for wheat, and the city had 129 buildings and 700 people.
In 1912 the University of Minnesota purchased 246 acres of swampland and established an experimental farm called Southeast Station. Studies included corn, swine and cattle-breeding. In 1953 the university opened the Southern School of Agriculture for farming students. It operated as a boarding school, with a six-month term scheduled around farming activities. In 1971 it became the University of Minnesota Waseca, a two-year technical college, and served nearly 20,000 students before closing in 1992.
The city took its name from Waseca County, Minnesota. "Waseca" is a Dakota language word meaning "rich in provisions". It was founded as a hub of agricultural activity. In the mid-1900s, three companies were founded in Waseca with national markets: Brown Printing, EF Johnson Technologies Inc., and Herter's Outgoor Gear. The result was a strong, diverse economy. In the mid-1970s, Waseca's post office was the third busiest in the state for postal receipts.
From the History section of Waseca, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship3
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 0.8 mi
1001 9th Avenue Southeast, Waseca
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare1
Map of Waseca
59 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 5°F | 1.3 in | 10.7 in |
| Feb | 26°F | 9°F | 1.2 in | 10.8 in |
| Mar | 39°F | 22°F | 2.2 in | 9.0 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 35°F | 3.3 in | 3.0 in |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.5 in | 0.4 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 50°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 37°F | 2.8 in | 0.7 in |
| Nov | 41°F | 24°F | 1.9 in | 5.8 in |
| Dec | 28°F | 12°F | 1.5 in | 11.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Ctr (1 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
Waseca 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)
- 2016-11-02: Severe Storms 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
Owatonna Municipal Airport (OWA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Waterville 10 mi north, about 17 min by car
- Morristown 10 mi north, about 17 min by car
- Janesville 11 mi west, about 17 min by car
- Owatonna 13 mi east, about 22 min by car
- Medford 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Madison Lake 18 mi northwest, about 29 min by car
- Faribault 19 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
- Eagle Lake 20 mi west, about 32 min by car
- Mankato 24 mi west, about 39 min by car
- North Mankato 28 mi west, about 44 min 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
- Waseca Minnesota, Tim Kiser ( w:User:Malepheasant ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- 610NorthStateStreetWasecaMN, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Waseca, Minnesota, Wikideas1, CC0
- PhiloBaileyHouse, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- WasecaCountyCourthouse, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Bailey, Philo C., House, Jatakuck, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wolf, William R., House, Jatakuck, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ward, Roscoe P., House, Jatakuck, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aughenbaugh, John W., House, Jatakuck, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS030-E-98460 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-51543 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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