About Houston County
Four years before Minnesota was admitted to the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, Houston County was chartered after its division from the eastern half of Fillmore County on April 4, 1854. The county seat was the village of Houston for a few years, but the county board moved the official records to Caledonia for safe storage in the cabin of Commissioner Samuel McPhail. The first court hearings were held in that cabin, and a one-story courthouse and jail was built in Caledonia in 1857. Turmoil over the county seat continued, a two-story building was built in Caledonia in 1867, and several referenda allowed Caledonia to prevail as the county seat by 1874. From that point on, Caledonia prospered, and Houston slowly diminished. The only other area of prominence was La Crescent, which benefited from its connection to La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The county name was chosen to honor Sam Houston, who was president of Texas before its annexation by the United States and afterward was a senator from that state. In the years 1854-56, when antagonism between the North and South on slavery questions would lead eventually to the Civil War, Houston aspired to nomination as the Democratic candidate for the national presidency. In October 1854, the general Democratic committee of New Hampshire recommended him as “the people’s candidate” for the campaign in 1856. His popularity in Minnesota at that time recommended the name of this county, and, likewise, counties in Tennessee and Texas and cities and villages in Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, and other states bear his name.
Minnesota Top Ten Employers
| Employer | Service or Product | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| State of Minnesota | State Government | 40,208 employees |
| United States Federal Government | Federal Government | 34,000 employees |
| Mayo Foundation | Health Care | 32,893 employees |
| Target Corporation | Retailer | 30,500 employees |
| Allina Health System | Health Care | 23,302 employees |
| Wal-Mart Stores Inc. | Retailer | 20,434 employees |
| Fairview Health Services | Health Care | 20,178 employees |
| Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota | Banking | 20,000 employees |
| University of Minnesota | Public University | 19,157 employees |
| Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | Public Colleges and Universities | 18,516 employees |
Source: Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, 2011
Population and Demographics
| Apr 1, 2010 Census | Jan 1, 2013 Estimate | Numeric Change | Proportional Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 308,400,408 | 315,090,923 | 6,690,515 | 2.2% |
| Minnesota | 5,303,925 | 5,422,060 | 118,135 | 0.7% |
| Fillmore County | 19,027 | 18,799 | -228 | -1.0% |
Source: Minnesota, State & County QuickFacts, United States Census Bureau
