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Le Sueur County, Minnesota

44 topographic sheets cover 22 settlements here, and 28 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

28 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Le Sueur County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 234 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 28 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 23 buildings, 3 structures and 2 districts.
  • 3 of the 28 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 22 populated places in this county; 22 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

28

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
John R. Andrews Housebuilding197878003123
Bridge No. 4846 (1)structure198181000681
Broadway Bridgestructure199999000934
Carson H. Cosgrove Housebuilding198282004694
Arthur Dehn Housebuilding198282000561
Dodd Road Discontiguous Districtdistrict200303000520
Elysian Public Schoolbuilding198181000677
First National Bankbuilding198282004703
Geldner Sawmillstructure197575000991
German Evangelical Salem Churchbuilding198282004696
Hilltop Hallbuilding198282004701
Hotel Brozbuilding198282004704
Kasota Township Hallbuilding198181000679
Kasota Village Hallbuilding198181000680
Le Sueur County Courthouse and Jailbuilding198181000682
Le Sueur Public Schoolbuilding2026100012689
Dr. William W. Mayo Housebuilding196969000074
Methodist Episcopal Churchbuilding198282004697
Montgomery Commercial Historic Districtdistrict2021100006360
Needham-Hayes Housebuilding198282004698
Ottawa Township Hallbuilding198282004705
John Rinshed Housebuilding198282004707
Charles Schwartz House and Barnbuilding198282004708
Smith-Cosgrove Housebuilding198282004700
George W. Taylor Housebuilding197575000992
Trinity Chapel-Episcopalbuilding198282004695
Union Hotelbuilding198282004709
Westerman Lumber Office and Housebuilding198282004702

Wildfire, 1993 to 2012

6 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 6 of them, burning about 696 acres. None started naturally and 2 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism2
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1
Debris and open burning1
Smoking1
Recreation and ceremony1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
10 March 2012Debris and open burning400 acresMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesLECENTER FIRE
3 November 1996Arson/incendiarism290 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
15 October 1993Smoking4.0 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
2 November 2006Arson/incendiarism2.0 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
7 August 2012Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreMinnesota Valley National Wildlife RefugeBLAKELY
20 October 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1952 to 2026

60 of 266 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 266 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 58 injuries and about $67,344,830 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail105
Thunderstorm Wind104
Tornado26
Flash Flood11
Flood7
Heavy Rain7
Funnel Cloud6

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2006Tornado (F3)Kasota1 killed, 30 hurt, $20,000,000The F3 tornado that began in Nicollet County at 1630 CST moved into Le Sueur County near the northern city limits of Kasota. Over 100 homes suffered some damage, dozens of homes had major damage, and three were completely leveled. The tornado moved east-northeast for about ten miles in Le Sueur County, then turned and moved east-southeast until dissipation. Hundreds of farm animals were killed, including 200 cows at a large dairy. Approximately five thousand acres of corn and soybeans were estimated to be ruined across the county. A State Farm spokeswoman said the company expected 4,500 homeowner claims and 8,000 auto claims from the storm. Some information provided by the Star Tribune newspaper. A 91 year old man perished in the upper floor of his home when a tree crashed through the roof.
April 1991Tornado (F1)not stated9 hurt, $250,000no account filed
June 1981Tornado (F2)not stated8 hurt, $250,000no account filed
June 1952Tornado (F2)not stated6 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
March 1998Tornado (F2)Cleveland2 hurt, $20,000,000Tornado tracked through Le Center and adjoining rural areas. Most of the businesses in the southern part of town were damaged. Buildings destroyed at county fairgrounds. 15 mobiles homes at a trailer park destroyed, another 26 suffering major damage. Over 100 farm buildings destroyed.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindGreenland2 hurtTwo cabins at a resort between East Jefferson Lake and German Lake, Section 5 in Elysian Township, were destroyed when trees fell on them. One cabin was unoccupied. Two people in the second cabin sustained bumps and bruises when a large tree fell on top of the bedroom they were staying in. The tree fell right on top of the bed where they were sleeping moments before. They were standing nearby when the tree "split the ceiling open" above them. A nearby trailer home was also damaged by the tree that fell onto the unoccupied cabin. One witness said that wind was blowing so hard that water was "flying off the lake." Power crews had to replace several electricity poles between East Jefferson Lake and German Lake that were damaged by downed trees.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindWaterville1 hurtTrees were downed across the city. The roof of a trailer home and an attached garage was ripped off and a picture window was blown out. A man in the trailer home was cut on the leg by flying glass from a shattered window and required 14 stitches. A camper in the back yard of the home was blown into Whitewater Creek along with roof and tree debris. Damage was reported to other houses in the vicinity, including one home that was impaled by a 2x4 that came from a damaged building across the street. A tree was downed onto a power truck on Highway 60.
May 1998HailNew Prague$20,000,000Numerous houses and vehicles damaged by wind-driven hail. Damage estimate for entire county.
June 2014FloodKasota$1,100,000There were multiple reports of road closures due to high water and debris along the Minnesota River. In the southeast part of Le Sueur County, some residents in the town of Waterville, Minnesota had to evacuate their homes along Lillian Street due to rising waters of the local lake. The city council declared the town a disaster area and had volunteers help them fill sandbags to stop further damage to homes. As lake levels rose, several homes were surrounded by water from the nearby lakes, and a few will be completely destroyed. The city closed four streets and parts of three others due to the flooding.
August 2006HailNew Prague$1,000,000Vehicles, homes and businesses damaged on the south side of New Prague.
August 1999Tornado (F1)Cleveland$610,000Dairy barn and machine shop destroyed three miles northwest of Cleveland. Four miles east of Cleveland, machine shed, two old cattle barns, and a garage leveled on family farm. Many acres of corn flattened along the twister's path. Damages county wide only included machinery and property values. No estimates on livestock lost though several cattle were killed.
June 2014Flash FloodHenderson Station$500,000A mud slide, along Henderson Road, destroyed a home.
March 2012Tornado (EF0)Elysian$250,000The EF-0 tornado that formed in northern Waseca County continued to move northward across the western sections of Elysian in Le Sueur County, where two small empty grain bins were blown into a field. Also, a small metal shed was blown across Highway 60 in the same area. ||As the tornado continued to track north of Lake Francis, the damage pattern became more complex, and some damage signatures were associated with downburst winds. However, the damage pattern was such that it impossible to discern between the tornado damage and any downburst damage. Therefore there is no separate entry for thunderstorm wind damage at this point. ||The path length of the tornado in Le Sueur County was approximately 3.7 miles, which ended at the St. Peters Church two miles north of Lake Francis. Although most of the damage was associated with uprooted trees and roof damage to homes, numerous boat docks and lifts along the northern shore of Lake Francis were picked up and tossed into the adjacent properties. ||Based on damage, winds were estimated at 80 mph, and the total path length across Waseca and Le Sueur Counties was 6.54 miles.
May 1977Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2016Thunderstorm WindElysian$100,000The city of Elysian had significant wind damage as power lines and big trees were blown down throughout the city. Some of the trees landed on homes and on vehicles, producing damage. The storm was also to blame for boats overturning on Lake Francis.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindCleveland$100,000Several trees were blown down near Cleveland. The trees landed on homes, sheds and a car and caused substantial damage.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindElysian$100,000There was lots of damage in Elysian, including numerous large trees down, including 7 that were blocking the main roads. Other reports included; shingles off two homes, broke rafters in garage, and damage to three boat docks on Lake Francis.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindKasota$50,000Scattered trees were blown down from just east of St. Peter to the Cleveland area.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindLe Center$50,000A swath of downed trees and power lines occurred from Le Center to Montgomery. At one point, the local utility company had near 150 members working on the power outages.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindElysian$25,000Several trees and power lines were blown down in Elysian. Waterville had roof damage to a business and a home had its garage door blown off. The severe winds were related to the initial outflow from the squall line.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindKasota$25,000Several six to eight inch diameter trees were blown down across southwest Le Sueur County between the towns of Kasota, St. Peter and Cleveland. One tree landed on a house. Power lines were also blown down which knocked out power to several hundred customers throughout the southwest part of the county.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindHenderson Station$25,000Many trees and large tree branches were blown down across the county, with the most concentrated area between Henderson and Montgomery.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindLe Sueur$25,000Several large trees and power lines were blown down. In addition, some structural damage occurred to a building.
May 1965Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2022Thunderstorm WindKasota$15,000There was roof damage east of Kasota, on the south side of Lake Emily, along with trees blown down near Kasota.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindHeidelberg$15,000A large tree was blown down, and landed on a home in Heidelberg.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindLe Center$15,000A tree blew down on a trailer in Le Center.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindUnion Hill$15,000A measured wind gust of 85 mph occurred near Union Hill. A barn roof was also blown off near the measured wind gust. In addition, a NWS storm survey concluded that straight-line winds produced the damage in the area.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindWaterville$10,000A few trees were blown over, along with approximately 20 feet of corn flattened on the north side of Lake Tetonka.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindWaterville$10,000There were reports of trees and power lines blown down in Waterville. One house in Waterville lost its roof due to the severe winds.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindMarysburg$10,000A local private weather station measured a wind gust of 62 mph northwest of Elysian, Minnesota. In addition, several trees were uprooted around Elysian Township.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Between Cleveland and Le Center, isolated trees were blown down, with broken windows and roof damage to a garage.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindHenderson Station$5,000Several trees, a road sign, and power poles were blown down near, and along Highway 169, and 19, east to around 271st.
June 2012Tornado (EF0)Henderson Station$5,000An EF-0 tornado formed approximately 6.5 miles south of Belle Plaine...just south of the Le Sueur, Scott County line, and moved northeast into Scott County. Damage was associated with down trees, some shingles blown off, plus a chimney toppled at a house. Maximum width was 50 yards.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindWaterville$2,000A home had siding damage in Waterville. Numerous trees were also blown downed across the city, some were blocking city streets.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindLe Sueur$1,000There were a number of large tree limbs blown down near Le Sueur. One that was 12 inches in diameter.
November 2012Thunderstorm WindNew Prague$1,000Roof and siding damage occurred at a home in New Prague.
May 2012HailLe Center$500Some of the hail broke windows.
June 1976Tornado (F2)not stated$250no account filed
June 1994HailLeCenter$50no account filed
July 1957Tornadonot stated$30no account filed
April 2026HailKasota-Report received via NWS Chat.
April 2026HailKilkenny-Report received via NWS Chat.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMontgomery-Report of multiple trees down near the high school in Montgomery.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindMontgomery-Large healthy pine tree snapped about 15 feet above ground, with its top resting on a house. This was near the intersection of 3rd Street NE and Linden Avenue. Large limbs snapped nearby.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCleveland-Report of a tree down in the town of Cleveland or four miles west of St. Peter.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindLe Center-Report of a tree down in Le Center.
August 2025Funnel CloudMontgomery-A trained spotter reported a brief funnel cloud near the intersection of MN-99 and 145th Ave in eastern Le Sueur county.
August 2025Heavy RainOttawa-Cocorahs station MN-LS-23 Le Sueur 5.8 S. 72 hour total of 5.55 inches.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindLe Center-A large pine tree was down on a power line.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindLe Sueur-Multiple large trees were blown down.
June 2024Heavy RainLe Sueur-Nearly 3 inches of rain fell in northern Le Sueur county.
June 2024Heavy RainNew Prague-A total of 3 to 6 inches of rain fell from multiple rounds of thunderstorms. CoCoRaHS observers measured 5.80 inches near Waterville.
May 2022HailNew Prague-There was a Facebook picture of golf ball size hail in New Prague.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindHeidelberg-A couple of miles south of New Prague, a few large trees were blown down which was associated with a collapsing storm that moved from southern Le Sueur, to near the Le Sueur and Scott county border.
May 2021Tornado (EF0)Henderson Station-A brief touchdown was reported east-northeast of Henderson as it crossed Highway 19, moving from Le Sueur County into Scott County. It blew a trampoline and damaged a play set on the Le Sueur County side before moving north and damaging some trees in a grove in Scott County per a NWS damage survey.
June 2021HailNew Prague-Social media had a picture of golf ball size hail near new Prague.
June 2021HailSt Thomas-Social media had a picture of 2 inch hail in northern Le Sueur County.
June 2020Heavy RainKasota-There was a 18 hour rainfall report near Kasota of 5.94 inches.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindCleveland-A few large tree limbs were blown down south of Cleveland.

Mines and quarries

19 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 19 workings inside this county. 18 still produce and 1 is closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction9
Stone, Crushed/Broken7
Silica2
Limestone, Dimension2

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Caroline & Moses QsuarryLimestone, DimensionProducer
Gopher State Sandstone MillSilicaProducer
Gopher State Silica PitSilicaProducerSandstone
North QuarryStone, Crushed/Broken, Limestone, DimensionProducer
Ed Swarthout IncStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ed Swarthout IncStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Gopher State Sandstone Quarry No 2Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Gopher State Sandstone Quarry No1Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Henroy Komstz PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Lundin QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Blue Earth Co Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Brown PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
J V White Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Johnson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kasota PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Le Sueur Co Hwy DeptSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Mullenaheur PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
State Pit No 3118 ASand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Wolff PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

22

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Le Sueur County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.