Winona is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

of Winona County, in the

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

. Located in bluff country on the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...

, its most noticeable physical landmark is

Sugar Loaf A sugarloaf was the usual form in which refined sugar was produced and sold until the late 19th century, when granulated and cube sugars were introduced. A tall cone with a rounded top was the end product of a process in which dark molasses, a ...

. The city is named after legendary figure

Winona Winona, Wynona or Wynonna may refer to: Places Canada * Winona, Ontario United States * Winona, Arizona * Winona, Indiana * Winona Lake, Indiana * Winona, Kansas * Winona, Michigan * Winona County, Minnesota ** Winona, Minnesota, the seat of ...

, who some sources claimed was the first-born daughter of Chief Wapasha of the

Dakota people The Dakota (pronounced , Dakota language: ''Dakȟóta/Dakhóta'') are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided ...

. The population was 25,948 at the 2020 census.

History

Valley of the Mississippi from Winona, Minn

The city of Winona began on the site of a Native American village named Keoxa. The seat of the Wapasha dynasty, Keoxa was home to a

Mdewakanton The Mdewakanton or Mdewakantonwan (also spelled ''Mdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ'' and currently pronounced ''Bdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ'') are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota ( Sioux). Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake (Dakota: ''Mde W� ...

band of the eastern

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota: /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations peoples in North America. The modern Sioux consist of two major divisions based on language divisions: the Dakota and ...

. European immigrants settled the area in 1851 and laid out the town into lots in 1852 and 1853. The original settlers were immigrants from

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

.Minnesota: A State Guide page 263 The population increased from 815 in December, 1855, to 3,000 in December, 1856. In 1856 German immigrants arrived as well. The Germans and the

Yankee The term ''Yankee'' and its contracted form ''Yank'' have several interrelated meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Its various senses depend on the context, and may refer to New Englanders, residents of the Northern United S ...

s worked together planting trees and building businesses based on lumber, wheat, steamboating and railroads. Between 1859 and 1900, some 5,000

Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, who share a common history, culture, the Polish language and are identified with the country of Poland in ...

and closely related

Kashubians The Kashubians ( csb, Kaszëbi; pl, Kaszubi; german: Kaschuben), also known as Cassubians or Kashubs, are a Lechitic ( West Slavic) ethnic group native to the historical region of Pomerania, including its eastern part called Pomerelia, in nor ...

emigrated to Winona, making up one quarter of the population. Since 80% of them were Kashubians, Winona became known as the "Kashubian Capital of America". As a result of the influx of Polish

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

immigrants, the Church of St. Stanislaus (now Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka) was built. For a time, Winona had more millionaires than any other city of its size in the United States. The railroad and

steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...

transportation industries helped Winona grow into a small city that diversified into

wheat Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food. The many species of wheat together make up the genus ''Triticum'' ; the most widely grown is common wheat (''T. aestivum''). The archaeologi ...

milling, and lumber production. In 1856, more than 1,300 steamboats stopped at Winona. The

Winona and St. Peter Railroad The Winona and St. Peter Railroad was a railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was founded in 1861 in Winona, Minnesota. The first from Winona to Stockton, Minnesota, were completed by the end of 1862, making the it the second operational ...

first segment of from Winona to

Stockton, Minnesota Stockton is a city in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 809 at the 2020 census. History Stockton was platted in 1856. The city was named after J. B. Stockton, an early landowner. A post office was established at Stock ...

was completed by the end of 1862. Winona then had the second operational railroad in Minnesota, after the St. Paul and Pacific Line from

Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony ( dak, italics=no, Owámniyomni, ) located at the northeastern edge of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the only natural major waterfall on the Mississippi River. Throughout the mid-to-late ...

.Daniel R. Pratt, Andrew J. Schmidt, Andrea C. Vermeer, and Betsy H. Bradley
Railroads in Minnesota, 1862-1956 MPS.
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Aug 2002, St. Paul, M
Section E. Statement of Historic Contexts - I. Railroad Development in Minnesota, 1862-1956
/ref> In December 1870, the

was bridged at Winona by the

Winona Rail Bridge The Winona Rail Bridge was a swing bridge that spanned the Mississippi River between Winona, Minnesota, and Winona Junction in Buffalo, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. It was built to link the Winona and St. Peter Railroad with the La Crosse, Tremp ...

. In 1892, a

wagon A wagon or waggon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people. Wagons are immediately distinguished from ...

toll-bridge over the Mississippi, a steel high-bridge, was completed and remained in service until the opening of the Main Channel Bridge in 1942. Winona has two historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places that combine into a single local historic district administered by the city's Heritage Preservation Commission. A bandshell was completed in 1924 for outdoor musical performances and events. The Winona Municipal Bands holds concerts there during the summer.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the city has a total area of ; is land and is water. Lock and Dam 5A spans the Mississippi River in Winona. The highway bridge connecting Winona to the Wisconsin side of the river is at approximately River Mile 726 (USACE map 31). Winona's primary suburbs are Goodview, Stockton, Minnesota City and Rollingstone to the west,

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

to the southeast and Bluff Siding is 3 miles directly across the interstate bridge to the north and Fountain City to the north. Rochester is 44 miles to the west of Winona, La Crescent is 21 miles to the south, and

La Crosse La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population as of the 2020 census ...

is 30 miles to the southeast. Winona is part of the

driftless area The Driftless Area, a topographical and cultural region in the American Midwest, comprises southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme northwestern corner of Illinois. Never covered by ice during the las ...

that includes southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois.

Latsch Island

Just northeast of the city, connected to Winona via a number of bridges, is Latsch Island. Officially part of the city since 1998, Latsch Island has been home to a unique community of

houseboat A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home. Most houseboats are not motorized as they are usually moored or kept stationary at a fixed point, and often tethered to land to provide utilities. Ho ...

{"Boathouse") residents for several decades.

Climate

Winona's weather station records the warmest climate of any in Minnesota, with a normal year-round average (1971–2000) temperature of 48.9 °F, (9.38 C°) compared to 43.2° (6.22 C°) in

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

to the city's southwest or 45.4° (7.44 C°) in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...

, to the northwest, which experiences a strong

urban heat island An urban heat island (UHI) is an urban or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities. The temperature difference is usually larger at night than during the day, and is most apparent ...

effect. Temperatures are generally very mild by Minnesota standards year-round; the January mean is 17.6° (-8 C°), while that of July is 75.8° (24.33 C°). Winona has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freez ...

( Dfa) with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters.

Micropolitan area

The United States

Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). OMB's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, but it also examines agency programs, pol ...

has designated Winona as the principal city of the Winona, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area (µSA).

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 25,948. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was . There were 11,525 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 2.8%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 2.2% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2%

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2010, there were 27,592 people, 10,449 households, and 5,022 families residing in the city. The

was . There were 10,989 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.0%

, 1.9%

, 0.3% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population. There were 10,449 households, of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age in the city was 26.7 years. 14.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 33.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.5% were from 25 to 44; 20.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 27,069 residents. The

was 1,485.0 people per square mile (573.3/km). There were 10,666 housing units at an average density of 585.1 per square mile (225.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 94.47%

, 1.13%

, 0.23% Native American, 2.65% Asian, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.47% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population. Main Channel Bridge

Ancestries: German (43.2%), Norwegian (15.5%), Polish (14.8%), Irish (13.0%), English (5.5%), French (3.6%). There were 10,301 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were

living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.3% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.94. In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 27.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,845, and the median income for a family was $48,413. Males had a median income of $31,047 versus $23,302 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $16,783. About 6.5% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

U.S. Highway 14 U.S. Route 14 (abbreviated U.S. 14 or US 14), an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles (2,250 km), but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles (2,300 km). For ...

U.S. Highway 61 U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major United States highway that extends between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River and is designated ...

, Minnesota Highway 43 and Wisconsin State Highway 54 are the main routes into the city. Interstate Highway 90 is located a short distance south of the city. Winona was once served by four railroads;

Milwaukee Road The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (CMStP&P), often referred to as the "Milwaukee Road" , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986. The company experienced ...

, Chicago & North Western, Chicago Great Western and Green Bay & Western, with the Burlington Route trains stopping at a station across the river in Wisconsin. Only the former Milwaukee Road station remains and is now served by

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous U.S. States and nine cities in Canada. ...

's '' Empire Builder'' daily in each direction between

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

and

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region o ...

and Portland. The Milwaukee Road is now owned by

Canadian Pacific The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...

, as is the

Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Before its purchase, it was the largest Class II railroad in the United States, operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesota in ...

, which operates the former Chicago & North Western line from Winona to the west. The Winona Transit Service provides public bus transportation six days per week. The city is also located along the

Mississippi River Trail The Mississippi River Trail (abbreviated MRT) is a designated bicycle and pedestrian trail that traverses the shores of the Mississippi River in the United States. The trail extends from the headwaters at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to near the mouth ...

, and the Flyway Trail connects the city to nearby trail systems in Wisconsin. Winona Municipal Airport - Max Conrad Field serves

general aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...

in the area. It was once served by one passenger airliner, Mississippi Valley Airlines until the mid-1970s.

Economy

Winona is home to the headquarters of the Watkins Corporation, Fastenal, Thern Inc., Knitcraft Corporation, RTP Company, We-No-Nah Canoe, United Building Centers, Badger Equipment Company, Winona Lighting, Hal Leonard Music, WinCraft Sports, and Winona Pattern & Mold
Bay State Milling
operates a grain processing facility in Winona and was founded there in 1899. Winona is also known as the

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

capital of the United States. Winona is the setting of the Civil War era romance novel, ''Ladyslipper'' by Winona native, Donna G. Weber (1951–2012).

Top employers

According to the City's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: {, class="wikitable" , - ! # ! Employer ! # of Employees , - , 1 , Fastenal , 1,420 , - , 2 , Winona Health , 1,200 , - , 3 , TRW Automotive Electronics , 775 , - , T-4 , Independent School District 861 , 712 , - , T-4 ,

Winona State University Winona State University (Winona) is a public university in Winona, Minnesota. It was founded as First State Normal School of Minnesota in 1858 and is the oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It was the first ...

, 712 , - , 6 , WinCraft , 420 , - , 7 , Saint Mary's University of Minnesota , 391 , - , 8 , RTP , 375 , - , 9 , County of Winona , 291 , - , 10 , Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company , 290 , -

Government and politics

Winona is located in

Minnesota's 1st congressional district Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. It is a primarily rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, though this is changing rapidly d ...

, represented by Brad Finstad, a Republican. At the state level, Winona is located in

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

District 28, represented by Republican Jeremy Miller, and in

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air cond ...

District 28A, represented by Democrat

Gene Pelowski Gene P. Pelowski, Jr. (born February 2, 1952) is Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 26A, which includes Winona Co ...

. Nearby

District 28B is represented by Greg Davids, a Republican. Scott Sherman is mayor. {, align="center" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" , + Presidential election results , + 2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet , + 2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet , + 2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet , + 2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet , + 2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet , - bgcolor=lightgrey ! Year ! Republican ! Democratic ! Third parties , - , style="text-align:center;" ,

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in t ...

, style="text-align:center;" , 37.4% ''5,040'' , style="text-align:center;" , 60.0% ''8,077'' , style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;", 2.6% ''354'' , - , style="text-align:center;" ,

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...

, style="text-align:center;" , 37.6% ''5,188'' , style="text-align:center;" , 51.6% ''7,120'' , style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;", 10.8% ''1,489'' , - , style="text-align:center;" ,

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

, style="text-align:center;" , 36.5% ''5,455'' , style="text-align:center;" , 60.4% ''9,015'' , style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;", 3.1% ''467'' , - , style="text-align:center;" ,

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

, style="text-align:center;" , 34.2% ''5,223'' , style="text-align:center;" , 63.7% ''9,738'' , style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;", 2.1% ''328'' , - , style="text-align:center;" ,

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight ...

, style="text-align:center;" , 41.0% ''6,074'' , style="text-align:center;" , 57.1% ''8,448'' , style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;", 1.9% ''281'' , - , style="text-align:center;" ,

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...

, style="text-align:center;" , 39.7% ''5,186'' , style="text-align:center;" , 49.5% ''6,465'' , style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;", 10.8% ''1,418''

Education

Winona became the site of the first

normal school A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...

west of the Mississippi in 1858 with the establishment of Winona Normal School (now

). This was the beginning of Winona's tradition as a center of higher education. In 2018-2019, Winona State University (WSU) had approximately 7,200 undergraduate students and 560 graduate students. WSU is part of the Minnesota State college system. Saint Mary's College (now Saint Mary's University) was founded as a private

, Lasallian school in 1912. Later, as the necessary opportunity of higher education for women became apparent, the

College of Saint Teresa The College of Saint Teresa was a Catholic women's college in Winona, Minnesota. Previously a women's seminary, it became a college in 1907 and was operated by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota until its closing in 1989. H ...

was created. After Saint Mary's became co-ed in 1969, Saint Teresa closed down in 1988, and its facilities are now used, owned, and/or operated by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota,

, and Cotter High School. Minnesota State College-Southeast also has a campus in Winona. There is a diverse variety of K-12 educational opportunities. Run by Independent School District 861, the local public school system includes five elementary schools (three in the city of Winona), the Winona Middle School, and the Winona Senior High School. The Winona Area Catholic Schools system includes St. Mary's primary school, St. Stanislaus Elementary School, Cotter Junior High School, and Cotter Senior High School. St. Martin's School, St. Matthew's School, and Hope Lutheran High School are private

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched ...

schools in Winona. Two charter schools, Winona Riverway Learning Community (PreK-12) l, and Bluffview Montessori Charter School (K-8) are located in the city. Bluffview is notable as the first

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the re ...

Montessori The Montessori method of education involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes indepen ...

and the second charter school overall in the United States. Main Square Montessori (MSM) is a nonprofit Montessori learning center for children from the ages of 16 months to six years old in a partnership between the Hiawatha Education Foundation and Cotter Schools. Several organizations also provide community education. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts offers community classes for early childhood through 55+ adult programs in the areas of dance, music, theater, and visual arts. Winona Area Public Schools, Winona State University, The City of Winona Parks and Recreation, and Winona Arts Center offer additional community learning opportunities.

Media

;Print Winona has two newspapers: the ''

Winona Daily News The ''Winona Daily News'' is a daily newspaper serving Winona, Minnesota and the surrounding area. Founded in 1855, it is the second oldest continually running newspaper in the state. The Daily News was known as the ''Republican Herald'' until 1 ...

'', a daily morning paper; and the ''Winona Post'', a semi-weekly paper with mid-week and Sunday editions. ;Television Winona receives TV signals from neighboring cities, including several channels each from

, Rochester, Eau Claire, and the Twin Cities, although what can be received depends on the location within the area, as the extensive system of

valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams ove ...

s and

ridge A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for an extended distance. The sides of the ridge slope away from the narrow top on either side. The line ...

s may block any or all signals. There is one local

public broadcasting Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...

TV network, HBCI, which is available only to subscribers of the HBC cable company. ;Radio

FM

{, class="wikitable" !align="center" colspan="5",

FM radio FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting using frequency modulation (FM). Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to provide high fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting is cap ...

stations , - !Frequency !Call sign !Name !Format !Owner , - , 88.5 FM, , K203BR
( KFSI Translator), , , ,

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

, , Faith Sound Incorporated , - , 89.5 FM, ,

KQAL KQAL (89.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Winona, Minnesota, United States. The station is currently owned by Winona State University and features programming from AP Radio The Associated Press (AP) is an ...

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College A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...

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Real Presence Radio Real Presence Radio is a lay apostolate Catholic talk radio network in the United States, with stations and translators (low power re-broadcasters) in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming covering five states and ...

, - , 94.3 FM, , K232CZ
( KSMR Translator) , - , 95.3 FM, ,

KGSL KGSL (95.3 FM, "KG-95.3") is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR) format. Licensed to Winona, Minnesota Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, Minnesota, Winona County, in the U.S. state, state of Minnesota. Locate ...

, , KG-95.3, , Hot AC, , rowspan=4,

Leighton Broadcasting Leighton Broadcasting is a radio broadcasting company based in St. Cloud, Minnesota that owns several radio stations in St. Cloud as well as in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and Grand Forks, North Dakota. Stations owned {, class="wikitable" , - !Ca ...

, - , 98.7 FM, , W274BW
( KWNO-AM Translator), , , , News/Talk , - , 99.3 FM, ,

KWMN KWMN (99.3 FM) is a radio station serving the Winona, Minnesota area. It airs a sports format, primarily carrying programming from the Fox Sports Radio network. The station is owned by Leighton Broadcasting, through licensee Leighton Radio Holdin ...

, , Winona Sports Network, ,

Sports Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...

, - , 101.1 FM, , KRIV, , 101.1 The River, ,

Classic Hits Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes songs from the top 40 music charts from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, with music from the 1980s serving as the core of the format. Music that was popularized by MTV in the early 198 ...

, - , 101.9 FM, , K270AB
( KZSE Translator), , MPR News, ,

Public Radio Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...

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Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), is a public radio network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, YourClassical MPR and The Current, MPR operates a 46-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest. MPR ha ...

, - , 103.9 FM, , K280EL
( KQYB Translator), , KQ98, ,

Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whi ...

, , Family Radio, Inc. , - , 107.3 FM, , W297AW
( KLSE Translator), , Classical MPR, , Classical, ,

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AM

{, class="wikitable" !align="center" colspan="5",

AM radio AM broadcasting is radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions. It was the first method developed for making audio radio transmissions, and is still used worldwide, primarily for medium wave (also known as "AM band") transmis ...

stations , - !Frequency !Call sign !Name !Format !Owner , - , 1230 AM, , KWNO, , , , News/Talk, , rowspan=2,

, - , 1380 AM, , KHWK, , , ,

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Notable people

* Carol Bartz, former CEO of

Yahoo! Yahoo! (, styled yahoo''!'' in its logo) is an American web services provider. It is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and operated by the namesake company Yahoo Inc., which is 90% owned by investment funds managed by Apollo Global Mana ...

, formerly of

Autodesk Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational software corporation that makes software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. Autodesk is headquartere ...

* Charles H. Berry, first Attorney General of Minnesota * Bernhard Brenner, Founder/President of Knitcraft Corporation, manufacturer of St. Croix luxury knitwear *

Paul Breza Paul Joseph Breza, Roman Catholic priest and Kashubian American activist, was born in Winona, Minnesota on June 23, 1937, the son of Joseph Peter and Alice Seraphine (Pehler) Breza, both of whom were descendants of Kashubian immigrants from Bytó ...

, Roman Catholic priest and founder of Winona's Polish Cultural Institute and Museum * Robert Henry Brom, Roman Catholic bishop *

Alec Brown Alec Thomas Brown (born July 23, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for BC Budivelnyk of the European North Basketball League and the Champions League. He played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Br ...

, NBA player * Elliott Heath, distance runner *

Garrett Heath Garrett Heath (born November 3, 1985) is an American runner from Winona, Minnesota, who raced in various middle and long-distance running events. He represented the United States at the 2010 World Indoor Championships where he finished seventh ...

, distance runner * Roger Busdicker, co-founder of

Hal Leonard Corporation Hal Leonard LLC (formerly Hal Leonard Corporation) is an American music publishing and distribution company founded in Winona, Minnesota, by Harold "Hal" Edstrom, his brother, Everett "Leonard" Edstrom, and fellow musician Roger Busdicker. Curre ...

* Jan Romuald Byzewski OFM, pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish and founder of the Polish-language newspaper

Wiarus ''Wiarus'' (Veteran Defender) was the name of a Polish-language newspaper published in Winona, Minnesota from 1886 to 1893 and 1895 to 1919; in 1893 it was renamed ''Katolik'', but reverted to its original name in 1895. Although Winona's Polish comm ...

* Tracy Caulkins, swimmer, three-time Olympic gold medalist *

Max Conrad Max Arthur Conrad, Jr. (January 21, 1903 – April 3, 1979 in Summit, New Jersey) known as the "Flying Grandfather", was a record-setting aviator. In the 1950s and 1960s, he set nine official light plane world records, three of which still stan ...

, aviator * James Earle Fraser (1876–1953), sculptor, designer of the Buffalo Nickel and the "End of the Trail" statue *

Paul Giel Paul Robert Giel (February 29, 1932 – May 22, 2002) was an American college football and professional baseball player from Winona, Minnesota. He was an All-American in both sports at the University of Minnesota. Collegiate career Giel at ...

, athlete, two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, member of

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vo ...

* Mabel Farrington Gifford, expert on speech defects and disorders * James "J. R." Keller, state senator and representative * Bob Kierlin, businessman and politician * Alphonse Roy Lejk, politician * John G. McMynn, Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction *

William D. Mitchell William DeWitt Mitchell (September 9, 1874August 24, 1955) was an American attorney who had served as both Solicitor General of the United States under President Calvin Coolidge and United States Attorney General under President Herbert Hoover. ...

, United States Attorney General under presidents

Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a Republican lawyer from New England who climbed up the ladder of Ma ...

and

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gre ...

* Thomas H. Moodie, North Dakota governor *

Anne Pellowski Anna Rose Pellowski, Polish American educator and author, was born June 28, 1933, on the family farm in the Trempealeau County town of Arcadia, Wisconsin, daughter of Alexander and Anna (Dorawa) Pellowski, both of whom were descended from Kashubian ...

, author, educator, and Kashubian American activist * Benjamin H. Randall, American politician and businessman, early settler to Minnesota Territory *

Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz (born October 29, 1971), professionally known as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Originally playing quirky roles, she rose to prominence for her more diverse performances in various genres in the 1990s. She has recei ...

, actress * Corey Schell, American professional bowhunter and archer * Charles Peter Schuler, Minnesota state legislator and businessman * Orlando Stevens, member of the state legislatures of

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...

and

Tom Stoa Tom Stoa (born July 7, 1951) was an American politician. Stoa lived in Winona, Minnesota and graduated from Winona Senior High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Winona State University and served in the United States Merchant Marines. ...

, Minnesota state legislator and beekeeper * Eleanor Joy Toll, Los Angeles-area educator and clubwoman * Joseph Ray Watkins, entrepreneur and founder of

Watkins Incorporated Watkins Incorporated is a manufacturer of health remedies, baking products, and other household items. Founded in 1868, Watkins Incorporated is based in Winona, Minnesota, United States, which utilizes an omni-channel marketing strategy which ...

* Julie Wera, infielder with

1927 New York Yankees The 1927 New York Yankees season was the 25th season of the New York Yankees of the American League. The team finished with a record of 110–44–1, winning their fifth pennant and finishing 19 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics and we ...

* William Windom, actor * William Windom (1827–1891), member of both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate from Minnesota; later

Secretary of the Treasury The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...

* Cat Zingano, mixed martial artist * Eugenia Wheeler Goff (1844-1922), historian, cartographer, educator, and author

Sister cities

* Bytów,

Pomeranian Voivodeship Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomorskie Region, or Pomerania Province ( Polish: ''Województwo pomorskie'' ; ( Kashubian: ''Pòmòrsczé wòjewództwò'' ), is a voivodeship, or province, in northwestern Poland. The provincial capital is Gdańsk. Th ...

, Poland * Misato, Miyagi, Japan

Landmarks

is river bluff topped by a distinctive rock pinnacle, which was left after quarrying activity in the 19th century. It is located at the junction of Highway 61 and Highway 43/Mankato Avenue. * Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka is a historic Catholic church built in 1895 in the Polish Cathedral Style. * Lake Winona is separated from the

by downtown Winona. It is surrounded by a park, which contains the Winona Lake Park Bandshell and a recreation center. * Garvin Heights City Park is an overlook of the Mississippi River that is used to view a panorama of the city and surrounding area. * Merchants National Bank by Purcell and Elmslie the 1858 building on the left side was first an Econofoods opened in June 1992 and permanently closed in April 2012

References

External links

City of Winona, MN – Official WebsiteWinona Chamber of Commerce Visit Winona
{{Authority control Cities in Minnesota Cities in Winona County, Minnesota Minnesota populated places on the Mississippi River County seats in Minnesota Populated places established in 1852 Dakota toponyms Kashubian-American history Polish-American culture in Minnesota 1852 establishments in Minnesota Territory