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 parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

Winona County, Minnesota Winona County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 49,671. Its county seat is Winona. Winona County comprises the Winona Micropolitan Statistical Area. History The Wisconsin Territory was es ...

, United States. Located in bluff country on the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf. The population was 25,948 at the 2020 census.

History

The site was of the village of Keoxa of

Dakota people The Dakota (pronounced , or ) are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe (Native American), tribe and First Nations in Canada, First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultur ...

. The city is named after Winona, a figure in a

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin ( ; Dakota/ Lakota: ) are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations people from the Great Plains of North America. The Sioux have two major linguistic divisions: the Dakota and Lakota peoples (translati ...

legend. 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 consisting of 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 (state), New York to the west and by the ...

.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. Their various meanings depend on the context, and may refer to New Englanders, the Northeastern United Stat ...

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

Poles Pole or poles may refer to: People *Poles (people), another term for Polish people, from the country of Poland * Pole (surname), including a list of people with the name * Pole (musician) (Stefan Betke, born 1967), German electronic music artist ...

and closely related

Kashubians The Kashubians (; ; ), 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 north-central Poland. Their settlement area is ...

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 List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

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. The term ''steamboat'' is used to refer to small steam-powered vessels worki ...

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

wheat Wheat is a group of wild and crop domestication, domesticated Poaceae, grasses of the genus ''Triticum'' (). They are Agriculture, cultivated for their cereal grains, which are staple foods around the world. Well-known Taxonomy of wheat, whe ...

milling, and lumber production. In 1856, more than 1,300 steamboats stopped at Winona. The Winona and St. Peter Railroad first segment of from Winona to

Stockton, Minnesota Stockton is a city in Winona County, Minnesota, Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 809 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Stockton was platted in 1856. The city was named after J. B. Stockton, an ear ...

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, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...

to St. Anthony Falls.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. In 1892, a

wagon A wagon (or waggon) is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by Working animal#Draft animals, draft animals or on occasion by humans, used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies and sometimes people. Wagons are i ...

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 In theatre, a shell (also known as an acoustical shell, choral shell or bandshell) is a curved, hard surface designed to reflect sound towards an audience. Often shells are designed to be removable, either rolling away on wheels or lifting into ...

was completed in 1924 for outdoor musical performances and events. The Winona Municipal Band holds concerts there during the summer.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, 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 ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known ...

to the west,

Homer Homer (; , ; possibly born ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient 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. Despite doubts about his autho ...

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 La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 20 ...

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

driftless area The Driftless Area, also known as Bluff Country and the Paleozoic Plateau, is a topographic and cultural region in the Midwestern United States that comprises southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme ...

, a region never covered by ice during the last ice age, that includes southeastern

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, northeastern

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, southwestern

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

and northwestern

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

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 for regular dwelling. Most houseboats are not motorized, as they are usually moored or kept stationary, fixed at a Berth (moorings), berth, and often tethered to ...

("Boathouse") residents for several decades. 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). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...

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

Climate

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

Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...

to the city's southwest or in

Minneapolis Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

, to the northwest, which experiences a strong

urban heat island Urban areas usually experience the urban heat island (UHI) effect; that is, they are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. The temperature difference is usually larger at night than during the day, and is most apparent when winds ar ...

effect. Temperatures are generally very mild by Minnesota standards year-round; the January mean is , while that of July is . 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 cold ...

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

Demographics

2020 census

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

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

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 chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 2.8%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 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 () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

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 recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 population density was . There were 10,666 housing units at an average density of . 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, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

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

or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population. 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 average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

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.

Economy

Winona is home to the headquarters to many companies including

Fastenal Fastenal Company is an American publicly traded company based in Winona, Minnesota, founded in 1967. It placed 479 in the 2021 Fortune 500 based on its 2020 revenues, and its stock is a component of the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 stock market indi ...

, 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.

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 i ...

, a manufacturer of health remedies, baking products, and household goods, was founded in 1868 by J.R. Watkins in Plainview, Minnesota. The company relocated to Winona in 1885. By the early 20th century, J.R. Watkins had become one of the largest direct-sales companies in the United States. The company headquarters, a complex of seven buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Winona is also known as the

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

capital of the United States. Willet Hauser Architectural Glass, Inc is a North American stained glass firm located in Winona, Minnesota that specializes in the design, fabrication, preservation and restoration of leaded stained glass and faceted glass windows. The studio is one of the oldest in North America.

, headquartered in Winona., ranked number 479 in the 2021 Fortune 500 based on its 2020 revenues. In 2023 Fastenal fell to number 514. https://tcbmag.com/minnesota-now-has-15-fortune-500-companies/ Its stock is a component of the Nasdaq 100 index.

Top employers

According to the City's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

Architecture

In addition to the two NRHP historic districts, Winona has multiple buildings of architectural significance * Choate Department Store * Merchants National Bank Building * Watkins Incorporated Building * Winona Savings Bank Building * Winona Commercial Historic District * East Second Street Commercial Historic District

Culture

The city offers artistic venues and historical experiences. The city earned the nickname "Stained Glass Capital of the United States" for its stunning religious and secular stained glass pieces. The Great River Shakespeare Festival stages professional productions of Shakespeare's plays each summer, while the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts provides a full spectrum of artistic training and performances. The River Arts Alliance organizes educational programs, community events, and public art projects while fostering a collaborative artist community. Projects include poetry etched into sidewalks on the Winona Poetry Walk. The Winona County History Center, made up of two buildings, the historic Winona Armory and the modern Laird Norton Addition, offers exhibits in its museum and art gallery, and exploration of the region's history in their Laird Lucas Library and Archives.

Landmarks

* Sugar Loaf 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 is a bank building designed in the Prairie School architectural style. It was built in 1912 and features elaborate terracotta and stained-glass ornamentation.

Government

Winona is located in

Minnesota's 1st congressional district Minnesota's 1st congressional district spans 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 due to pop ...

, represented by

Brad Finstad Bradley Howard Finstad (born May 30, 1976) is an American politician, farmer, and agricultural consultant serving as the U.S. representative for since 2022. Finstad represents a large section of southern Minnesota situated along the border with ...

, 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 c ...

District 26A, represented by Republican Aaron Repinski. Nearby

District 28B is represented by Greg Davids, a Republican. Scott Sherman is mayor.

Education

Winona became the site of the first normal school west of the Mississippi in 1858 with the establishment of Winona Normal School (now

Winona State University Winona State University is a public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States. 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 fi ...

). 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 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 The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN) is a private Catholic university with its primary campuses in Winona and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It comprises an undergraduate residential college in Winona; graduate and professio ...

, 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 Winona Senior High School is a publicly funded high school in Winona, in Winona County, which is located in southeastern Minnesota in the United States. The high school has a population of over 800 students in grades 9–12. The school's mascot ...

. The Winona Area Catholic Schools system includes St. Nicholas Hall Primary School, St. Luke 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 a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices 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 ...

Montessori The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing ...

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 paper is owned by Lee Enterprises Lee Enterprises, Inc ...

'', a daily morning paper; and the ''Winona Post'', a weekly paper with a Wednesday edition.

Television

Winona receives TV signals from neighboring cities, including several channels each from

, Rochester,

Eau Claire Eau Claire (French for "clear water", ''pl.'' ''eaux claires'') is the name of a number of locations and features in North America. The name is pronounced as if it were spelled "O'Clare". Place names (Canada) Communities *Eau Claire, Calgary, a n ...

, 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 and typically containing 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 over ...

s and

ridge A ridge is a long, narrow, elevated geomorphologic landform, structural feature, or a combination of both separated from the surrounding terrain by steep sides. The sides of a ridge slope away from a narrow top, the crest or ridgecrest, wi ...

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

public broadcasting Public broadcasting (or public service broadcasting) is radio, television, and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service with a commitment to avoiding political and commercial influence. Public broadcasters receive f ...

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

Radio

FM

AM

Infrastructure

Transportation

U.S. Highway 14, U.S. Highway 61, 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), better known as the Milwaukee Road , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States, Midwest and Pacific Northwest, Northwest of the United States from 1847 ...

, Chicago & North Western,

Chicago Great Western The Chicago Great Western Railway was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. It was founded by Alpheus Beede Stickney in 1885 as a regional line between St. Paul and the Iowa state line called the Minnesota ...

and Green Bay & Western, with the Burlington Route trains stopping at a station across the river in Wisconsin. Only the former Milwaukee Road

station Station may refer to: Agriculture * Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production * Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle ** Cattle statio ...

remains and is now served by

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

's ''

Empire Builder The ''Empire Builder'' is a daily long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and either Seattle or Portland via two sections west of Spokane. Introduced in 1929, it was the flagship passenger train of the Great North ...

'' daily in each direction between

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

and

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...

, as well as the daily Borealis running between

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

and

. The Milwaukee Road is now owned by

Canadian Pacific The Canadian Pacific Railway () , 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 Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific Ka ...

, as is the

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

, 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, 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 except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...

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

Notable people

* Carol Bartz, former CEO of

Yahoo! Yahoo (, styled yahoo''!'' in its logo) is an American web portal that provides the search engine Yahoo Search and related services including My Yahoo, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo News, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Sports, y!entertainment, yahoo!life, and its a ...

, formerly of

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

* Charles H. Berry, first Attorney General of Minnesota * Bernhard Brenner, founder/president of Knitcraft Corporation, manufacturer of St. Croix luxury knitwear * Paul Breza, Roman Catholic priest and founder of Winona's Polish Cultural Institute and Museum * Robert Henry Brom, Roman Catholic bishop * Alec Brown,

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

player * 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. Cur ...

* Jan Romuald Byzewski OFM, pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish and founder of the Polish-language newspaper Wiarus * Tracy Caulkins, swimmer, three-time Olympic gold medalist * Max Conrad, 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 atten ...

, 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 Tourist attraction, attraction devoted to college football, college American football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players ...

* Mabel Farrington Gifford, expert on speech defects and disorders * Elliott Heath, distance runner * Garrett Heath, distance runner * James "J. R." Keller, state senator and representative *

Bob Kierlin Robert A. Kierlin (June 1, 1939 – February 10, 2025) was an American businessman and politician. Born in Winona, Minnesota, Kierlin graduated from Cotter High School in Winona. He received his bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and master' ...

, businessman and politician * Alphonse Roy Lejk, politician * John G. McMynn, Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction * William D. Mitchell, 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, serving from 1923 to 1929. A Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer from Massachusetts, he previously ...

and

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and ...

* Thomas H. Moodie, North Dakota governor *

Anne Pellowski Anna Rose Pellowski, (June 28, 1933 - June 14, 2023) was a Polish American educator, folklorist, and author. She was born on the family farm in the Trempealeau County town of Arcadia, Wisconsin, daughter of Alexander and Anna (Dorawa) Pellowski, bot ...

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

Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz (born ), known professionally as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Having come to attention playing quirky characters in the late 1980s, she achieved success with her more dramatic performances in the 1990s. Ryder's L ...

, actress, born in Winona and named after the city * 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 New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

and

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

* Julie Wera, infielder with 1927 New York Yankees * Eugenia Wheeler Goff (1844-1922), historian, cartographer, educator, and author *

William Windom William Windom may refer to: * William Windom (politician) (1827–1891), U.S. representative from Minnesota * William Windom (actor) (1923–2012), his great-grandson, American actor See also * William Windham (disambiguation) {{hndis, Wi ...

(1827–1891), member of both the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

and

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and House have the authority under Article One of the ...

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 Cat Zingano (née Albert; born July 1, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist, currently signed to Bellator MMA, competing in the Women's Featherweight division. Zingano also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and on Apri ...

, mixed martial artist

Sister cities

Bytów Bytów (; ; ) is a town in the Gdańsk Pomerania region of northern Poland with 16,730 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is the capital of Bytów County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. In the early Middle Ages a fortified stronghold stood nea ...

Pomeranian Voivodeship Pomeranian Voivodeship ( ; ) is a Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeship, or province, in northwestern Poland. The provincial capital is Gdańsk. The voivodeship was established on January 1, 1999, out of the former voivodeships of Gdańsk Voivo ...

, Poland * Misato, Miyagi, Japan

Gallery

File:Winona.jpg, View of city and Mississippi River from bluff top. File:Watkins Museum & Store.jpg, Watkins Museum File:PolishMuseumWinonaMN.jpg, Polish Cultural Institute and Museum File:Minnesota Marine Art Museum 2017.jpg, Minnesota Marine Art Museum File:Merchants National Bank entry.jpg, Merchants National Bank entry File:Winona Commercial HD 04.jpg, Winona Commercial Historic District File:German-American Bank Winona.jpg, Historic German-American Bank building File:Winona Commercial HD 02.jpg, Winona Commercial Historic District File:Winona Hotel.jpg, Historic Winona Hotel building File:East 2nd St Commercial HD 01.jpg, East Second Street Commercial Historic District File:Winona County Courthouse.jpg, Winona County Courthouse File:WinonaSavingsBank.JPG, Historic Winona Savings Bank building File:Winona City Hall 2.jpg, Winona City Hall

References

External links

City of Winona -- Official Website

Winona Chamber of Commerce
{{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