ABOUT HOUSTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA
Houston County is located in the southeastern corner of Minnesota. It is bordered on the east by the Mississippi River, Winona County to the north, Fillmore County to the west and Allamakee County, Iowa to the south. It is about 24 miles from north to south and nearly that from east to west, divided into seventeen townships. The county’s location made it a natural entry point into Minnesota when settlers were moving west. The opening of the land office in Brownsville in 1854 handled the early land claims in the county.
Houston County is in the Driftless area, which is the small area of the Midwest that escaped glaciation in the last glacial period. Deeply carved valleys, limestone bluffs and hardwood woodlands are characteristics of the beautiful topography. The natural springs and trout streams, the Root River, and abundant wildlife make this a destination for hunting, fishing, camping and snowmobiling. Beaver State Park is located 3 ½ miles northwest of Caledonia. Agriculture is one of the largest industries with good farmland soils of windblown loess.
The communities found in the county are Brownsville, Caledonia (the county seat), Eitzen, Freeburg, Hokah, Houston, La Crescent, Money Creek, Sheldon, and Spring Grove.