Caledonia balances a rural landscape with economic opportunities
The small community of Caledonia takes full advantage of its rural location in southeastern Minnesota’s Driftless Area, a region of picturesque bluffs and valleys not far from the Wisconsin border. This part of the state, home to about 2,800, has been dubbed the Wild Turkey Capital of Minnesota and is renown for it hunting opportunities. Caledonia Haulers, Sno Pac Foods and Miken Sports help provide a strong economic footing here. Realtor Pete Peterson of Edina Realty describes it as a hardworking area, including when it comes to community support. "If they do any fundraiser, it is very beneficial because it's a close-knit community where they support their own," Peterson says.
Queen Anne, Victorian and other single-family home styles
Caledonia has a collection of older single-family homes, especially in the historic town center. Queen Anne and Victorian-style properties date from the late 19th century through the early 20th century and often maintain their original character with restored hardwood floors, fireplaces and woodwork. Further from the town center are midcentury ranch-style houses and split-levels. The median price is about $220,000, slightly lower than the nearby city of La Crosse.
Highly-rated Caledonia Area Public Schools
Highly-rated schools are a source of town pride. Caledonia Area Public Schools earns an overall B-plus from Niche and has one elementary school, one middle school and one high school, which also serve the surrounding communities. Caledonia Elementary earns the highest grade in the district with an A-minus. The B-rated Caledonia High is known for its strong athletics program. Until 2021, the football team boasted the longest active winning streak in the nation at 71 games.
Hunting, fishing and snowmobiling in the Minnesota countryside
Caledonia earned its "Wild Turkey Capital" title as the spot where the animals were reintroduced to the state in the early 1970s. Turkey and deer hunting are popular pastimes throughout the area. The nearby Beaver Creek Valley State Park contains nearly 1,200 acres of natural space to explore, including trout streams and 8 miles of hiking trails. Caledonia lives up to its name as the City for All Seasons, with winter activities such as snowmobiling. The Caledonia Sno-Gophers club helps to pack the trails and hosts safety classes for kids. Green spaces in the city include play equipment, sports fields and courts.
Downtown shops, restaurants and services
Shops, eateries and services are clustered in the town center. They include a coffee shop, a liquor store, a bakery and an antique store. Sol Agave Mexican Restaurant entered the scene in 2023 and offers classics such as tacos, fajitas and margaritas. Based out of a 1920s house, Farmhouse Eatery serves homestyle dishes such as broccoli chicken casserole and rhubarb crisp. It's open Tuesday through Friday and has an outdoor patio with umbrellas. Quillin's is the go-to grocery store in town. About 20 miles northeast, La Crosse has a larger selection of shopping and dining options.
Community events with a hometown spirit
Caledonia's community-led events speak to the hometown spirit. The town celebrates the fall at Wild Turkey Fest, featuring hot air balloon launches, turkey-themed games, a corn maze and other family-friendly activities. In mid-June, Founders' Day features a full weekend of events, including a classic car show, games and a parade through downtown. As the county seat, Caledonia also hosts the Houston County Fair in August, with 4-H competitions throughout the weekend. The fairgrounds also host a haunted house in October.
Highway connections to urban centers
Caledonia is near the meeting point of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. The town is mostly car-dependent, but Semcac Transportation provides door-to-door service to surrounding towns. State Highways 44 and 76 are the main routes and lead to the urban centers of La Crosse and Winona. Highway 76 connects to Interstate 90, a major east-west route through the state. La Crosse Regional Airport offers service to Chicago via American Airlines. La Crosse also has the nearest hospitals — Gundersen St. Joseph's and Mayo Clinic La Crosse Center for Advanced Medicine.
