Windom balances convenience with country living
Windom is a small Midwest community with the amenities of a larger metropolis. “We’re the county seat and a rural town that’s had pretty good industries since 1950,” says Realtor Gary Vanderwerf with River’s Edge Realty, who has sold in the area for around 25 years. The city has an industrial park with manufacturing plants, processing facilities and distribution centers that supply hundreds of local jobs. Residents also have access to medical care at the Windom Area Hospital, which is opening a new four-story building in 2025. “For a town our size, we have great medical facilities,” Vanderwerf says. Complete with department stores and state highways, Windom offers convenience without the congestion and costs of big city living.
A robust park system with recreation on water, ice and land
Windom has numerous reservoirs nearby for ice, shore and boat fishing. Tegels Park rests on the banks of Cottonwood Lake, and Island Park, along the Des Moines River features various public facilities and a campground. Island Park has football and baseball fields, a canoe launch and a swimming pool. Windom Arena provides indoor amenities, including an ice rink, athletic courts and an equestrian center. The arena hosts rodeos and horse shows throughout the year and during the Cottonwood County Fair. The Windom Recreation Area is a relatively new addition to the system with baseball fields, trails and a sledding hill. Mayflower Park has a disc golf course, and Windom Country Club’s golf course is open to the public.
Single-story architecture dominates the market
Housing options primarily consist of single-family ranch-style homes and Capes. Most sell between $100,000 and $350,000, though houses in need of renovations and large properties may fall outside this range. Streets typically have a suburban layout with densely packed lots, and driveways keep parked cars out of the streets. Sidewalks are common in some areas, and residents often walk their dogs, jog or bike on the roads.
A town square centered around commercial development
The Cottonwood County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits in the heart of Windom. Local businesses and boutiques surround the Neo-Classical structure, which is lined with grass, walking paths and benches. “A lot of places in the Midwest are built around a square with a courthouse in the middle, and ours is probably the farthest area north that you’ll see that,” Vanderwerf says. Apart from this central shopping district, a stretch of stores, gas stations and fast-food spots dot Minnesota Highway 60. The city has a Hy-Vee supermarket and a Runnings store for houseware, farm supplies and tools. The nearest Walmart is 30 miles away in Worthington. Windom has a Duffy’s Bar & Grill, known for its rustic atmosphere and wood cabin layout. Phat Pheasant Pub and Jack Slade’s Steakhouse share a space and serve home-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Education through the Windom Public School District
Children begin at Windom Area Elementary before transitioning to Windom Middle and Windom Senior High. All three schools score B ratings on Niche. Southwest West Central Service Cooperative’s Alternative Learning Centers are also available, and students can complete graduation requirements through STARRS Online Academy.
A small community with plenty of traditions and activities
The city has numerous annual events, and the Windom Community Center hosts private gatherings. The Market on the Square is a recurring farmers market throughout the warm months, and the Windom State Theater has played blockbuster movies for over 110 years. Riverfest kicks off the summer with a parade, car show and contests, including a beauty pageant, fishing competitions and a mini tractor pedal pull for kids. During the holidays, people gather for Christmas by Candlelight to visit Santa and listen to carolers.
Three major highways run through town
U.S. Route 71 and Minnesota state highways 60 and 62 are the area’s main thoroughfares. “It’s a quiet town, so other than on Highway 60, you don’t have to wait for traffic to clear,” Vanderwerf says. The city is 150 miles southwest of Minneapolis and about 92 miles from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Windom has no regular buses, and the closest flights take off from Minneapolis.
