Steele County Demographics
A map of Steele County's Population by Race
Steele County, Minnesota has an estimated population of 37,439, a less than 1% change from the 37,406 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.5% White, 8.9% Hispanic, 3.3% Black, 3.2% Multiracial, 0.7% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Steele County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Steele has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Minnesota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Steele County, that probability was 28.7% in 2020 and 29.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Steele County is ranked the 28th most populous county in Minnesota, out of 87 counties. Steele County was ranked the 28th most populous county in the 2020 Census.
Steele County's White Population
31,246 residents of Steele County, or 83.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Steele County is higher than in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Steele County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Steele County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Steele County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 83.5%.
Steele County is more White than neighboring Rice County (77.2% White), Freeborn County (81.5% White), and Mower County (72.5% White). Steele County is less White than neighboring Waseca County (87.2% White), and Dodge County (89.4% White).
Steele County's Black Population
1,219 residents of Steele County, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Steele County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Steele County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Steele County's Black population has declined by an estimated 10.3%. Black residents' share of Steele County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.3%.
Steele County is more Black than neighboring Waseca County (1% Black), Dodge County (1.1% Black), and Freeborn County (1.5% Black). Steele County is less Black than neighboring Rice County (6.7% Black), and Mower County (3.4% Black).
Steele County's Asian Population
275 residents of Steele County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Steele County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Steele County ranks 32nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Steele County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 16.7%. Asian residents' share of Steele County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.
Steele County is more Asian than neighboring Dodge County (0.5% Asian). Steele County is less Asian than neighboring Rice County (2.3% Asian), Waseca County (1.8% Asian), Freeborn County (3.5% Asian), and Mower County (6.2% Asian).
Steele County's Hispanic Population
3,326 residents of Steele County, or 8.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Steele County is slightly higher than in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Steele County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Steele County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Steele County's population has increased from 8.4% to 8.9%.
Steele County is more Hispanic than neighboring Waseca County (7.3% Hispanic), and Dodge County (5.4% Hispanic). Steele County is less Hispanic than neighboring Rice County (10.5% Hispanic), Freeborn County (10.8% Hispanic), and Mower County (13.6% Hispanic).
Steele County's Native American/Other Population
162 residents of Steele County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Steele County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Steele County ranks 80th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Steele County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 14.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Steele County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.
Steele County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Rice County (0.6% Native American/Other), Waseca County (0.7% Native American/Other), Dodge County (0.6% Native American/Other), Freeborn County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Mower County (1.3% Native American/Other).
Steele County's Multiracial Population
1,211 residents of Steele County, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Steele County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Steele County ranks 57th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Steele County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 14.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Steele County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.2%.
Steele County is more Multiracial than neighboring Rice County (2.8% Multiracial), Waseca County (2% Multiracial), Dodge County (3% Multiracial), Freeborn County (2.2% Multiracial), and Mower County (2.9% Multiracial).
Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.