[2] The county was created on May 23, 1857, named for the river in Germantown Township ("cottonwood" is the English meaning of the Dakota Sioux word "Waraju").

They met at a home about six miles northwest of Windom on the Des Moines River at Big Bend.

During this meeting, they designated the commissioners' districts and changed various county officers.

[5] The Heron Lake Outflow flows east through the lower part of Cottonwood County.

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.

The southwestern part drains south through the Des Moines River.

28.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.