The Des Moines River flows through Windom and serves as a gentle, rapid-free canoeing spot.

[9] Judson W. Bishop named the city after William Windom, who served as a United States senator from Minnesota from 1881 to 1883 and was United States Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents James Garfield, Chester Arthur and Benjamin Harrison.

[11] Windom is on the Coteau des Prairies, a ridge extending from South Dakota to Iowa separating Cottonwood County into two watersheds.

[13] The average winter temperature in Windom is 16 °F (−9 °C), in spring 44.7 °F (7.1 °C), in summer 69.8 °F (21.0 °C), and in fall 46.1 °F (7.8 °C).

35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Windom is in Minnesota's 7th congressional district, represented by Michelle Fischbach, a Republican.

[19] Before a new city charter was introduced on June 20, 1984,[20] council members in Windom were called alderpersons.

[26] The town is served by the Cottonwood County Citizen, a weekly newspaper.

It also has two private or church preschools: Busy Bees and Sunshine School.

Windom Area Middle/High School was home to students grade 4-12 due to renovations in 2003.

[31] The school is led by Principal Bryan Joyce and Superintendent Jamie Frank.

[32] Windom holds an annual summer festival, Riverfest, during the second weekend of June.

Other activities include fireworks, Vickie Schendel 5K Walk/Run, tennis tourney, fishing tourney, turtle races, kiddie tractor pull, street dance, and a grand parade.

Activities included a chili feed, open fires, dodgeball, snow sculpting, and the Darn Cold Croquet Contest.