Why Red Wing?

The City of Red Wing, Minnesota, is situated on the Mississippi River at the headwaters of Lake Pepin, approximately50 miles southeast of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The City was incorporated in 1857 and serves as the county seat of Goodhue County. 

With the consolidation of Burnside Township and the City in 1971, Red Wing’s size increased fivefold, from approximately 8 square miles to more than 40 square miles. The community originally developed around the major bend in the Mississippi River and grew outward from there, with most of the early growth occurring to the south and west, which now comprise Red Wing’s historic downtown and neighborhoods. Subsequent development, primarily residential, expanded the City southward into the valleys and up the bluffs. The Prairie Island Indian Community(PIIC), which encompasses approximately 1,670 acres, is located in the northwest corner of the City. This community is a separate jurisdiction and has an estimated population of 170.

The City continues to grow as a regional center for business and retail trade, medical care, education, and culture and recreation. Downtown Red Wing is, and always will be, the heart of the City, and in fact, could be considered the heart of the region. As the historic foundation of the City, downtown is a diverse activity center hosting a large variety of civic uses and services, retail shops and services, restaurants, and many of the City’s main cultural and entertainment attractions. Downtown also houses many of the City’s major employers including Red Wing Shoe Company, St. James Hotel, Goodhue County, and the City of Red Wing. Downtown has a number of anchor destinations such as the St. James Hotel, Riverfront Centre, Red Wing YMCA, Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts, City Hall, Red Wing Public Library, the Depot Gallery, and Red Wing Shoe Museum.

Red Wing takes pride in the quality of its residential neighborhoods, both new neighborhoods developing on raw land at the edge of the community and existing neighborhoods that are key to the historical identity of Red Wing. The City is gaining recognition for its sustainability efforts, and it is also a top-ranked Minnesota “Green Step City” in sustainability and quality-of-life goals.

Red Wing’s parks and natural settings are highly valued by its residents. The City’s wide range of parks offer spectacular views, playground equipment, event facilities, sports fields, a splash pad, band shell, and much more. Trails throughout the City offer opportunities for biking/mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The City’s high points offer tremendous opportunities to view the Cannon and Mississippi River Valleys and also offer great “bird’s eye” views of the City.

Red Wing’s primary waterway is the Mississippi River which is fed by the Vermillion River, Cannon River, Spring Creek, and Hay Creek, all of which run through Red Wing. These rivers and creeks contribute mightily to Red Wing’s identity as a river town, and they are remnants of historic flows that carved Red Wing’s dramatic topography. The Ole Miss Marina, a two-site 284-slip marina, sits on the Mississippi River and is owned and operated by the City of Red Wing.

Arts and culture flourish in this small town, which is home to The Sheldon Theatre, the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and Hobgoblin Music Loft. The town is also noted as the home of Red Wing Shoes and Red Wing Pottery. Within one mile of downtown, you will also find six museums – Aliveo Military Museum, American Ski Jumping Museum, Goodhue County History Center, Pottery Museum of Red Wing, Red Wing Marine Museum, and Red Wing Shoes Museum.

From big box stores, to boutiques and antiques, Red Wing’s historic downtown main street area and west end district offer quite a shopping experience. You will also find local foods, breweries and wineries, and all the other dining options in between, scattered throughout the City.

Throughout the year, folks can enjoy an endless number of community events and gatherings. Some of the popular events include the Big Turn Music Festival, the Flyway Film Festival, Holiday Stroll, River City Days, and the Rolling River Music Festival.