Rice County, Minnesota
Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,142. Its county seat is Faribault.
Rice County comprises the Faribault-Northfield, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 516 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (3.9%) is water. The Cannon River flows northeastwardly through the county, collecting the Straight River in Faribault. The North Fork of the Zumbro River has its headwaters in the southeastern part of the county. Rice is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils.
Lakes
Cannon Lake: almost entirely in Warsaw Township, but the far western part extends into Morristown Township
Caron Lake: in Shieldsville Township
Cedar Lake: in Shieldsville Township