Madelia Campground at Watona Park

Madelia is a community with a long and rich history, founded in 1857 by Philander Hartshorn. The name Madelia is that of his daughter who died at the young age of 13. Madelia was the first city in Watonwan County and at one time was the county seat. The city originally was built along the banks of the Watonwan River and due to significant flooding…

Madelia is a community with a long and rich history, founded in 1857 by Philander Hartshorn. The name Madelia is that of his daughter who died at the young age of 13. Madelia was the first city in Watonwan County and at one time was the county seat. The city originally was built along the banks of the Watonwan River and due to significant flooding the business district was moved to its current location on higher ground. Madelia’s downtown area includes the Pioneer Bank which is on the National Register of Historic Buildings and has a number of unique structures.