Winsted, MN

Winsted is a McLeod County city on the west shore of Winsted Lake, about 18 miles north-northeast of Glencoe. The 2020 census counted 2,240 residents. The post office has been here since 1858, and the name comes from Winsted, Connecticut - a blend of Winchester and Barkhamsted. The lake sits in the middle of town, with public swimming, boating, fishing, and the Luce Line State Trail nearby. Ice, boats, and trail traffic change the view through the year, so the same lake town never looks quite the same twice.

Summer and winter festivals give the center a regular pulse, while Winstock Country Music Festival brings a much bigger crowd and supports the Holy Trinity Catholic school system. Winsted Elementary and Holy Trinity schools keep education close to the local map, and Howard Lake is just seven miles north. Winsted is a lake town with a Connecticut name, a festival weekend, and a street plan that still makes room for water in the middle.