Pope County (pop. 10,995), west of Sauk Centre and south of Alexandria, has more than 200 lakes.

The county’s largest lake is Lake Minnewaska – not to be confused with Lake Minnewashta (in Carver County),  Lake Minnewawa (in Aitkin County), or Lake Minnetonka (in Hennepin County).

There’s also a Lake Minnewaska in New York.

Pope County was named for John Pope, a Civil War general in the Union army.

Gen. John Pope

The county seat is Glenwood (pop. 2,564), located at the east end of Lake Minnewaska.

The Pope County Courthouse was built in 1930 and renovated in 2012.

Beaux Arts style

The town of Starbuck (pop. 1,302) does not have a Starbucks coffeehouse; the nearest one is in Alexandria, about 25 miles away.

The town of Long Beach (pop. 335) is adjacent to Lake Minnewaska.

Catching a wave

Glacial Lakes State Park, south of Starbuck, preserves an area of rolling prairie and offers swimming, boating, and fishing on Lake Singalness.

Autumn at Glacial Lakes State Park

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