Steele County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was named for Franklin Steele, a prominent early resident of the state. As of 2000, the population was 33,680. Its county seat is Owatonna.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 432 square miles (1,119 kmē), of which 430 square miles (1,113 kmē) is land and 3 square miles (7 kmē) (0.61%) is water. The Straight River flows northwardly through the county, and the Le Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of the Zumbro River has its headwaters in the northeastern part of the county.
