1853Government
== History ==
Whites settled in the Owatonna area in 1853 around the Straight River.
1854Government
The earliest the Owatonna area was settled was in 1854.
1855Government
It was platted in September 1855, incorporated as a town on August 9, 1858, and as a city on February 23, 1865.
1856Government
In 1856, Josef Karel Kaplan emigrated from the village of Dlouhá Třebová, southeast of Prague, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), and selected a quarter section [160 acres (65 ha...
1886Education
The Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children was built in 1886.
1908Architecture
Designed by Louis Sullivan, the building was finished in 1908 and features gold leaf arches, stained-glass windows, and nouveau Baroque art designs, all still in pristine condit...
1953Government
Peterson, mayor of Portland, Oregon, from 1953 to 1956
Connie Ruth, Minnesota state representative
Tom J.
1970Education
The Owatonna State School was closed June 30, 1970.
1974History
In 1974, the City purchased the compound for its office space.
1995Education
== Media ==
=== AM radio ===
=== FM Radio ===
=== Film location ===
Parts of the 1995 movie Angus were filmed in and around Owatonna, including Owatonna Senior High School...
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, 22,434 people, 8,704 households, and 5,936 families resided in the city.
2008History
In July 2008, a Raytheon Hawker 800 corporate jet crashed near Owatonna, resulting in eight deaths.
2010Disaster
Record rainfall events from September 22 to 24, 2010, caused flooding of the Straight River and Maple Creek in and near Owatonna, with developments in the floodplains of both st...
2012History
Owatonna is in House District 24A, represented by State Representative John Petersburg, a Republican, since 2012.
2014Education
Much of the 2014 silent film The Root of Evil was shot on location in Owatonna, most notably at the Owatonna Senior High School and the Gainey Center.
2015Education
On November 3, 2015, the Owatonna Public School District passed a bond referendum to fund school facilities improvements focusing on deferred maintenance, safety, and Elementary...
2018Architecture
All facility changes and projects were completed by September 2018.
2019Education
On November 5, 2019, Owatonna voters approved a referendum, allowing the school district 104 million dollars in bond authority to build a new Owatonna High School.
2021Education
The new high school, a 317,000 square foot building, located in south eastern Owatonna, broke ground on May 6, 2021, and opened to students on September 5, 2023.
2023History
A public grand opening ceremony was held on September 23, 2023.