Wabasha is named after the MdewakantonDakota mixed-blood chiefs Wapi-sha, or red leaf, father, son, and grandson of the same name. The second, Wabishaw the son, signed the 1830 USA treaty with the "Confederated Tribes of the Sacs and Foxes; the Medawah-Kanton, Wahpacoota, Wahpeton and Sissetong Bands or Tribes of Sioux; the Omahas, Ioways, Ottoes and Missourias" in Prairie du Chien. The grandson, Wabasha III , signed the 1851 and 1858 treaties that ceded the southern half of what is now the state of Minnesota to the United States, beginning the removal of his band to the Minnesota River, then removal from Minnesota to Crow Creek Reservation in Dakota Territory, then lastly to the Santee Reservation in Nebraska, where the last chief Wabasha died.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,521 people, 1,144 households, and 654 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population. There were 1,144 households of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couplesliving together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.8% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age in the city was 48.8 years. 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 26.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,599 people, 1,062 households, and 665 families living in the city. The population density was 318.4 people per square mile. There were 1,166 housing units at an average density of 142.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 97.96% White, 0.69% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population. There were 1,062 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.85. In the city, the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $35,291, and the median income for a family was $45,391. Males had a median income of $34,223 versus $24,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,374. About 5.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Upon entering Wabasha you will see a sign reading "Welcome to Wabasha, Home of Grumpy Old Men". This is a tribute to the 1993 filmGrumpy Old Men and its 1995 sequel Grumpier Old Men, both of which use the city as a setting. Though many of the places mentioned in the films can be found in Wabasha, most location shots actually were filmed in other Minnesota communities. The only scene filmed near Wabasha was the "snow angel" scene, filmed in nearby Red Wing.
