Goodhue was incorporated in 1889. Goodhue formerly had a rail line running through the eastern edge of the incorporated area, roughly parallel to and west of State Highway 58. The Goodhue Area Historical Society was responsible for the construction of a museum in the community, which was named in honor of James M. Goodhue, a newspaperman who was the first editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Since the mid-1990s, Goodhue, like many Midwestern municipalities with medium to large elevator operations, has seen its housing base and population grow. The first significant growth in 20 years began with construction of several homes in an annexed area north of Third Avenue and west of Sixth Street known as "East side". Goodhue started their first website as http://www.cityofgoodhue.com in 2004 The Goodhue Wildcats won Class AState Championships in football in both 2003 and 2007. Also Goodhue Girls Basketball won Class A State Championship in 2016 and 2017.
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,176 people, 415 households, and 307 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 443 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 7.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.8% of the population. There were 415 households, of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couplesliving together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.37. The median age in the city was 30.6 years. 32.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.1% were from 25 to 44; 17.8% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 778 people, 293 households, and 196 families living in the city. The population density was 853.8 people per square mile. There were 298 housing units at an average density of 327.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 95.37% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 3.34% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% of the population. There were 293 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.28. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $43,250, and the median income for a family was $49,531. Males had a median income of $32,031 versus $21,765 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,873. About 1.0% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Gerald Heaney, United States federal appellate court judge, was born in Goodhue.
