Where Birch Lake Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Birch Lake Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 56452. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Birch Lake Township
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Birch Lake Township
1 in 9 adults have heart disease (11.1%), about twice the Minnesota rate. 1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.6%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 5.3%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Birch Lake Township runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 41% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Birch Lake Township, and more people treating it
44.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 85.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
More Birch Lake Township adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.8%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
The nearest ER is 29 miles from Birch Lake Township
The closest emergency room is St. Josephs Area Health Services in Park Rapids, 29.1 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Minnesota figure falls outside Birch Lake Township’s likely range; Birch Lake Township’s figures come from ZIP code 56452, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Birch Lake Township adults…
Birch Lake Township runs above MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Birch Lake Township is an older town: 41% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Birch Lake Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Birch Lake Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Birch Lake Township
No hospital or community health center in Birch Lake Township itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Birch Lake Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Birch Lake Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Birch Lake Township does better than Minnesota.
1 in 4 Birch Lake Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.6% of Birch Lake Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Birch Lake Township and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackensack | — | — | — | — | |
| Hiram Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Woodrow Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Powers Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Turtle Lake Township | — | — | — | — |
Hackensack, Hiram Township, Woodrow Township, Powers Township and Turtle Lake Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Birch Lake Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Birch Lake Township
Why doesn’t Birch Lake Township have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Birch Lake Township.
What hospital is closest to Birch Lake Township?
St. Josephs Area Health Services in Park Rapids, 29.1 miles in a straight line from Birch Lake Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Birch Lake Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.