Living in Climax, MN: what to set up and who to call
The Climax water system reported 3 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: arsenic ×3. 77% of systems its size reported none. For emergencies, Climax is closest to Riverview Hospital, 14.5 miles away.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Climax, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Climax.
Power comes from Otter Tail Power
Otter Tail Power (Otter Tail Power Co), an investor-owned utility, serves 62.1% of Climax residents. Its homes paid an average of 11.3¢ per kWh in 2025, about $102 a month (its average across Minnesota).
Start or move service: ottertail.com · (866) 410-8780
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Climax water system
The Climax water system supplies almost all of Climax. It buys treated ground water (EPA lists East Central Regional Wd-Gf as seller) and serves 223 people in all.
3 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: arsenic ×3, the latest beginning Jul 2022. 77% of the 15,074 systems serving 101–500 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan–Jun 2026, was 0.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. Results below detection are reported as 0, so 0 doesn’t mean no lead at any tap.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. MN1600001.
2 home internet providers serve Climax
100% of 121 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 100% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halstad Telephone | Fiber | 100% | 1,000/1,000 |
| T-Mobile | Fixed wireless | 61% | 25/3 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Climax’s trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Climax.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Climax is in Climax-Shelly Public Schools.
Test scores and every school: see Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Jun 2025; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Climax is in ZIP code 56523
ZIP codes where Climax residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Climax | ZIP’s residents in Climax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56523 | Climax, MN | 100% | 51% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Climax
Who supplies Climax’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Climax water system (EPA ID MN1600001). It reported 3 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: arsenic ×3. 77% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 0.0 ppb (Jan–Jun 2026), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Climax?
Otter Tail Power (Otter Tail Power Co), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 11.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Climax?
Halstad Telephone, T-Mobile (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Climax?
56523. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Climax in?
Climax-Shelly Public Schools.
How do I register to vote in Climax?
In Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before). Elections here are run by the Polk County Taxpayer Service Center. Check your registration at mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.