Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0Where Cotton Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Cotton Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 55724. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cotton Township
Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run high in Cotton Township
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.5%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. Arthritis is also above the state: 30.8%, vs 22.3% across Minnesota. In all, Cotton Township runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 35% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, COPD and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 27 miles from Cotton Township
The closest emergency room is Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, 27.3 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Cotton Township, and more people treating it
38.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 82.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Cotton Township keeps up with checkups
It beats Minnesota on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (78.6% vs 74.8%) and cholesterol checks (89.3% vs 85.3%). Checkups ↓
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 Cotton Township’s likely range; Cotton Township’s figures come from ZIP code 55724, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Cotton Township adults…
Cotton Township runs above MN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Cotton Township is an older town: 35% 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 Cotton Township as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Cotton Township
No hospital or community health center in Cotton 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 Cotton 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Cotton 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.
14 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Cotton Township adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Cotton 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.
7.5% of Cotton Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Cotton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelsey Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Ellsburg Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Northland Township | — | — | — | — |
Kelsey Township, Ellsburg Township and Northland 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 Cotton Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Cotton Township
Why doesn’t Cotton 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 Cotton Township.
What hospital is closest to Cotton Township?
Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, 27.3 miles in a straight line from Cotton Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cotton 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.