Where Fern Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fern Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56678, 56601. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fern Township
Fern Township is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Fern Township’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
COPD and arthritis run high in Fern Township
1 in 15 adults have COPD (6.6%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (26.6%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. In all, Fern Township runs above Minnesota on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Fern Township
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.2%), vs 13.1% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
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 Fern Township’s likely range; Fern Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56678, 56601, which may reach past town lines.
Care in and near Fern Township
No hospital or community health center in Fern 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 Fern 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).
Out of every 100 Fern Township adults…
Fern Township runs above MN on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
35 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Fern Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Fern Township adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Fern 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.
9% of Fern Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Fern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwood Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Bear Creek Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake Hattie Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Jones Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Grant Valley Township | B | 37.4% | 10.3% | 16% | ZIP 56601 |
Rockwood Township, Bear Creek Township, Lake Hattie Township and Jones 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 Fern Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Fern Township
Why doesn’t Fern 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 Fern Township.
What hospital is closest to Fern Township?
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center in Bemidji, 14.1 miles in a straight line from Fern Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fern 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.