Bridge No. 5265-Garrison · National Register of Historic Places
Garrison’s story
142 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1884Garrison is settled
GarrisonMN
A town of 201, settled in 1884.
Garrison Concourse · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
201
2025 Census estimate · +4.7% since 2020
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
61.5
years
Jobs based here
195
A job hub
Is Garrison a good place to live?
Garrison’s median age is 61.5 years, above both Minnesota’s towns (39.9 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 274 in Minnesota we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Garrison. Garrison has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Garrison Concourse. Garrison has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Garrison stand out
Where Garrison beats most towns.
Small town
201 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Garrison: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Garrison, and how to reach them.
PowerMille Lacs Energy Cooperative17.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGarrison Bay Resort water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Garrison’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn 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).vote.govWho runs elections hereCrow Wing County ElectionsCrow Wing County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5645056450 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Garrison.
Work & commute
Garrison stands out in Minnesota and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
Garrison’s median household income is $51,000, where Minnesota’s towns sit at $90,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. 13% of residents live below the poverty line in Garrison. Since 2013, Garrison has lost 44 jobs, to 195 in 2023.
6%work in town
| Garrison | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 6% | 9.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Garrison6%
Brainerd20%
Kathio Township8%
Onamia5%
Aitkin4%
19 mi
median commute distance
195
jobs based in Garrison
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Garrison has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Garrison has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Garrison’s July high is 80°F.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–23°
Spring30–52°
Summer55–78°
Fall35–54°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Garrison
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 63% of U.S. communities.
63risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
Compared with most of Minnesota and the rest of the country, more of Garrison’s adults have high blood pressure
43% of Garrison adults have high blood pressure. Among 272 Minnesota towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Garrison. 22% of Garrison adults have been diagnosed with depression.
| Garrison | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 31% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 10% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
5 better14 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Garrison | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.6% | 9.3% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.8% | 17.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.5% | 5.9% |
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
13.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
3.6%conserved
| Garrison | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.6% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
3.6%
conserved · 24 of 666 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Garrison Concourse Wayside Park | 0.1 mi | 2 |
| 2. Jake Regan Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Housing
A home in Garrison sells for about $455K at the median
The median rent in Garrison is $925 a month.
$455Kmedian sale price
| Garrison | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $925 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 73% | 75% | 73% |
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 8 attractions →Mille Lacs Lake and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Garrison. Close and well known come first.
10 mi LakeMille Lacs Lake11 mi Theme parkPaul Bunyan Land
2 mi AttractionKenney Lake Overlook
9 mi MuseumMille Lacs Indian Museum20 mi GardenNorthland ArboretumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mille Lacs Lake: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kenney Lake Overlook: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mille Lacs Indian Museum: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Garrison
17pages on Garrison
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Garrison; the nearest are
Central Lakes College-BrainerdCommunity college · Public · Brainerd18.9 mi$6,249 in-state tuitionSaint Cloud State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Cloud53.8 mi$10,245 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Garrison residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
A job hub
Every workday, about 190 people come to Garrison for work
Where Garrison’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
195jobs based in Garrison
6%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
2 places in Garrison on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Garrison
City in Minnesota, United States
Garrison is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States, along Mille Lacs Lake. As of the 2020 census, Garrison had a population of 194. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 18 are the main routes in the community.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,257 ft
- ZIP code
- 56450
- Area code
- 320
Questions about Garrison
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Garrison, MN a good place to live?
Garrison has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.