LeafRiverTownHall, 2020
Leaf River Township’s story
146 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2020.
- 1880Leaf River Township is settled
Leaf River TownshipMN
A town of 489, settled in 1880.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0
Population
489
2025 Census estimate · +4% since 2020
Median home value
$221K
Census ACS
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
39.2
years
Jobs based here
45
A commuter town
Is Leaf River Township a good place to live?
Leaf River Township’s January low is -1°F, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 6°F and U.S. towns at 22°F. Among 274 Minnesota towns, just 5 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Leaf River Township. Leaf River Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
489 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
WadenaWadena TownshipRockwood TownshipBluffton TownshipWing River TownshipLeaf River Township
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Leaf River Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Leaf River Township, and how to reach them.
PowerTodd-Wadena Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterWadena water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Leaf River Township’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 hereWadena County CourthouseWadena County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5648256482 99%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 Leaf River Township.
Work & commute
Leaf River Township has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Leaf River Township for work: only 2% work in town. At 27 minutes, Leaf River Township’s average trip to work is against 23 minutes in Minnesota’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. 11% of Leaf River Township residents live below the poverty line.
2%work in town
| Leaf River Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.5% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 7% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Leaf River Township2%
Wadena25%
Staples11%
New York Mills7%
Motley4%
19 mi
median commute distance
45
jobs based in Leaf River Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Leaf River Township, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Leaf River Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Leaf River Township is 80°F.
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter3–22°
Spring30–52°
Summer56–78°
Fall35–54°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Leaf River Township stands out in Minnesota and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent physical distress
15% of adults report frequent physical distress in Leaf River Township. Leaf River Township beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 21% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Leaf River Township.
| Leaf River Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 23% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 12% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better13 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Leaf River Township | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.7% | 76.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.5% | 5.4% |
Astera Health
4.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Leaf River Township
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities.
44risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
Leaf River Township has set aside 0.4% of its land for conservation
3.7 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. Leaf River Township’s trail density is 0.1 miles per square mile.
0.4%conserved
| Leaf River Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.4% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
0.4%
conserved · 83 of 22,366 acres
3.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Leaf River Township
16pages on Leaf River Township
The big questions
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Leaf River Township; the nearest are
Central Lakes College-BrainerdCommunity college · Public · Brainerd43.1 mi$6,249 in-state tuitionBemidji State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Bemidji68.7 mi$10,237 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Leaf River Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Leaf River Township for work
Where Leaf River Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
45jobs based in Leaf River Township
2%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Leaf River Township
Ghost town in Minnesota, United States
Leaf River, or Leafriver, is a ghost town in section 22 of Leaf River Township, Wadena County, Minnesota, United States. Today the town has a population around 50. There is a restaurant, a golf course, an old school house and a residential community.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Questions about Leaf River Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Leaf River Township, MN a good place to live?
Leaf River Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.