Where Ross Lake Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ross Lake Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56431, 56447, 56441. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ross Lake Township
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Ross Lake Township
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Ross Lake Township runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 44% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ross Lake Township, and more people treating it
41.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 83.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
In Ross Lake Township, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 6.8% of working-age adults are uninsured (Minnesota 7.5%), yet 19.3% say their health is fair or poor, vs 16% across the state. Checkups ↓
Ross Lake Township is short on dental care and mental health care
Ross Lake Township’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
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 Ross Lake Township’s likely range; Ross Lake Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56431, 56447, 56441, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Ross Lake Township adults…
Ross Lake Township runs above MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Ross Lake Township is an older town: 44% 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 Ross Lake Township as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ross Lake Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Care in and near Ross Lake Township
No hospital or community health center in Ross Lake 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 Ross Lake 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Ross Lake Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ross Lake Township does better than Minnesota.
1 in 4 Ross Lake 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.
8.1% of Ross Lake Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Ross Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Pine Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Fairfield Township | — | — | — | — |
Little Pine Township and Fairfield 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 Ross Lake Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ross Lake Township
Why doesn’t Ross Lake 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 Ross Lake Township.
What hospital is closest to Ross Lake Township?
Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin, 12.0 miles in a straight line from Ross Lake 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 Ross Lake 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.