Where Shell Lake Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Shell Lake Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56501, 56570, 56578, 56575. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shell Lake Township
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Shell Lake Township
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.9%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Shell Lake Township runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, COPD and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Shell Lake Township is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Shell Lake 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 ↓
More high blood pressure in Shell Lake Township, and more people treating it
40.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
In Shell Lake Township, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 7.5% 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 ↓
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 Shell Lake Township’s likely range; Shell Lake Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56501, 56570, 56578, 56575, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Shell Lake Township adults…
Shell Lake Township runs above MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Shell Lake Township is an older town: 30% 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 Shell Lake Township as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Shell Lake Township
No hospital or community health center in Shell 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 Shell 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Shell Lake 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.
11 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves
How Shell Lake Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Shell Lake Township does better than Minnesota.
1 in 4 Shell 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.
9.3% of Shell Lake Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Shell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carsonville Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Toad Lake Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Height of Land Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Round Lake Township | — | — | — | — |
Carsonville Township, Toad Lake Township, Height of Land Township and Round Lake 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 Shell Lake Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Shell Lake Township
Why doesn’t Shell 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 Shell Lake Township.
What hospital is closest to Shell Lake Township?
St. Josephs Area Health Services in Park Rapids, 19.4 miles in a straight line from Shell Lake Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Shell 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.