Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 102, settled in 1923.
27% of residents live below the poverty line in Squaw Lake, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 7% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. No town among the 274 in Minnesota we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Squaw Lake. Squaw Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 132 in 1950, a peak of 162 in 1980, 98 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1919 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Squaw Lake, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Squaw Lake.
Squaw Lake has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 78°F, Squaw Lake’s July high is below both Minnesota’s towns (82°F) and U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
23% of Squaw Lake adults smoke cigarettes. Only 10 of the 272 Minnesota towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Squaw Lake. 34% of Squaw Lake adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Squaw Lake | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 12% | 14% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 11% | 14% |
| What stands out | Squaw Lake | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 23.3% | 11.4% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 11.5% | 5.7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16.9% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Squaw Lake; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Squaw Lake residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
City in Minnesota, United States
Squaw Lake ( SKWAW) is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 98 at the 2020 census. The town center is located along Minnesota State Highway 46. A significant portion of the economy can be attributed to fishing and hunting-related tourism.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Squaw Lake has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.