Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0Where Dawson residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Dawson, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dawson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dawson
The nearest ER is 43 miles from Dawson
The closest emergency room is South Central Health in Wishek, 43.4 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Dawson is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Dawson’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 ↓
Heart disease, COPD and cancer run high in Dawson
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.1% across North Dakota. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 5.9% across North Dakota. Cancer is also above the state: 10.6%, vs 8.2% across North Dakota. In all, Dawson runs above North Dakota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Dawson, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. 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 North Dakota figure falls outside Dawson’s likely range.
Care in and near Dawson
No hospital or community health center in Dawson 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 Dawson; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Dawson adults…
Dawson runs above ND on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dawson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Dawson adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
1 in 4 Dawson 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.
6.1% of Dawson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Dawson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dawson adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Dawson
Why doesn’t Dawson have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Dawson.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dawson.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Dakota 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.