Where Merkel Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Merkel Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 58478, 58423. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Merkel Township
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Merkel Township
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.3%), vs 6.1% across North Dakota. 1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.7%), vs 8.2% across North Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.8%, vs 3.1% across North Dakota. In all, Merkel Township runs above North Dakota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Merkel Township is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Merkel 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 ↓
The nearest ER is 36 miles from Merkel Township
The closest emergency room is SMP Health St. Aloisius in Harvey, 35.8 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Merkel Township, and more people treating it
42.3% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 84.1% 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 Merkel Township’s likely range; Merkel Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 58478, 58423, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Merkel Township adults…
Merkel Township runs above ND on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Merkel Township
No hospital or community health center in Merkel 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 Merkel 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 Merkel Township 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.
How Merkel Township adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Merkel Township does better than North Dakota.
1 in 4 Merkel 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.
5.9% of Merkel Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Merkel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Wallace Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Stewart Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Progress Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Frettim Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Atwood Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Lake Williams Township | — | — | — | — |
Robinson Township, Wallace Township, Stewart Township, Progress Township, Frettim Township, Atwood Township and Lake Williams 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 Merkel Township adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Merkel Township
Why doesn’t Merkel 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 Merkel Township.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Merkel Township.
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.