When it comes to the big cities in Minnesota, I think we’re all familiar with the big cities: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, etc.
How about the smaller cities in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Did you know that there are 14 cities with 20 inhabitants or less? Here’s a look at Minnesota’s smallest cities (by population).
Data from the 2022 American Community Survey.
Correll, Minnesota, is a small city in west-central Minnesota, near the border with South Dakota. According to census data, the population peaked at 176 in 1920 and has steadily declined since then. In the 2010 census it was reported that there were only 18 households in the city.
Leonard is a small town located northwest of Bemidji. The town’s population peaked in 1940 with 111 residents, but has fluctuated between 20 and 50 residents since the 1990s. The town had a post office for almost 100 years, but closed it permanently in 1991.
Hillman is located between Pierz and Onamia and has a population of only 20 people. Founded in 1908, a post office was established in 1913 before closing in 1994. Hillman’s largest population was recorded in 1940 with 110 people.
Cobden, located in southern Minnesota, was incorporated in 1905 and had a population of over 100 residents from 1920 to the 1980s. Cobden had a post office from 1886 to 1972.
Doran, Minnesota, is located on the North Dakota border in Wilkin County. The town had its own post office from 1892 to 1989. Doran’s population peaked in the 1930s at 137 people.
Located near Crosslake, Minnesota, Manhattan Beach was incorporated in 1941. The population has generally ranged between 50 and 60 people throughout its history.
Barry is located in western Minnesota, bordering South Dakota. Incorporated in the 1910s, the population peaked at 116 in 1940.
Florence is located in southwestern Minnesota near Marshall. Florence’s population peaked in the 1940 census with 149 residents.
Strathcona, located on the Canadian border, is among the smallest towns with an operational post office, which opened in 1905. The 1950s saw a population boom with 143 residents, but that number dropped to 64 in the 1960 census before bottoming out in the 2020 census.
Goodland is located southeast of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Located in the northwest corner of the state, Donaldson had 167 residents in the 1920 census, but was reduced to 64 in 1960.
Kinbrae is located on the Iowa border, in the southwest corner of Minnesota. It was a relatively prosperous town in the late 1890s and was incorporated in 1896.
The ranch is located in western Minnesota near Mahnomen and Roy Lake. It is also one of the smallest cities in Minnesota in terms of area (0.31 square miles).
At its peak, Boy River had 92 residents and a post office in the 1910s before beginning a steady decline that saw the town of Boy River attempt to dissolve before being denied by the state of Minnesota in 2018.
The 20 largest cities in Minnesota
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