On the agenda: Wadena meeting — data center (Aug 27)

Joint Meeting with
Wadena County Board of Commissioners
and Planning Commission
Agenda for August 27, 2026
3:30 pm
Lower Courthouse Auditorium
415 S Jefferson Street, Wadena, MN

1.

3:30 P.M. Call To Order

2. Pledge Of Allegiance
3. Amendments To The Agenda/Approval Of Agenda
4. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
A. Presentation By Hometown Planning Of Comprehensive Plan Updates
Documents:
COMP
PLAN_2026UPDATE_DRAFT_080426_TRACKEDCHANGES.PDF
COMP PLAN_2026UPDATE_DRAFT_080426_CLEAN.PDF
5. Adjourn

Wadena County
Comprehensive Plan
Wadena County Planning
Commission Members:

INTRODUCTION
Comprehensive plans are intended to anticipate
and plan for change, not merely reflect it.
Change, whether in a county, township, or city,
can be subtle and slow to emerge, or it may be
rapid and dramatic. In either case, a well-crafted
Comprehensive Plan should foresee where and
how the community is changing, as well as be
responsive to change as it occurs during the life
of the Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is the legal basis for the
land use controls, or Zoning Ordinances, adopted
by the County. The state of Minnesota gives
counties the authority to adopt Comprehensive
Plans and subsequent land use and zoning
ordinances under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter
394. Counties exercise their authority under this
statute to promote and protect the “health,
safety, morals, and general welfare of the
community”.
Updating the 2013 plan adopted by the Board of
Commissioners, this document provides a
roadmap for Wadena County's future. It actively
supports responsible housing expansion and
economic development while safeguarding our
natural resources, the Crow Wing and Red Eye
River watersheds and our cultural and economic
heritage.
By
balancing
progress
with
preservation, this Plan ensures the long-term
vitality of our agricultural, forestry, and
recreational communities."This Plan provides for
growth and development within Wadena County,
but only if such growth is not injurious to the
overall health of the County’s agricultural,
forestry, recreational, and community areas. This
Plan positions Wadena County within the
1

Arleen Paulson
Charles Funk
Roger Anderson
Jonathan Kangas
Gordy Aagard
Linda
Youngbauer
(Chair)
Mike Weyer
Randy Becker
Trisha Kraemer
Randy Wenthold
Bryan Winkels

Wadena County Board of
Commissioners:
Ron Noon - District 1
Rodney BoundsBryan
Winkels - District 2 Bill
Stearns - District 3
Jim HoferMurlyn Kreklau District 4 David
HillukkaJon Kangas –
District 5

Wadena County Planning &
Zoning Staff
Deana M. Malone, Administrator
Linda YoungbauerKathy Hastings,
Adm. Assistant

Maps provided by:
Gina Dahms, GIS Coordinator
Anne Oldakowski – SWCD
Diana Heston – WCHD
Ivan Reinke - NRCS
MN Dept. of Natural Resources

broader regional economy, recognizing that our
growth is significantly shaped by the actions of
the County’s landowners, residents and
businesses but also by external market trends
and geographic realities over which we have
little control. Unlike many counties in our region,
Wadena County cannot rely on lakeshore-driven
tourism or development. Instead, our stability is
anchored in our own distinct assets: a resilient
and productive agricultural base, productive
timberlands, the Crow Wing and Red Eye River
corridors, a productive workforce, highereducation resources and our role as a central
transportation and employment hub.
Crucially, the policies outlined in this Plan seek to address the significant structural
challenge of balancing local tax revenues with the County’s infrastructure, public education,
social service, and public safety obligations. The County recognizes that many of these vital
educational, public safety and human service programs are strictly state-mandated without
a corresponding increase in state funding. Therefore, the County must aggressively seek
ways to grow its local tax base with new agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial
development. At the same time, Wadena County must carefully avoid inefficient growth
models that may result in the costs of servicing new development outpacing the revenues
generated. By grounding our land-use policies in these realities, the County ensures that
current development choices build long-term fiscal sustainability rather than future
infrastructure liabilities.It also encourages stability by acknowledging that growth is
constrained by the physical resources of the County and the demands and preferences of
the marketplace. It encourages the long term sustainability of Wadena County by
recognizing the long term consequences of present actions and the interrelatedness of
decisions.
Wadena County recognizes that this Plan is only as strong as the community behind it. Our
residents, landowners, local businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations,
and the dedicated staff and elected officials at all levels of government are the true drivers
of our county’s economic and social vitality. The process of updating this Plan actively
sought information from the community and their feedback during this planning process
was absolutely vital. We deeply value the diverse perspectives shared by everyone working
every day to make Wadena County a wonderful place to live and learn and conduct
business. By ensuring transparent and accurate communication, this Plan seeks to build on
and strengthen a collaborative framework where local voices directly shape our land-use
and fiscal policies.This plan strives to give the citizens of this County an opportunity to
have a meaningful impact on the development of the County by providing open, adequate,
and accurate information. And, this plan strives to protect the integrity of the natural
environment by recognizing wetlands, the Crow Wing and Red Eye River and watersheds,
forests, and other natural features as an important consideration in land use decisions.
The purpose of the Wadena County Comprehensive Plan is to serve as a guide for the future
2

development of, and use of the land in, Wadena County. It is to be an extension of the needs
and wants of the citizens of this County.
This Plan should be the foundation for the day to dayday-to-day activities of the County and
its officials and staff. It should be referenced regularly and used in justification of specific
actions when making land use decisions. The Plan also needs to be adaptive to change
when and where it is necessary, and, so, should be reviewed with residents, business
owners, and other stakeholders from time to time to ensure it is in step with changing
trends. Those reviews and potential updates should be conducted at regular intervals to
keep the Plan current.

3

Table of Contents
Section 1:

Public Participation

7

Section 2:

Wadena County Early History

13

Section 3:

Demographics and Housing Trends

20

Section 4:

Natural Resources

36

Section 5:

Land Use

49

Section 6:

Economic Development

64

Section 7:

Transportation

71

Section 8:

Facilities & Services

80

Section 9:

Parks & Recreation

104

Section 10:

Goals & Objectives

118

4

Table of Charts & Graphs
Table 1: Population of Wadena County – Adjacent Counties 1970-2010…. 20 Table 2:
Persons by Age – Wadena County 2000-2010 ....................................................................................... 21
Table 3: Wadena County’s Elderly Population Changes 1980-2010 ............................................. 22
Graph 1: Projected Population Growth for Wadena & Surrounding
Counties 1970-2030 ......................................................................................................................................... 23
Table 4: Historic and Projected Wadena County City Populations
1970-2030 …………………………………………………………………………….. 24
Table 5: Historic and Projected Wadena County Township Populations … 25 Graph 2:
School Enrollment for Wadena County 2006-2010 Ages 3+ ............................................................ 26
Graph 3: Educational Attainment for Wadena County 25 years and older and Minnesota 25
years and older ................................................................................................................................................... 27
Graph 4: Per Capita Income for Wadena County and Minnesota .................................................... 28
Graph 5: Median Income of Wadena County and Minnesota 2010 ................................................ 29
Graph 6: Number of Households 1970-2010 .......................................................................................... 30
Graph 7: Wadena County Structural Characteristics for Housing 2010 ....................................... 31
Table 6: Number of Housing Units by Year Built ................................................................................... 32
Table 7: Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units 2010 .................................................................... 33
Table 7b: Primary Heating Fuel for Occupied Units 2010 ................................................................. 33
Graph 8: Housing Units in Wadena County 2000-2010 ..................................................................... 34

5

Table 8: Person Per Household for Wadena & Surrounding Counties
2000 – 2010 ………………………………………………………………………….. 35
Table 9: Household Projections for Wadena & Surrounding Counties
2000 – 2030 ………………………………………………………………………….. 35
Table 10: Total Land Area for Wadena & Surrounding Counties 50
Table 11: Wadena County Land Summary 51
Table & Graph 12: Total Farmland in Wadena County

52

Table 13: Average Size of Farms in Wadena County by Acreage
1950 – 2007 …………………………………………………………………………. 53
Table 14: Farms by Size

53

Graph 15: Farms by Acreage

53

Graph 16: Land Type in Farms

54

Graph 17: Market Value of Wadena County Farm Production 2007

56

Graph 18: Wadena County Labor Force Projections 2010 – 2035

65

Table 18: Retail Trade in Wadena County 66
Table 19: Wadena County Mileage by Functional Classification 74
Table 20: Method of Transportation to Work

75

Table 21: Wadena County Community Water Systems

101

Table 22: Wadena County Community Storm and Waste Water Systems

6

102

Table of Maps
Public Water Basins and Wetlands in Wadena County
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
3
Crow Wing River Watershed
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
4
Red Eye River Watershed
..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
5
Hydrologic Systems of Wadena County
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
6
NRCS Land Use Map
.....................................................................................................................................................................................4
7
NRCS General Soils Map
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
8
Wadena County Zoning Districts
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
0
Wadena County Building Sites
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
2
Wadena County Gravel Pits
..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
3
Wadena County Highway Map
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
6
Wadena County Conceptual 10-Ton System
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
7
Wadena County Current Functional Classification
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
8
Wadena County Road System
.................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
9
7

Wadena County 911 System .......................................................................................................................... 98
Wadena County Crow Wing River Campsites
.................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
3
Wadena County Snowmobile Trails
................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
4
Huntersville State Forest Trails-Horseback .......................................................................................... 115
Huntersville State Forest ATV/OHM Trails ........................................................................................... 116
Leaf River Bike Trail
.................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
7

8

SECTION 1: Public Participation
All communities in Minnesota exist in a changing economic and social environment. Within
this challenging framework, communities must work particularly hard to stay strong. A
comprehensive plan for the future is an important part of this effort.
Although comprehensive planning has been a part of the county’s history since 1971, with
the passing of time and changing circumstances, attitudes and opinions will also change.
Priorities and goals will also have a tendency to vary in some manner. Our plan needs to
grow and change to reflect those changes in priorities and goals. Changes can be driven by
a number of things including some form of change in the population. Perhaps it comes with
an aging of the population, a more diverse population residing within the county, or a
population who have obtained a better understanding and broader knowledge of the
purpose of land use planning and the benefits it can produce. Change in attitudes and
opinions can also be the direct effect of a growing or slumping economy, a difference in
social influences, or changes being made on a higher governmental level.
However, the change is derived, we know it happens, and it is very important to hear from
the people living, working, and raising families in Wadena County.
Public Input from 2013 Update Process
In order to obtain public input and to provide opportunities for the most people, the 2013
planning process divided the County in the most effective and economical manner, to
participate, the County was divided into 5 localized areas and notices sent out to townships
and cities situated within those areas to invite local officials, as well as the general public,
to attend and participate in the meetings. This provided an opportunity, on a smaller scale,
to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses, and the priorities and goals documented within
the current plan, and then to discuss possible changes to those which may have occurred
during the past several years. Because local citizens have a broad range of attitudes toward
growth and development, it is important to note that, although all of the public input from
the meetings is documented within Section 1 of this Plan, the input provided from the
public was reviewed and discussed through the appropriate processes and blended to
produce a document that would serve Wadena County, as a whole, in the best possible
manner. The following documents these meeting and the outcomes of each.
Meeting #1 – Nimrod Area Community Hall
This meeting location was not well attended, however, numerous topics were brought up,
resulting in a good round table discussion.
Strengths: water quality and current quantity, agriculture and forestry and the revenue
generated by them, community pride, the Crow Wing River and other water systems
Weaknesses: large tracts of land purchased for seasonal use and taken out of production,
not purchasing locally resulting in lost businesses, clear cutting of large tracts of land for
agri-business irrigated fields, poor economy, poor tax base, school districts suffer some
because non-resident large tracts of land are not part of any bond issue for them

9

Suggested Changes to Current Goals: None Suggested Added Objectives:
Natural Resources:


Preserve and protect the quantity and quality of surface waters as well as ground
water

Economic Development:


Promote and encourage patronization of local, in-county businesses whenever and
wherever possible

Other Suggestions & Points of Discussion:


Adding a page to the Plan Update to define what the different Zoning Districts are



Possible revisions to the Zoning map to allow for more ease in opening a business
along some of the main road ways in the County

Meeting #2 – Blueberry Township Hall
This group, though small, had the greatest attendance and was quite diversified in
backgrounds and interests. Aside from a few differing views on certain topics that were
covered, this group brought some great input to the table.
Strengths: lakes and rivers, parks, recreation (i.e. snowmobile trails, horse trails, camping,
golf courses), clean water, parks, exceptional emergency services, orderly development
practices, natural environment & wildlife, fresh air, the work force, major highways coming
in and going out of the county, the railroad in the southern tier of the County, the school
systems, friendly people
Weaknesses: livable wages, people not knowing each other anymore or the businesses that
do exist in the county, high property taxes, lack of transportation options, lack of
promotion of the things we do have to offer
Suggested Changes to Current Goals: None Suggested Added Objectives:
Natural Resources:


Protection of the County’s surface waters

Land Use:


Encourage and support services to be available along the highway corridors

Economic Development:


Research and plan the best way to add commercial zoned areas to the County’s
highway corridors and take measures to amend the official zoning map to include
those new districts



Work toward centralizing our development and work together with cities and
townships where existing commercial buildings are empty and ready to be used

Transportation:


Explore innovative ways to fund road improvements and general maintenance
10

(wheelage tax, .5% sales tax)
Parks & Recreation:


Research and support the development of a bike/walking trail connecting
communities in Wadena County

Other Suggestions & Points of Discussion:


Use of Legacy funding for financial support of building a trail system



Possible light rail from the County to another strategic location in another county



Impact of large agri-business (clear cutting, fertilizing, & irrigation) on surface &
ground water quality and quantity, forests, wild life habitat, and rural residential
property owners



Develop collaborative efforts with other counties in the areas of economic
development, transportation, environmental protection, human services, and public
safety



Encourage organic grower’s that can be certified – demand for these products is
increasing



Increase collaborative agreements with State agencies for funding sources



County Board needs to maintain communication with state legislators so when
funding is available to finance efforts outlined in the Comprehensive Plan we are
working to procure it



Blueberry Township walking trail should be added to the Comprehensive Plan
under Parks & Recreation



Wind Farms – do we want them in our county

Meeting #3 - Sebeka Senior Citizen Center
This meeting was not well attended but citizens who did attend provided great input and
were primarily interested in economic development and promotion of the things that the
county has to offer presently.
Strengths: Agriculture, Crow Wing River, School Systems, exceptional emergency services,
wetlands, close proximity to medical care, lots of city and county parks, campsites county,
state, and city, golf courses, community festivals, snowmobile trails, golf courses, 2 college
campuses, available land
and buildings for commercial use, telecommunications systems-fiber optics, two major
highways fun through the county
Weakness: Limited number of lakes, lack of productive soils for agriculture, lack of
promotion of the things the county does have to offer, not enough senior services, an aging
population and work force, lack of infrastructure in areas where commercial development
might be suited to take place, only two major highways run through the county
Suggested Changes to Current Goals:
11

Natural Resources:


Incorporate language into the Goal to include protection against ground water
depletion

Economic Development:


Incorporate language into the Goal to say that we not only “encourage” economic
development but that we “support it” as well.

Transportation:


Incorporate language into the Goal to encourage and support alternative methods of
transportation, including bike trails which connect communities.

Suggested Added Objectives:
Transportation:


Explore options for funding to assist with developing bike routes in the County

Economic Development:


County support of the West Central Economic Development Alliance



Develop and exercise a collaborative effort between the County and the Cities in
locating businesses and other forms of development



Promote and support community awareness of and for the need for infrastructure
to bring and keep business & industry in the County

Facilities & Services:


Promote community support for infrastructure



Study services provided by similar sized counties to determine where we lack or
where we provide more

Parks & Recreation:


Better promotion of what we already have to offer



Better promotion of wintertime outdoor activities, i.e., cross country skiing, ice
skating, snow shoeing, sledding



Research possible Legacy funding for procurement to assist with potential larger
scale projects

Meeting #4 – Thomastown Township Hall
This small group provided a terrific discussion that centered mostly around natural
resources and parks and recreation; however, there was also some very good input with
regard to economic development.
Strengths: Rivers & streams, Wahoo Valley, good balance of forest and open land, two
college campuses, technology infrastructure is good in parts of the county
Weaknesses: lack of technology infrastructure in parts of the County, no electrical access in
12

most County Parks, lack of promotion of some of the recreation the County does have to
offer
Suggested Changes to Current Goals: None Suggested Added Objectives:
Natural Resources:


Take action to alleviate the negative effects of clear cutting large tracts of forest land
for center pivot irrigated farm fields (i.e. erosion, lost animal habitat, overuse of
chemicals, water depletion and soil depletion)

Economic Development:


Provide assistance in the form of staff or other outreach to people with an idea for a
business but who do not have the knowledge or information they need to market
their product



Support more recreational trails

Transportation:


Research and consider alternative funding sources for road maintenance and
improvement

Parks & Recreation:


Road improvements to county parks



Upgrade at least one county park to include RV parking and some amenities like
showers and modern bathroom facilities



Work on bike trails



Allow geocaching and promote it within the county and the county parks systems



Consider the county taking over the River Trail Riders Saddle Club grounds for
public use

Meeting #5 – Wadena County Courthouse Auditorium
There were no members of the general public at this particular meeting. Some of the topics
brought up at the other meetings by members of the public were mentioned with some
brief discussion between staff, the two County Commissioners, and the two Planning
Commission members who were there. However, due to the lack of public participation, the
meeting was adjourned early.
Public Input from 2026 Update Process
As part of the 2026 update process, the County supplemented and updated the 2013 input
in several ways:
1.
A joint meeting of the Planning Commission and County Board to help identify
issues and trends facing the County that they felt needed to be addressed by the County as
it updated its Plan. The following issues were identified, and solutions were suggested
during this meeting:
13

a.

Key Issues and Concerns


Restrictive Zoning and Land-Use Barriers: Current zoning in approximately 97% of
the county (A2 and A3 districts) is specifically designed to "prevent or discourage
non-farm growth," which many members felt was now prohibitive to necessary
development.



Economic Disparity and High Taxation: Wadena is recognized as one of the poorest
counties in Minnesota by income while simultaneously maintaining some of the
state's highest property tax rates.



Depopulation and Institutional Decline: The county is experiencing a steady decline
in dairy farming, which in turn causes shrinking enrollment in schools and struggles
for local churches and civic organizations to remain viable.



Workforce Housing Shortage: There is a significant lack of available workforce and
affordable housing, which prevents local employees and young families from living
within the county.



Agricultural and Residential Conflicts: There is a history of conflict when new
residential development occurs near active agricultural operations, such as feedlots,
leading to nuisance complaints regarding smells and dust.



Environmental Risks: Concerns were raised regarding water quality, specifically
nitrate contamination and the need for continued groundwater protection.



Brain Drain: Despite having highly-rated schools, the county struggles to retain
educated youth who often leave for better opportunities elsewhere.

b.

Suggested Solutions


Streamlining Land Splits: Participants suggested easing subdividing restrictions to
allow up to five residential "splits" on a 40-acre parcel via "permit by rule" rather
than requiring expensive and lengthy Conditional Use Permits (CUPs).



Reducing "Red Tape": Board members emphasized the need to cut administrative
hurdles as much as possible to make Wadena County competitive with neighboring
counties like Hubbard and Otter Tail.



"Middle of Everywhere" Marketing: The county should leverage its high-speed
internet and quality schools to attract remote workers who want a quiet, safe rural
lifestyle but do not want to live in city centers.



Protecting Agricultural Interests: While encouraging housing, the plan should
include "Right-to-Farm" policies or specific language to protect existing agricultural
operations from nuisance lawsuits and neighbor complaints.



Incentivizing Development: Proposals included creating tiered tax abatements and
exploring multi-family housing options like twin homes or triplexes that utilize
shared septic systems to lower construction costs.



Strategic Planning and Accountability: The new Comprehensive Plan should include
updated demographics and "action items" that the upcoming County Administrator
14

can use as a tool for economic recruitment.


Watershed Integration: The updated plan must include new watershed data and
plans for the Crow Wing, Red Eye, and Long Prairie regions to address
environmental concerns.

2.
Two meeting with the general public to gather information about what they saw as
the most important issues for the County to address as it moves forward – one in Wadena
at the County Courthouse and one in Sebeka at the Senior Center. A summary of the various
issues and concerns raised by the public during these meetings is as follows:
a.

Property Tax Burdens

A common theme across all meetings was what was expressed as a significant tax burden
on residents.


High Tax Rates: It was noted that Wadena County is among the poorest in the state
by income but maintains the 8th highest tax rate.



Comparisons: People noted that the taxes on a home in Wadena County are
significantly higher than those that apply to the same value of home in other nearby
counties like Otter Tail and Hubbard counties.



Absentee Landowners: Concern was expressed about landowner from other areas of
the state or country utilizing state tax breaks that cost the local levy significant
revenue.



Suggested Solutions: Participants suggested a number of possibilities, including
cutting county spending, a greater focus on attracting tourists and businesses
(especially those that provide significant employment), tax incentives to be more
business-friendly and even "abolishing" the county or merging services with Otter
Tail County to reduce overhead.

b.

Land Use: The Struggle for Housing Flexibility

A central conflict emerged between those wanting to protect farmland and activities and
those viewing current zoning regulations as a barrier to needed growth in housing
opportunities.


Restrictive Zoning: Some participants suggested that approximately 98% of the
county is currently zoned to discourage or prevent non-farm growth, based on
1970s-era logic.



The "One-Split" Barrier: The limit of one residential split per 40 acres prevents
families from passing land to children or elderly owners from splitting off home
sites to fund nursing care.



Suggested Solutions: Many participants advocated for allowing more housing in the
rural areas of the County – i.e. up to five residential splits on a 40-acre parcel,
particularly on marginal land (sandy or swampy) unsuitable for tilling. There was
also strong support for permitting "mother-in-law" apartments or rental
bunkhouses for supplemental income.

15

c.

Agriculture and "Right-to-Farm" Protections

While seeking growth, residents were wary of the challenges that come with new residents
in areas historically used for agricultural activities—where new residents move to the
country and then complain about agricultural noise and smells.


Dairy Decline: The county is down to roughly 15–17 dairy farms, a trend driven by
market shifts rather than zoning.



Suggested Solutions: Proponents strongly urged the county to codify "Right-toFarm" policies directly into the Comprehensive Plan to provide legal cover for
existing producers and the be careful about where new homes are allowed as they
may cause more conflict with agriculture (further pushing it out of the County),
public costs for road maintenance, road upgrades, and other public services than
they generate in revenue.

d.

Workforce Barriers: Childcare and Transit

Public input identified barriers preventing people from joining the local workforce.


Childcare Availability: Staples and other areas report one-year waitlists for infants,
and rising regulations are driving small home-based providers out of business.



Transit Profitability: Rural bus routes are frequently shut down by the state if they
do not meet "ridership per hour" quotas within a few months.



Suggested Solutions: The county should help make use of underutilized properties
for childcare centers and explore the feasibility of scheduled public transit routes
rather than "dial-a-ride" models.

e.

Technology and Infrastructure


Broadband vs. Cellular: It was noted that Wadena County is 7th in the state for
broadband coverage (98.8%), but "dead spots" for cell service make the area
unattractive to youth.



Park Access: Residents noted that roads into county parks like Bullard’s Bluff and
Old Wadena are "rough" or primitive, hindering tourism.



Suggested Solutions: Prioritize snow plowing on north-south commuter routes and
leverage local telephone providers new cell service to close coverage gaps.

f.

Marketing and Identity


"Middle of Everywhere": There is a desire to rebrand Wadena as a safe, quiet, and
high-speed-internet-ready alternative to "lake-life" counties like Otter Tail.



Suggested Solutions: Hiring a dedicated marketing position or using drones and
social media for low-cost promotion. Billboards on Highways 10 and 71 were
suggested to catch travelers who currently see Wadena as a "drive-through" county.

3.
A survey of the County’s cities, townships, school districts, emergency service
providers and higher education institutions to both ensure that statements made about
them in the updated Plan were current and accurate and to request input on how the
16

pattern of new development impacts their budgetary considerations and ability to
effectively serve their various constituents.
a.

Summarize Survey Responses Here

17

SECTION 2: Wadena County Early History
Wadena County, with its vast geographic differences was long overlooked as a source of
abundant agricultural wealth.
The Indians used it as hunting grounds, the French and British saw it as a land rich with fur
bearing animals, and even the logging industry used only the northern and northeastern
portions of the county for harvesting the rich, white pine they sought. Even after
Minnesota was organized as a state and Wadena County was plotted in 1858, few white
people had settled on the land. It would take over three decades before the true
agricultural wealth of Wadena County would take its place of prominence in Minnesota’s
agricultural economy.
Wadena County was established by the state legislature in June of 1858. Although this act
was passed in 1858, it was not until February 21, 1873, that the county was officially
organized. The city of Wadena was established as the county seat.
The completion of the Northern Pacific railroad through the county gave rise to the genesis
of many communities along its right of way. One of the earliest hamlets to begin growing
was Aldrich, which was settled about 1871. The laying of track reached Aldrich in 1872,
and gave such a tremendous flourishing to the burg that between 1872 and 1883 the
population of the site grew to over one hundred.
By the early 1880’s only six townships had been populated enough to allow formal
organization of the areas into townships, and they were Wadena, Leaf River, Bullard, Wing
River, Aldrich, and Thomastown. The northern portions of the county remained sparsely
populated except for isolated pockets of settlers. In 1885, the settlers in and around Shell
City petitioned the county for recognition as a township. As the population of the
county continued to grow, other townships sought organization. Red Eye Township was
organized on January 15, 1889, Rockwood followed on July 8, 1893, North Germany on
December 18, 1893, Lyons on January 7, 1896, Meadow on March 13, 1896, Blueberry
around 1888, Huntersville around 1898, and Orton in September of 1898. The population
of the county, which was listed as six by the Federal Census in 1870, showed a tremendous
growth to over 2,000 inhabitants by 1880. Within the next decade the population had
reached just over 4,000, and by the turn of the century there were over 7,900 settlers.
With increasing population growth came the genesis of other communities through the
county. Wadena, Verndale, and Aldrich came into existence with the building of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. Shell City and Nimrod came into existence as a result of logging
operations and wheat growing as these industries spread northward into the county by
1880. The construction of the Wadena-Park Rapids railroad in 1891 brought into being the
communities of Sebeka and Menahga, with other smaller communities such as Blue Grass
and Central springing up around 1905. (Taken from “Silhouettes of Time: A History of
Wadena County Focusing on Shell City and Nimrod, MN”).
Wadena County was on one of the original trapper-trader routes connecting Pembina to
Fort Snelling. Later this route was to become the northern Red River oxcart trail so heavily
used before the coming of the railroad. Though Wadena County was included in the 1855
Indian land cession, it remained unsettled until the superior prairie land further to the west
18

had been taken and the railroads made the territory more accessible.
During the late 1800’s, large numbers of northern Europeans migrated to Minnesota. The
northern part of Wadena and adjoining sections of Becker and Ottertail Counties gained
large numbers of Finnish settlers. The east central portion of the County around Nimrod
was strongly German, with Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and English occupying the
southern townships. Much of the evidence of ethnic ties are still apparent on the landscape
and in the names of people in the area today, especially in the Finnish areas.
With the railroads came increased numbers of farmers and service towns along the lines.
Compared to southern Minnesota, the farms, especially in the north, were small and the
farmers supplemented their incomes with forestry. Ironically, today, farmers in Wadena
County continue to supplement their incomes, only with jobs off the farm instead of
forestry.
TOWNS & VILLAGES – Brief History
Information provided here is from an article provided by the Wadena County Historical
Society entitled, “An Early History of Wadena County Towns and Villages”, and from
information obtained from current city administration.
Aldrich
Aldrich has the distinction of being the first settlement in Wadena County. In the year 1872,
the railroad arrived, giving a terrific boost to the town’s population. W. A. Bryant and Bro.’s
opened the first regular store in 1876. In 1881, Delos Helmer built a beautiful hotel which
he called the “Aldrich House”. In 1882, L.D. French, W.F. Markus and J.M. Russ built the first
saw mill. The population in 1883 had reached the all-time high of 100 people. In 1883, the
town witnessed their first industrial strike, when five mill hands left their work on general
grievances. The strike wasn’t too drastic, however, as new mill hands were hired and the
mill resumed operation two days later. By 1922, the population had grown such that a new
residential section was built, adding new homes, and improving, greatly, the already
popular town of Aldrich. Here the first post office and the first Catholic Church in Wadena
County were established.
Aldrich is still in existence today with a population of 46, governed by a Mayor and 3
member City Council.
Bluegrass
The village of Bluegrass actually began developing in 1917. The Co-op Creamery was long
remembered as one of the outstanding businesses. Today there are only a few residences
occupied at Bluegrass along with St. Hubert’s Catholic Church and the Bethany Free
Lutheran Church, also known as the Hay Creek Congregation.
Huntersville & Orton
Not a great deal of actual history has been recorded for these two villages. We know only
that they were small and that the good neighbors living there kept quite closely to
themselves. J.N. Wiley, promoting a new railroad from Minneapolis to Winnipeg, Canada, to
19

run through Orton and Huntersville voted $8,200 in bonds to assist the venture. The bonds,
however, were soon voided as the deal failed to go through.
Today the little village of Orton is non-existent, while the village of Huntersville is a
recreational hub for tubing and canoeing traffic on the Crow Wing River and horseback
riding and hiking in the Huntersville State Forest. The Huntersville Outpost Bar and Grill
provides dining and entertainment to visitors and area residents alike.
Leaf River
At one time in Leaf River, there were so many deer killed that buckskins adorned the cabin
walls and fences around most of the homestead cabins. In November 1879, a Mr. Wiswell
threshed around 800 bushels of wheat, which was a goodly amount for those days. The saw
mill arrived shortly after that time and soon was running, utilizing the huge timber of the
forests that existed at that time. Leaf River town site did not flourish or develop into an
incorporated town.
Menahga
D.E. Jones was responsible for establishing the Menahga town site in January of 1891. Late
summer 1891, the railroad came through for the first time. When the railroad was
established, Chet Eddy, Charles, Barney Kelly, and Joseph Askew immediately set up a
sawmill. W.R. Baumbaugh is reported to have opened the first store. The town was given
the name, “The Gateway to the Pines” by the Governor of Louisiana on his visit, when the
Jefferson Highway, now US Highway 71, was opened. Joseph A. Quinn was one of the
outstanding bankers in the village. Menahga, too, had a terrible fire, which nearly destroyed
the village in 1903. Midsummer Days has long since been established as an annual
celebration.
Menahga’s current population is 1306, and they are governed by an elected Mayor and 4
member City Council. Each year in July, Menahga’s Mid-Summer Celebration takes place. In
mid-March, St. Urho Days provide a variety of fun activities attracting visitors from all over
to celebrate the legend of St. Urho driving the grasshoppers out of Finland and saving the
vineyards.
Nimrod
Located on the banks of the beautiful Crow Wing River, in the township of Orton, Nimrod
was established in 1879 by a man named Savoy in the days when the “log drives” down the
river were increasing. It was not incorporated as a village until 1924, and as a city until
1946. In the early years of lumbering, it was first only a tie camp, but still a very important
little village. Jake Graba was recorded to have kept the first stopping place for lumbermen,
offering them room and board for a nominal fee. Nimrod was also recorded as a very
important village between the wheat prairies and Verndale, since its location was such that
the early settlers could get supplies there.
Today, Nimrod is a small town of 69, governed by an elected Mayor and a 3 member City
Council. The city holds a town celebration known as Jubilee Days that swells the town’s
population sometimes by the thousands over Labor Day weekend.
Oylen
20

In 1913, a co-op creamery opened in Oylen, long since known as the “Village with the
friendly people”. A few residential sites and the Christian Missionary Church and assembly
grounds is all that exists there today.
Sebeka
Sebeka was built close to the banks of the Red Eye River and came into existence a little
ahead of the railroad. The earliest mention of the Sebeka area dates back to 1878.
According to the diary writings of E.H. Pelton, grandson of Revolutionary war hero, Oscar
Pelton, there was a log landing on the site where the pioneer monument now stands in the
Sebeka Park. The logs from the N.P. Clark Company were landed on the river here and
during the spring flood stage were floated down the Red Eye River to the Crow Wing River
to Motley. Although Sebeka was incorporated as a village in 1898, it actually was put on the
map several years earlier when the Great Northern Railway established the “K” Line from
Sauk Centre to Cass Lake. Surveying for the rail line took place in 1881, with the town sites
plotted at distances approximating a day’s round trip with a horse and wagon, six or seven
miles as a rule. The town site was originally the farm of E. Alfred Olson.
Currently Sebeka’s population is 711, and they are governed by an elected Mayor and 5
member City Council. The Sebeka Economic Development Authority (SEDA) is an
appointed 5 member board established in 1996. The Red Eye River celebration is the
town’s summer celebration and occurs in June every year.
Shell City
Although now only a memory, Shell City was first established as a lumbering camp in 1879,
and boasted a population of nearly 75, which in those days was quite large. Shell City was a
thriving, though temporary, community on the “Wheat Trail” between Verndale and the
Hubbard Prairies. The Shell City town site did not continue to develop and there is nothing
left there today.
Thomastown
S. Dower had 50 men in the woods making ties and getting out wood for the railroad
company in Aldrich. In the year 1913, H.I. Davey of Thomastown had 40 Acres of alfalfa
which yielded some 2,000 bushels of seed. Thus, alfalfa growing in Wadena County began.
This site, like so many others, never developed.
Verndale
Verndale, once known as the most beautiful town site along the Northern Pacific Railroad
between Brainerd and Fargo, was settled in 1877 when Capt. John E. Butler, Charles W.
Brown, John B. Kelly, and Charles C. Kelley arrived from Iowa. Judge L. W. Smith laid out the
first town site in October of 1877 and it was named for his granddaughter, Helen Vernette
“Vernie” Smith. The first school house was built in 1878 and cost about $1200 to build.
There were 25 pupils the first term. One of the first newspapers was started in 1877, and
went under the name of the Wadena County Tribune. Dr. Harding opened the first drug
store in Verndale about 1878. Verndale boasts the organization of the first lodge in the
county when, in January of 1880, the Fidelity Lodge (Masonic) was organized with H.
Brintell as the master. In 1883, the population had grown to 700. Verndale boasted two
grain elevators and was developed as a wheat trading center for the county, and much of
21

central Minnesota. The grist mill, on the hillside on the east bank of the Wing River, was
completed in 1880 at a cost of $12,000 ($235,000 in 2008 dollars) in an attempt to keep
Verndale moving forward. The dam for the mill was destroyed during spring flooding in
1910 and the mill itself was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1912.
Today Verndale has a population of 602 and is governed by an elected Mayor and 4
member City Council. Straw Hat and Sun Bonnet Days are hosted every summer in the still
beautiful city of Verndale.
Wadena
Wadena, named for Chief Wah-de-Nah, an Ojibway Indian Chief of the late nineteenth
century, was established in the early part of 1878. At that time, Wadena had a population of
96 residents. The Merchant’s Hotel, Meyer and Coon’s Store, S.S. Garner’s land office were
some of the early businesses, and Charley Peake held the honor of opening the first store.
In 1891, a terrible grippe epidemic hit Wadena, causing illness to the majority of the
residents. In 1903, Thomas Miller brought the first horseless carriage into Wadena, and
Henry Ebner purchased a Rambler at the same time. Carl and Roller built the first brewery
in 1881. Harry Hutton, a telegraph operator had the first high wheel bicycle in town in
1883. On October 15, 1901, Burch’s new opera house opened with the “Quo Vadis”
presented by the Sanford Dodge Co. In 1903, Standard Oil Company built the first oil
station. The Pioneer Journal, Wadena County’s largest newspaper, was established in 1877
and is one of the oldest business firms still in operation today.
Today, the City of Wadena has a population of 4088. It is governed by an elected Mayor and
4 member City Council. The Wadena Housing and Redevelopment Authority (WHRA),
throughout its 45 year history, has served as a technical and financial resource and is
continually finding new and innovative ways to meet its goals. Wadena’s June Jubilee town
celebration is traditionally held the 3rd weekend in June.

22

SECTION 3: Demographics and Housing Trends
An accurate vision for Wadena County’s future begins with a clear understanding of the
population and housing and other demographic trends that have occurred in the past and
are shaping the community now. Shifts in population demographics and characteristics
directly shape housing demands, economic priorities, and demands on public services. This
section examines Wadena County’s demographic landscape by establishing our historical
trajectory, analyzing current baseline data, and evaluating future growth projections where
such data exists. Grounding our policies in these data-driven realities allows the County to
proactively anticipate and serve the evolving needs of our communities. Because changes
in attitudes and opinions can be driven by changes to the population, it is important to look
at where the County is at presently with trends in its population, where it came from in
terms of growth over the course of time, and where it is projected to go in the future.
Population Trends – Since Wadena County was first formed in 1858 and organized in
1873, the County’s population has gone through three distinct phases – rapid initial growth
between 1870 and 1940 as the County first became populated, a period of moderately
fluctuating population between 1940 and 1990 and a period of slow, steady growth
between 1990 and 2025. The initial population boom was primarily fueled by the 1862
Homestead Act that supported the formation of small farms and the expansion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad into the area in the 1870s and 1880s that made the movement of
people and commodities easier. The more fluctuating population trends in the middle
phase can be attributed at least partly to the mechanization of farming and less need for
farm workers and to the consolidation of farms and improved highway systems allowing
the population to spread out from urban centers more easily. The current phase has been
marked by steady growth - likely reflecting its location at the intersection of main highway
transportation corridors but also its lack of what has driven growth in other communities
such as large amounts of lakeshore and proximity to interstate freeways or already
established large regional centers.
Compared to surrounding counties, Wadena County is easily the smallest in terms of total
land area - 543 square miles compared to the next smallest County (Todd County at 979
square miles) and the largest (Cass County at 2,414 square miles). It also has far less water
coverage than the other counties at about 7 square miles of water compared to Todd
County’s next lowest 34 square miles and Cass County’s highest amount at 392 square
miles of water. When comparing the density of each county’s population however, Wadena
County fits more in the middle with a population density of 26.8 persons per square mile of
land area compared to 15.5 in Cass County, 24.2 in Hubbard County and Otter Tail County
with 31.0.
By overall population, Wadena County trails other counties in the region with a 2025
estimated population of 14,388 compared to Hubbard County at the next highest (22,369)
and Otter Tail County as the highest in the region (61,041). Since 1990, Hubbard County
has experienced the greatest percentage growth (49.7%) trailed by Cass County (44.2%)
and Becker County (27.3%). Wadena County has had the slowest growth over that period
(9.4%) followed by Todd County (11.5%) and Otter Tail County (20.4%),
For the most part, the population of Wadena County, outside of its seven municipalities,
23

would be considered sparse. The City of Wadena, being a little stronger trading center, is
supported by a higher density in all directions. Regional population change during the
1950’s showed a strong trend toward reduction of rural population, particularly away from
main centers or transportation routes. Again, regionally, improved transportation, a desire
for higher pay, and lack of job opportunities found people migrating to larger cities.
In looking at the population trends of Wadena County’s cities and townships, the City of
Wadena remains the primary population center for the County with a 2024 estimated
population of 4,239 compared to the next highest of 1,384 in Menahga, 860 in the Wadena
County portion of the City of Staples and 750 in the City of Sebeka. Among Townships,
Wadena (959), Blueberry (941) and Thomastown (847) Townships have the highest
populations. Overall, 54.4% of the County’s population is located within cities and 45.6% is
in its townships – about the same ratio as existed in the 2010 Census data.Wadena County
has always been a rural, agriculturally dominated, county; however, recent trends indicate
that, in 2000, 55% of the population in Wadena County resided in the urban areas of the
county, while 45% were rural. According to the U.S. Census in 2010, not much changed in
10 years, as 56% of the population resided in the urban areas, while 44% was rural. While
the overall population of the county increased by only 130 people in 10 years, 110 of those
people were added into the urban population. The overall increase in the population in
those 10 years was about 1%.

Population Change
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1860-2025
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
1840

1860

1880

1900

1920

1940

1960

1980

2000

Becker County

Cass County

Hubbard County

Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

2020

2040

Table 1: Population of Wadena County and- Adjacent Counties 1860-2025
Becker County Cass County Hubbard County Otter Tail County Todd County Wadena County

24

1860

386

150

0

240

430

0

1870

308

380

0

1,968

2,036

6

1880

5,218

486

0

18,675

6,133

2,080

1890

9,401

1,247

1,412

34,232

12,930

4,053

1900

14,375

7,777

6,578

45,375

22,214

7,921

1910

18,840

11,620

9,831

46,036

23,407

8,652

1920

22,851

15,897

10,136

50,818

26,059

10,699

1930

22,503

15,591

9,596

51,006

26,170

10,990

1940

26,562

20,646

11,085

53,192

27,438

12,772

1950

24,836

19,468

11,085

51,320

25,420

12,806

1960

23,959

16,720

9,962

48,960

23,119

12,199

1970

24,372

17,323

10,583

46,097

22,114

12,412

1980

29,336

21,050

14,098

51,937

24,991

14,192

1990

27,881

21,791

14,939

50,714

23,363

13,154

2000

30,000

27,150

18,376

57,159

24,426

13,713

2010

32,504

28,567

20,428

57,303

24,895

13,843

2020

35,183

30,066

21,344

60,081

25,262

14,065

2025

35,497

31,430

22,369

61,041

26,060

14,388

27.3%

44.2%

49.7%

20.4%

11.5%

9.4%

Source: US Census, Decennial Censuses (1880-2020),Population Estimates (2025)

25

Population Age -

A detailed review of data from the Minnesota State Demographer and the U.S. Census
Bureau allows the County to consider how the County’s population is distributed across
various age groups – both now and into the future. Understanding the distribution of a
population across age groups is critical for Wadena County's long-term planning because
different age groups place different demands on public infrastructure and social services
and can impact the County’s tax base in significantly different ways.
For instance, analyzing age distribution allows a county to plan strategically across several
key areas:


Fiscal Sustainability and Tax Capacity: Working-age residents (typically ages 20 to
64) form the primary backbone of the local economy and property tax base. If a
county has a shrinking workforce but a growing youth or senior population, it is
likely to struggle to meet the demand for public services (like school services and
infrastructure demands) due to the relatively small portion of the population that
provides the tax base for the community.



Housing Market Alignment: Age demographics dictate the types of housing a
community needs. Young families typically look for affordable single-family starter
homes, while aging seniors often require maintenance-free housing, townhomes, or
assisted living facilities closer to medical centers. Understanding these shifts helps
officials align zoning laws with actual market demand to prevent housing shortages.



Public Safety and Emergency Services: Emergency medical service (EMS) and
ambulance run volumes are closely tied to an aging demographic. Conversely, a high
concentration of children or young adults may require different law enforcement
and community policing strategies. Knowing where these age groups live
geographically helps optimize station locations and response times.



Social Services and State-Mandated Care: Many public health and human services
are strictly mandated by state law. An older population requires robust adult
protection, specialized transportation, and senior services, while a larger youth
population drives up childcare licensing, public health programs, and school
transportation costs.

A close look at specific age segments and projections from the Minnesota State
Demographer’s office reveals shifting generational dynamics across the county:



Youth: The population of high school age children and younger currently sits at
around 28.7% of the County’s population. This is expected to increase to about
30.3% by 2055.



Young Adults and Families: The age group representing young single adults and
young families (the 20–39 age bracket) currently represents about 22.2% of the
County’s population. It is projected to increase to 23.8% by 2055.



Adults (40-64): Working age adults and families represent the single largest age
26

group in Wadena County at about 4,189 persons – or 28.5% of the population. Their
percentage is also expected to increase – to about 30.2% of the County’s population
in 2055.


Older Adults (65+): Persons over 65 years old in Wadena County currently account
for approximately 20.6% of the population. Contrary to the other age groups, this is
the one group of people that is expected decline as a percentage of the overall
population – with a projected drop to about 15.6% by 2055.

It is important to note that the State Demographer's methodology relies heavily on
historical continuity – i.e. it assumes that past demographic behaviors, regional migration
trends, and relationships will remain relatively constant. If a major economic shift occurs
(such as a sudden housing boom or a factory closure or the construction of a large assisted
living facility), actual figures will very likely be significantly different, which is why the
state releases mid-decade updates to course-correct the models. As such, any estimates
listed above should always be viewed as potentially inaccurate and the County will need to
monitor changing conditions that could affect the age-based mix of the County’s population
as it plans future services and zoning decisions.
Historical data from 1980 to 2020 tracks a consistent upward trend in older age brackets.
The 65–74 age cohort peaked at 1,713 in 2020 but is projected to experience minor
stabilization down to 1,597 by 2055. Conversely, the population aged 75–84 hovered at
1,029 in 2020 and is projected to slowly decline to 925 by 2055, while residents aged 85
and over are expected to transition from 513 in 2020 down to 240 by 2055.Current
characteristics of the population of Wadena County show the median age of males in 2010
to be 42 years old, while the median age of females was 45 years old. Statistics taken from
the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census reports indicate that while the population is increasing
between the ages of 45 and 69 for both males and females in Wadena County, numbers
have primarily decreased in the age groups from 5 to 44 years, and ages 80 to 85 and older
have increased dramatically.
Table 2: Persons by Age – Wadena County 2000 – 2055
Age Group

2000

2010

2020

2025

2035

2045

2055

Under 5 years

871

916

894

1,062

1,201

1,312

1,365

5–19 years

3,070

2,774

2,869

3,151

3,474

3,789

4,000

20–39 years

2,943

2,731

2,879

3,256

3,725

4,063

4,206

40–64 years

4,102

4,504

4,168

4,189

4,539

4,965

5,338

65–74 years

1,301

1,360

1,713

1,732

1,562

1,498

1,597

75–84 years

990

1,010

1,029

959

1,139

978

925

85 years and over

436

548

513

325

268

288

240

Total

13,713 13,843 14,065 14,674 15,908 16,893 17,671

27

Source: MN State Demographer, Long Term Population Projections
Table 3: Wadena Counties Elderly Population Changes 1980 – 2020
Geography

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

United States

25,614,000

31,241,831

34,991,753

40,267,984

55,792,501

Minnesota

479,564

546,934

594,266

683,121

949,293

Wadena County

2,328

2,527

2,727

2,918

3,255

Geography

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

United States

9,966,000

13,135,273

16,600,767

18,554,555

22,680,536

Minnesota

209,416

525,412

298,441

328,694

392,095

Wadena County

1,058

1,265

1,537

1,558

1,542

Geography

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

United States

2,239,700

3,080,165

4,239,587

5,493,433

6,336,435

Minnesota

52,789

68,835

85,601

106,664

116,658

Wadena County

285

355

430

548

513

Projected Growth - Wadena County is projected to grow steadily but moderately over the
next three decades. The county’s population increased from 13,713 in 2000 to 14,065 in
2020, with an estimated 14,388 residents in 2025. State projections show continued
growth through 2055 with the population estimated to rise to 16,671. As noted previously,
these estimates generally assume that past trends will generally continue into the future
and the County will need to stand ready for alternate scenarios where population growth
increase more rapidly or where population begins to decline.Contrary to projections
estimated in 1999, the population for Wadena County is estimated to increase slightly
between now and 2030. Regionally, surrounding counties, especially Cass and Otter Tail
Counties, are projected to have significant growth in the next 20 years.
Graph 1: Population Growth of Wadena County & Adjacent Counties 1970 - 2030

28

Population Projections
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
2025-2055
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
2025

2035

2045

Becker County

Cass County

Hubbard County

Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

2055

Source: MN State Demographer, Long Term Population Projections
Current and Projected Growth Past Population Trends of Cities - Population trends
within Wadena County’s cities has been a mix of growth and decline. On the growth side,
Menahga has grown from 835 persons to 1,384 in 2024 and Sebeka has grown from 668 to
750 over that same time period. The City of Nimrod has also grown slightly – from 64 to 88.
The Wadena County portion of the City of Staples has grown significantly from 98 in 1970
to 871 in 2010, but has essentially maintained the same population since that time.
Wadena – the County’s largest city – grew slightly between 1970 and 1980 from 4,640 to
4,699, but then dropped down to 4,109 by 1990 has experience both moderate decline and
growth in the years since then – settling at 4,239 in 2024. The cities of Aldrich and
Verndale have also experienced fluctuations in their population over the years, but have
generally declined over the last 20-30 years.
Among the County’s 15 townships, populations have generally remained stable, although
individual townships show different patterns of growth and change. The highest population
townships are those located along the Highways 10 and 71 corridors, with lower
populations in the central and eastern portions of the County.
Blueberry Township (surrounding the City of Menahga) has grown notably in recent years,
rising from 338 in 1970 to 732 by 2000 and to 958 residents in 2024. Wadena Township
around the City of Wadena remains the county’s largest township but has grown much
more moderately and now has essentially the same population as Blueberry Township.
29

Thomastown is the third largest township with 847 residents in 2024. Combined, these
three townships account for 41.7% of the County’s total township non-city population. The
next largest Townships include Red Eye Township (530 residents or 8.1%), Leaf River
Township (492 or 7.5% of the non-city population), Aldrich Township and Wing River
Townships (each with 451 or 6.9% of the non-city population) and Rockwood Township
(394 persons or 6.0% of the non-city population).
The Minnesota State Demographer discontinued making projections on individual city and
township populations around 2014. Instead, they release annual population estimates each
year.
The cities of Wadena County overall experienced a certain amount of growth in population
according to the U.S. Census from 1990 to 2012, although, except for the cities of Menahga,
Verndale, and Staples, population decreases were seen in each of the other cities in 1990.
The City of Wadena saw a significant decrease of 13 % in their population in 1990. From
2000 to 2010 the City of Aldrich has progressively decreased in numbers, while the
populations in the Cities of Nimrod and Sebeka have managed to remain somewhat stable.
The Cities of Menahga, Staples, and Verndale continue to show growth and the city of
Wadena has shown a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. Projections between now
and 2030 are reflective of these recent trends. Note that only part of the City of Staples lies
within Wadena County and growth rates there are not indicative of the growth in Wadena
County alone.
Table 4: Historic Wadena County City Populations 1970 - 2024
City

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Aldrich

85

88

70

Menahga

835

980

1,076 1,220 1,306 1,340 1,384

Nimrod

64

69

65

75

69

78

88

Sebeka

668

774

662

710

711

741

750

Staples city (part)

98

264

397

642

871

868

860

Verndale

570

504

560

575

602

511

507

53

48

35

38

Wadena city (part) 4,640 4,699 4,109 4,244 4,022 4,218 4,239
Source: MN State Demographer, Historical estimates of Minnesota and its cities' and
townships' population and households, 2000-2024 (released July 2025)
Table 5: Historic Wadena County Township Populations 1970 - 2024

Township

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024
30

Aldrich

445

559

475

418

430

411

451

Blueberry

338

567

526

732

721

828

958

Bullard

129

163

156

207

219

190

302

Huntersville

70

89

105

128

119

101

167

Leaf River

748

663

575

515

531

524

467

Lyons

162

185

162

180

192

186

195

Meadow

240

270

215

228

217

216

286

North Germany 373

374

322

327

313

290

320

Orton

187

234

217

220

204

200

257

Red Eye

332

406

378

421

490

506

535

Rockwood

465

491

375

388

390

386

437

Shell River

153

220

233

276

233

287

326

Thomastown

748

934

887

714

819

829

847

Wadena

794 1,094 1,134 1,010 868

826

959

Wing River

366

446

451

512

455

430

468

Source: MN State Demographer, Historical estimates of Minnesota and its cities' and
townships' population and households, 2000-2024 (released July 2025)
Current and Projected Growth of Townships – Although most of the townships in the
County have fluctuated slightly up and down between the 1990 and the 2010 census, the
township of Bullard has noticed a 28% increase in population, Blueberry following with a
27% increase and Red Eye gaining 22%. Leaf River experienced a 7% decrease in
population and the Township of Wadena also experienced a decrease of 23% in population.
Other Related Population Characteristics – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the
population in Wadena County in 2010 was predominantly White at 98%. The other 2% was
made up of a mix of other races. The population includes a greater number of females than
males by about 2%.
EDUCATION – Education is a central component of community vitality and economic
31

development in Wadena County. Public school districts serving Wadena County include
Wadena-Deer Creek, Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, and Staples-Motley, with some district
boundaries extending beyond county lines. Freshwater Education District also provides
specialized public education services. In 2025–26, all-grade enrollment was 1,126 for
Menahga, 1,088 for Wadena-Deer Creek, 937 for Staples-Motley, 492 for Verndale, 425 for
Sebeka, and 187 for Freshwater Education District. Enrollment trends vary by district, with
some experiencing growth and others experiencing long-term decline. These differences
reinforce the need for flexible planning that supports educational access, family retention,
and efficient use of facilities.
The county also benefits from nearby postsecondary and career training opportunities,
including Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena and Central Lakes
College in Staples. These institutions are important partners for workforce development,
career and technical education, and training programs aligned with local and regional
employment needs.A major concern of local communities and school boards across rural
Minnesota is the maintenance of quality education within areas of declining school age
population. Some districts are using their proximity to each other to pool resources to
provide education programs such as foreign languages, developmental education, and the
education of exceptional children, as well as combining sports teams in order to be able to
continue to offer those opportunities for children to participate.
There are presently 4 public school systems located in Wadena County: Menahga, Sebeka,
Wadena, and Verndale. In addition, Central Lakes College has a main campus and a West
Campus located in the City of Staples in Wadena County, and Minnesota State Community
and Technical College located in the City of Wadena. Both schools offer a variety of courses
ranging from business management and administration to trade and industry programs.
Table 6 below depicts the percentages of school enrollment numbers between 2006 and
2010 for children ages 3 and older for Wadena County.

32

Total Enrollment by School District
Wadena County School Districts
2005-2006 through 2025-2026
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

All Grades
All Grades
All Grades

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT All Grades
Freshwater Education District All Grades
STAPLES-MOTLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

All Grades

Source: MN Department of Education
Educational attainment in Wadena County is strong at the high school level. Among
residents age 25 and older, 92.6 percent have a high school diploma or higher, compared
with 93.9 percent statewide. Bachelor’s degree attainment is lower, with 19.8 percent of
county residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher compared with 39.4 percent
statewide.
Information from the U.S. Census indicates that all levels of educational attainment for
residents of Wadena County age 25 and older have increased in the numbers gathered from
2006 to 2010 in comparison to previous years.
Graph 3: Educational Attainment for Wadena County & Minnesota 2024, 25 years
and older

33

Educational Attainment
Wadena County, Minnesota
2024
Graduate or

Less than 9th grade
3%
9th to 12th grade, no
diploma
5%

professional degree
5%
Bachelor's degree
15%

High school graduate
(includes equivalency)
35%

Associate's degree
16%

Some college, no
degree
21%

Compared with nearby Counties, Wadena County has relatively high percentages of people
with a high school education and either some college education or Associate’s degrees, but
relatively low numbers of people with Bachelor’s degrees or higher.

Educational Attainment
Selected Counties
2024
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Becker County,
Minnesota

Cass County,
Minnesota

Hubbard County, Otter Tail County,
Minnesota
Minnesota

Todd County,
Minnesota

Less than 9th grade

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

High school graduate (includes equivalency)

Some college, no degree

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Wadena County,
Minnesota

Graduate or professional degree

In comparison to the State of Minnesota totals, Wadena County is nearly 10% higher than
34

the state average for residents receiving a high school diploma, but slightly lower than the
state average for persons receiving a Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate, or Professional Degree.
INCOME – Per Capita - Wadena County’s per capita income remains below surrounding
counties and the statewide average. In 2024, per capita income was $32,541 in Wadena
County, compared with a surrounding-county range of approximately $33,830 to $41,842
and a statewide average of $48,237. Median household income was $61,467, compared
with $89,062 statewide. Median family income was $84,103, also below Minnesota’s
median family income of $113,993. These income patterns affect housing affordability,
transportation costs, access to services, and local economic development
priorities.Although Wadena County is still well below the state average in per capita
income, the percentage of increase in per capita income is the same at 21%. In the ten years
from 2000 to 2010, an average increase in income per capita for Wadena County was
slightly lower than $4200 per year, while the state, on average, increased per capita
approximately $6400 per year. Wadena County ranks below the state’s average by
approximately $10,238 or 34%.
Graph 4: Income for Wadena County & Nearby Counties

35

Median Income Wadena County’s 2024 median household income of $61,467 is lower than each
surrounding comparison county and substantially below the statewide median of $89,062.
Mean household income was $77,288, and mean family income was $95,040.
Additional income measures, including mean household income and family income, show
that Wadena County generally remains below surrounding counties and the statewide
average.
In conjunction with the per capita income analysis above, the median income for
households in Wadena County is also well below the state average at 84%, a difference of
$9,345. Estimates for median family incomes are considerably lower at 75% of the state
average or $18,122, and a difference of $15,931 or 47% below the state average for median
incomes for non-family households.
HOUSING INVENTORY –
Housing inventory can be measured in two related ways: total housing units and occupied
households. Total housing units include all residential units, whether occupied, vacant, or
used seasonally. Households include only occupied housing units. Both measures are
important for understanding housing supply, community growth, and the relationship
between population change and housing demand.
Wadena County has experienced slow but steady growth in both housing units and
households over the long term. Total housing units increased from 4,280 in 1970 to 7,021
in 2024, with the fastest growth occurring during the 1970s and more moderate growth in
recent decades. Since 2010, the county’s housing inventory has grown only modestly,
Surrounding counties have experienced similar long-term growth in housing units,
although the pace and pattern of growth differ by county. Regional housing trends are
influenced by employment access, lake and recreational amenities, retirement housing
demand, construction costs, and the availability of infrastructure and services.
Household growth has followed a similar pattern. The number of households increased
from 3,790 in 1970 to 5,962 in 2024, with faster growth in earlier decades and more
gradual increases in recent years.
In previous reports, Minnesota’s households were projected to become older, more diverse
and more concentrated in metropolitan areas. This has proved true, however, in some
areas of Minnesota, where zoning rules have not been adopted, scattered development in
rural areas have also been noticed. Between 1990 and 2020, the projected growth of the
number of households in Minnesota is projected to increase by 28.7%, compared to a
15.5% growth rate in the number of people.

36

The aging of the population is the main reason suggested for a faster growing number of
households versus the growth rate of the population. People ranging in age from 40 to 70
are more likely to head a household than are younger adults. Although the number of
households will continue to grow, the increases will be far less dramatic than in the past.
Future household growth is suggested to be moderate for two reasons: 1) population
growth is projected to be slower than in the past, and, 2) the total householder rate within
each age, race, and gender group is projected to remain stable, instead of increasing as it
did in previous decades.
Projections for Wadena County will most likely follow the pattern of the state. The table
and graph below identify the trend in housing growth from 1970 to 2010. From 1970 to
1980, the number of households in Wadena County grew by 21%. In contrast, between
1980 and 1990 there was only a 3% increase, an 8% increase was recognized between
1990 and 2000, and between 2000 and 2010 the number of households grew by only 9%.
Graph 6: Number of Household 1970 -– 2010

Total Housing Units
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1970-2024
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Becker County

Cass County
1970

1980

Hubbard County Otter Tail County
1990

2000

37

2010

2020

Todd County
2024

Wadena County

Total Households
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1970-2024
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Becker County

Cass County
1970

1980

Hubbard County Otter Tail County
1990

2000

2010

2020

Todd County

Wadena County

2024

Source: US Census Bureau, Decennial Census; MN State Demographer, Historical
estimates of Minnesota, its Economic Development Regions, and its counties'
population and households, 1990-2024 (released July 2025)
Note: 2020 data listed as not available. Figure was calculated as average of 2019 and
2021 data.

38

Structural Characteristics of Housing – Wadena County’s housing inventory is
dominated by single-family detached homes. In 2024, 5,434 of the county’s 7,021 housing
units, or approximately 77 percent, were one-unit detached structures. Manufactured
housing also remains an important part of the inventory, with 484 mobile homes reported.
Single-family attached units and two-family housing represented a small share of the total,
while multifamily housing accounted for approximately 11 percent. Housing in Wadena
County is predominantly single family in nature at 76% of the total number located in the
County with mobile homes following as a distant second at 12%.
Graph 7: Wadena County Structural Characteristics for Housing 2024

Units in Structure
Wadena County, Minnesota
2024
20 or more units Mobile home
4%

7%

Boat, RV, van, etc.
0%

10 to 19 units
3%
5 to 9 units
1%
3 or 4 units
3%
2 units
2%
1-unit, attached
3%

1-unit, detached
77%

Source: US Census Bureau

Year Built –
Wadena County has a mixed-age housing stock. In 2024, 1,357 housing units were built in
1939 or earlier, and another 1,357 were built between 1940 and 1969. The largest single
decade category was 1970–1979, with 995 units. Only 67 units were reported as built in
2020 or later.
The number of housing units built in each decade after 1939 was fairly consistent until
1970. In the decade that followed the number of housing units constructed more than
doubled from previous decades. This trend began to fall off in the 1980’s and 1990’s and
then made a huge drop after 2005, only adding 201 additional housing units between 2005
and 2010. A lack of available jobs and a declining economy during this time period are
suspect in the significant decrease in the number of new housing units being added in the
county.
39

Table 6: Number of Housing Units by Year Built

Year Built

Housing Units

Total housing units

7,021

Built 2020 or later

67

Built 2010 to 2019

635

Built 2000 to 2009

798

Built 1990 to 1999

732

Built 1980 to 1989

691

Built 1970 to 1979

995

Built 1960 to 1969

780

Built 1950 to 1959

606

Built 1940 to 1949

360

Built 1939 or earlier 1,357

Housing Year Built
Wadena County, Minnesota
2024
Built 1939 or earlier
19%

Built 2020 or later
1%

Built 2010 to 2019
9%
Built 2000 to 2009
11%

Built 1940 to 1949
5%
Built 1990 to 1999
11%

Built 1950 to 1959
9%

Built 1960 to 1969
11%

Built 1970 to 1979
14%

Source: US Census Bureau
40

Built 1980 to 1989
10%

Housing Value - Owner-Occupied Units
Number ofSelected
Housing
Units by Year
Counties
Built
2024
6000
5000
4000
3000

1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

Wadena County

2000
1000
0
Becker County,
Minnesota

Cass County,
Minnesota

Hubbard County,
Minnesota

Otter Tail County,
Minnesota

Todd County,
Minnesota

Wadena County,
Minnesota

Less than $50,000

$50,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$150,000 to $199,999

$200,000 to $299,999

$300,000 to $499,999

$500,000 to $999,999

$1,000,000 or more

Source: US Census Bureau
Value of Owner-occupied Housing 2010 – Owner-occupied housing values have
increased over time, but Wadena County remains more affordable than Minnesota and
most nearby lake-oriented counties. In 2024, the median owner-occupied housing value in
Wadena County was $173,000, compared with $329,300 statewide. Nearby comparison
counties had higher median values, ranging from $207,700 in Todd County to $291,000 in
Becker County. Median values for owner-occupied housing in Wadena County has
drastically increased since the 1990 Census when the estimated median value was
reported to be $36,200. In the 2000 Census that figure increased to $64,600 and in 2010 it
nearly doubled when it came in at $113,800. This trend is not unique to Wadena County
but can be seen in the surrounding counties of Todd, Otter Tail, Cass, and Hubbard as well.
Table 7: Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units 20102024
Source: US Census Bureau

41

Occupancy - In 2024, Wadena County had 7,021 total housing units, including 6,081
occupied units and 940 vacant units. Owner-occupied units accounted for 4,474 occupied
units, while renter-occupied units accounted for 1,607. The homeowner vacancy rate was
0.3 percent, and the rental vacancy rate was 1.3 percent. Of the existing housing units in the
County, in 2010 the majority of them were occupied by their owners. 21% were occupied
by renters and 13% were vacant. This trend is relatively consistent with previous results in
the 2000 census reports.
Graph 8: Housing Units in Wadena County 2000 – 2010

Housing Occupancy
Wadena County
2024
8,000

7,021

7,000

6,081

6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000

940

1,000
0
Total housing units

Occupied housing units

Vacant housing units

Housing Tenure
Wadena County
2024
5,000

4,474

4,000
3,000
1,607

2,000
1,000
0
Owner-occupied

Renter-occupied

Source: US Census Bureau
42

Persons Per Household – Average household size in Wadena County has declined over
the long term, reflecting demographic change and a growing number of smaller
households. Countywide persons per household declined from 2.44 in 2000 to 2.34 in 2010
and was 2.36 in 2024. Wadena County’s average household size is comparable to several
surrounding counties and lower than Todd County. Previously the number of persons
occupying a housing unit in Wadena County was projected to drop slightly. This projection
was correct in that 2.58 persons per household was reported in 1990. Twenty years later,
in 2010, the average number of persons occupying a household was 2.38. This trend was
also noticed in Otter Tail, Hubbard and Cass Counties, while Todd County noticed a slight
increase in the number of persons per household.
Table 8: Persons per Household for Wadena & Surrounding Counties 1970-2024

Persons Per Occupied Household
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1970-2024
3.4
3.2
3
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Becker County

Cass County

Hubbard County

Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

County

2000 2010 2020 2024

Becker County

2.49

2.42

2.40

2.38

Cass County

2.45

2.37

2.34

2.36

Hubbard County 2.44

2.34

2.35

2.32

43

2024

Otter Tail County 2.45

2.33

2.33

2.34

Todd County

2.58

2.52

2.48

2.53

Wadena County 2.44

2.34

2.32

2.36

Projections for the next twenty years do not predict a significant increase in the number of
households for Wadena County with a projected increase of 13%. In comparison Todd
County is projected to notice a 22% increase in the number of households, Otter Tail a 33%
increase, Cass a 45% increase, and Hubbard County an increase of 41%.

44

SECTION 4: Natural Resources
This section is a compilation of available natural resources data to aid in decision making
and directing physical planning and development in Wadena County. For the purposes of
this document, natural resources are the geology, water, soil, vegetation, and topography of
Wadena County.
SOILS, VEGETATION, AND TOPOGRAPHY
The soils in Wadena County are formed in glacial till, in material sorted out of glacial
meltwater, and in organic matter. About 60% of the soils were formed in sandy and
gravelly outwash, 25% in glacial till, and 15% in organic matter.
The Wadena drumlin field of the Wisconsin Glaciation is the most recent evidence of glacial
action in the county. At one time, this drumlin field extended across the entire county in a
northeast to southwest alignment. The meltwater from more recent glacial events has
significantly altered the appearance of the drumlin field. The most evident drumlins are in
the west-central part of the county, near Sebeka and Blue Grass. The landscape is gently
sloping. Blowers, Paddock, Rockwood, and Runeberg soils formed in the glacial till on the
Drumlins.
Two distinct glacial outwash areas are in the county. One area of outwash is generally
north and east of the drumlin field and the Red Eye and Leaf Rivers. It extends into
Hubbard and Cass Counties. It is dominantly sand, some of which is fine or coarse, and
small amounts of gravel. The landscape is nearly level to gently sloping, except along the
rivers.
Another distinct area of outwash is south of the Leaf River, and it extends into Todd County
and the southeastern part of Otter Tail County. The outwash in this area consists of
calcareous sand and gravel which is dominantly sand and coarse sand with moderate
amounts of gravel. Carbonates are leached to a depth of about four feet. The landscape in
this area is also nearly level to gently sloping with sand covered drumlins existing there as
well. Dorset, Nymore, Verndale, Oylen, and Forado soils formed in this outwash material.
The organic material in the County consists of herbaceous plant material. Soils that formed
in this material have a high water table. Plants such as cattails, sedge, reeds, grasses and
some shrubs thrive in these soils. Because the high water table affects the rate of
decomposition, materials from these plants accumulate faster than they decompose. The
organic material is eight inches to more than seven feet thick, and is moderately
decomposed to highly decomposed. The organic soils are in depressions, potholes, and
broad drainage ways through the County. Seelyville, Rifle, Markey and Cathro mucks are
examples of the soils in these areas.
Erosion Prone Soils – The Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) classification of
erosion prone soils include those prone to either wind or water where there is a soil loss of
“T” (3 to 5 tons of soils loss per acre per year). Presently the County has about 20,683 acres
of high priority wind erosion, on about 129,400 acres of cropland. The severest problem is
found on cropland located in the southern one-third of the county on soil classes SSWD and
SLWD (example, Verndale-Nymore-Forada association) and also in the northern half of the
County on soil classes SSWL and SSPL. The irrigated acres are of special concern with
45

regard to wind erosion. (Soil Definitions: H=Water, S=Sand, L=Loam, P=Poorly drained,
W=Well drained, A=Alluvial (floodplain) Peat (high organic)
Original Vegetation – The original vegetation of Wadena County reflected its position
within the transition zone from the “great prairie” to the “big woods”. According to the
original survey done during the time period of 1847- 1907, the most dominant vegetation
was the conifer forest with a mixture of Jack Pine, Red Pine, Oak and Hazel. Nearly fifty
percent of the County ranging from the north, middle, and eastern parts of the County was
covered with it. The western edge of the county was covered with a Boreal HardwoodConifer Forest mixture containing Aspen,
Birch, Balsam, Fir, White Spruce, and White Cedar. The southeastern corner of the County
was covered with a mixture of prairie grasses and wetland grasses. and vary in distance.
Closed depressions are common in the outwash. The outwash plains make up about 70% of
the county.
In the northwest part of Wadena County, the drumlin field has an elevation of about 1,510
feet, which is the highest area in the county. The lowest area, which is about 1,225 feet, is
along the southeast corner of the county. The mean elevation for the county is at about
1,350. All the runoff in the county eventually will flow into the Crow Wing River and its
tributaries. The major tributaries are the Cat, Leaf, Partridge, Red Eye, Shell, and Wing
Rivers.
Watersheds in the county contain series of depressions rather than through a carved valley.
GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES
Topography – Wadena County is divided into two distinct areas, the Wadena drumlin field
and the outwash plains.
The drumlin field is dominantly in the west-central part of the
county. A few small areas are in the eastern and southern parts. The drumlins are nearly
level to sloping. Slopes are smooth and are short to moderately long. The drumlin fields
make up about 30% of the county. The sandy outwash areas are dominantly level to gently
sloping except where they are adjacent to rivers and lakes. Slopes are smooth
All of Wadena County is underlain by Precambrian igneaousigneous and metamorphic
rocks that are from 100 to 400 feet below a glacial till layer. This bedrock layer does not
have any water aquifers except locally in faults and fractures.
Aquifer Systems – Most ground water in the county is in pores or openings between
particles of sand and gravel in glacial outwash or glacial till. The thickness of the saturated
area is as much as 70 feet, but it averages about 36 feet. Some areas do not have a saturated
zone. The ground water is shallow in the outwash areas because the thick layers of glacial
till restrict the downward movement of water. In areas that have glacial till above and
below outwash sand and gravel, well water is available in lenses of sand and gravel within
the glacial till. In Wadena County well yeildsyields of up to 1000 gallons per minute in the
thicker saturated aquifers are common. Most water throughout the county is of the calcium
bicaronatebicarbonate type and is normally suitable for most purposes, although certain
uses may require water treatment. Recharge of the water aquifers is done primarily by
precipitation. Most discharge occurs as evapotranspiration, base flow is to the Crow Wing
River on the eastern side of the county, and base flows to other smaller streams and lakes.
46

Gravel Deposits – Wadena County has significant gravel deposits throughout the County.
Existing pits have been mapped as recently as 2002 by the state and the state is currently
engaged in mapping untapped gravel deposits throughout much of the state, with Wadena
County being identified (as of May 2026) as having requested mapping as time and
resources are available.
Watersheds – Wadena County has three major watersheds as defined by the State of
Minnesota – with the County being an active partner in the Crow Wing and Red Eye
Watersheds but having lesser involvement in the Long Prairie Watershed due to its
relatively small coverage of the County:
CROW WING: Sixty-nine watersheds from Wadena County drain into the Crow Wing River.
Presently, the state has it classified as a Canoeing River. Mostly a forested river, population
along this river is sparse. There is one city located along its banks, however, it is quite small
and does not have community sewer and water.
RED EYE: The Red Eye River is a tributary of the Crow Wing River and has 25 watersheds.
It flows through some major farming areas and one community which does have sewer and
water services.
LONG PRAIRIE: The smallest of the three watersheds, the Long Prairie river only has one
watershed located within Wadena County.
Protected Waters, Ditches, and Control Structure
The protected waters inventory is divided by state regulation into two categories: waters
and wetlands. There are 29 lakes in Wadena County which occupy a total of 3343 acres.
There are 32 wetlands with a total of 907 acres and 23 natural and altered natural
watercourses which are protected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR). These numbers are from the final inventory for Wadena County dated July 5, 1984.
The DNR is responsible for issuing protected waters permits. The biggest protected water
is Blueberry Lake with 555 acres and the smallest is 10 acres and is unnamed. Wadena
County shares four lakes that are inventoried in two other counties, two in Cass County and
two in Hubbard County. The following is a listing of lakes located in Wadena County:
Lakes In Wadena County
Lake Name

**Lake Location

Lake Number

Radebaugh Lake

T-134 R-33 S-1

80-2

Simon Lake

T-134 R-33 S-12

80-3

Lovejoy Lake

T-134 R-33 S-16/21

80-4

Unnamed

T-135 R-33 S-1/2

80-8

Sand Lake

T-135/136 R-33 S-1/36

80-11

Granning Lake

T-136 R-33 S-16

80-12

Strike Lake

T-136 R-33 S-16/17

80-13

47

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-10/11/14/15

80-15

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-12

80-16

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-17

80-17

Burgeon Lake

T-138 R-33 S-32/33

80-18

Round Lake

T-138/139 R-33 S-4/33

80-19

Yaeger Lake

T-137 R-34 S-3/4/9/10

80-22

Mud Lake

T-137 R-34 S-8/9

80-23

Rice Lake

T-137 R-34 S-9/16

80-24

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-14/23

80-26

Jim Cook Lake

T-138 R-34 S-19/20/29/30

80-27

Finn Lake

T-138 R-34 S-22/23

80-28

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-23/24

80-29

Lower Twin

T-138 R-34 S-6/1

80-30

Blueberry

T-138 R-35 S-2/3/9/10/11

80-34

Stocking

T-138 R-35 S-13/14/23

80-37

Spirit

T-138 R-35 S-21/22/27/28

80-39

Unnamed

T-136 R-33 S-16/17

80-48

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-15/22

80-50

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-19

80-52

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-1/2

80-57

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-14

80-61

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-14

80-62

Unnamed

T-136 R-33 S-29/32

80-82

Farnham

T-135 R-32 S-18/13

11-513

Dry Sand

T-135/136 R-32/33 S-6/1/31/36

11-514

Duck

T-138/139 R-33/34 S-6/1/31/36

29-142

Upper Twin

T-138/139 R-34 S-6/31

29-157

**T=Township R=Range
S=Section

48

Wetlands – The 1987 Soil Survey of Wadena County lists 46 different soil descriptions for the
County. Of these, 17 have a drainage class of very poorly drained to poorly drained. These 17 soil
types make up 30.5% of the County lands for a total of 109,355 acres. Wadena County is considered
among the counties in the state of Minnesota who still have 80% or greater original wetlands
existing within their borders.

There are six controlled wetland areas in Wadena County. Huntersville Water
Impoundments use four water control units to help maintain water levels. Stocking Creek
also has control units to help maintain water levels in Stocking Lake. Duck Lake is mostly in
Hubbard County. The control outlet is also located in Hubbard County.
Floodplains – The 1987 Soil Survey of Wadena County lists four different classes of soils
that flood frequently and they cover about 2.3% of the County, or 7,690 acres. Snow melt
and large thunder storms resulting in run off to rivers and streams are the main causes of
flooding. Wadena County expects to receive more accurate, updated mapping of the
floodplains within the County from the DNR within the next two years.
Wildlife Habitat - Several hundred acres of shallow and deep freshwater marshes and
wetlands exist in the County. These areas provide habitats for furbearers, such as muskrat,
mink, and beaver.
Wadena County is also home to big game animals like deer and bear. Bobcat, fox, coyote,
elk, cougars, wild turkey and timberwolves are alsohave been sighted or are prevalent in
the forested areas of the County. These areas also provide habitat for smaller animals such
as rabbits, squirrels, skunks, raccoon badgers and furbearing mammals. A wide variety of
songbirds and game type birds like pheasant and grouse occupy these areas as well as the
rural farm areas.
Public fishing is provided in most of the major lakes in the County as well as on the main
waterways of the Crow Wing, Shell, and Leaf Rivers and numerous other smaller bodies of
water and streams. The fish in these areas include Northern Pike, Bass, Walleye, and a
variety of panfish. Some coldwater streams support trout or have the potential to provide
habitats for trout. There are four designated trout streams in the County, those being: Cat
Creek, Farnham Creek, Hay Creek, and Union Creek. There are no designated trout lakes in
the County. “Designation” means that conditions are favorable for a trout habitat.
In addition to the fish, these water bodies, along with the numerous marshes and wetlands,
provide a habitat for a variety of waterfowl.
Soils also affect the kinds and amount of vegetation that is available to wildlife as food and
cover. Much of the county is made up of forest and agriculture lands which normally
provide enough food and cover for the wildlife that already exists in the County. Wildlife
habitats can also be created or imporvedimproved by planting appropriate vegetation, by
maintaining the existing plant cover, or by promoting the natural establishment of
desirable plants.
Wildlife/Fish Management Areas – In Wadena County, between sportsman’s
organizations and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there are between
4,000 and 5,000 acres of managed Wildlife Areas.
Agency Resources – There are several agencies available from which to gather
49

information regarding Wadena County’s natural resources:
Soil & Water Conservation District Office 4 Alfred Street SE
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-3195, Ext. 4
Natural Resource Conservation Service 4 Alfred Street SE
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-3195, Ext. 3
MN Dept. of Natural Resources Forestry Office
30066 Huntersville Road
Sebeka, MN 56477
(218) 472-3262
MN Dept. of Natural Resources
Wildlife Office
603 1st Street West
Park Rapids, MN 56470
(218) 732-8452

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

SECTION 5: Land Use

The scenic beauty of Wadena County’s approximate 563 543 square miles of area can be
seen in its abundant forests and its farm fields, across its open wetlands, and along the
banks of the beautiful Crow Wing River. These also offer a variety of recreational
opportunities like tubing and canoeing, hunting and fishing, snowmobiling, and horseback
riding, to name a few. The combination of these elements makes Wadena County an
attractive place to live and potentially work. This is evidenced by the fact that, although
Wadena County has a considerably lesser land mass than its surrounding Counties, its
population density is nearly as great as Becker, Todd and Ottertail Countiesy.
Since the initial adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in the early 1970’s, and subsequent
adoption of county-wide Zoning, Wadena County and its residents have taken a strong
stance on protecting its agricultural lands, the forests, the open spaces, the lakes and rivers,
and the recreational opportunities those resources provide, from development that might
prove to be harmful or detrimental to these resources. The residents of the County take a
great deal of pride in the land on which they live, and, for many, on the land by which they
make a living.
At the same time, the County recognizes the benefits that additional rural housing and
commercial/industrial development have for the community’s economic health and the
essential nature of making the County an attractive and welcoming place for new
development not just in its cities but also in its rural area. Balancing this desire for growth
and new development with the desire to preserve and protect the County’s agricultural and
natural resources is a primary goal of this Plan.
The purpose of a land use inventory is to quantify the existing development of the County.
From this inventory and other background information, areas for potential development,
the intensity of the development, and in some cases, the need to protect areas from
development, can be determined.
Table 10 - Total Land Area for Wadena & Surrounding Counties

57

Total Land Area for Wadena & Surrounding Counties

2025
Population
Land Area
(Sq. Mile)
Water Area
(Sq. Mile)
Density:
Persons/Sq.
Mile

Wadena
County

Todd
County

Otter Tail Cass County
County

Hubbard
County

Becker
County

14,388

26,060

61,041

31,430

22,369

35,497

536.35

945.10

19714.64

2021.49

926.03

1315.04

6.95

34.42

252.69

392.49

73.47

46.94

26.83

27.57

30.96

15.55

24.16

26.99

A review of the land mass that makes up Wadena County was accomplished in 2007 by the
DNR. Their research indicated a strong agricultural presence still exists within the County
with total cropland, pastureland, native pastures, hay land, irrigated land, barn lots, and
farmsteads alone making up 42% for the total acreage in the County, or 144,331 acres. The
influence of total acres determined to be coniferous forest, natural coniferous areas, mixed
woodlot forest, natural mixed areas, natural deciduous forest, and deciduous is greater still
with a total acres of 150,240.3, or 44% of the total land mass.
Below is the complete breakdown of land use according to the research that was
conducted:
Table 11: Wadena County Land Use Summary
Wadena County Land Use Summary
Acreage

% of
County

Abandoned Farmstead

156.8

0.05%

Gravel Pits

165.2

0.05%

RIM (Reinvest in MN)

349.9

0.10%

Altered Water

570.7

0.16%

Commercial / Industrial

1,017.1

0.29%

Recreation Land

1,159.8

0.33%

Community Service

1,197.7

0.34%

Barn Lots

1,727.5

0.50%

Wildlife Land

3,674.9

1.06%

58

Farmstead

3,715.8

1.07%

Natural Areas –
Coniferous

4,627.5

1.33%

Residential Land

4,933.8

1.42%

Water

5,558.8

1.60%

CRP

5,943.0

1.71%

Transportation Services

9,670.6

2.78%

Native Pastures

12,356.1

3.56%

Hay Land

15,991.7

4.60%

Deciduous Forest

17,340.4

4.99%

Irrigated Land

17,659.8

5.08%

Natural Areas - Grass

18,549.5

5.34%

Pasture Land

19,717.4

5.67%

Natural Areas - Deciduous

22,070.4

6.35%

Natural Areas - Mixed

23,980.8

6.90%

Mixed-Woodlot Forest

26,169.7

7.53%

Coniferous Forest

56,051.5

16.13%

Cropland

73,162.7

21.05%

Total

347,520.05

100.00%

AGRICULTURE LAND USE
Agriculture remains an important land use, economic activity, and part of Wadena County’s
rural identity. Agricultural lands support food and fiber production, farm-related
employment, equipment and service businesses, and the rural landscape valued by
residents. Agriculture also influences transportation needs, drainage systems, land use
compatibility, natural resource management, and the long-term character of rural
townships.
Consistent with broader state and national trends, Wadena County has experienced a longterm decline in both land in farms and the number of farms. At the same time, the average
size of remaining farms has generally increased, indicating continued consolidation within
the agricultural sector. These trends have implications for farmland preservation, rural
housing development, road use, drainage, and the ability of smaller and beginning farmers
to access land.
According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, land in farms in Wadena County declined from
59

191,372 acres in 1978 to 123,335 acres in 2022. The number of farms declined from 1,590
in 1950 to 442 in 2022. Over the same general period, average farm size increased from
179 acres in 1950 to 279 acres in 2022, despite some fluctuation in intermediate decades.
These changes indicate that agriculture continues to be an important land use, but one that
is operating on fewer farms and a smaller overall land base than in the past.
Several factors have contributed to these long-term changes, including mechanization,
commodity markets, federal farm policy, crop insurance programs, land values, and
changing farm economics. These forces have generally favored larger operations and
increased capital investment in land and equipment. For county planning purposes, the key
consideration is how to support a viable agricultural economy while managing rural
residential growth, protecting productive land, and reducing conflicts between farm and
non-farm uses.
Although the number of farms and acres in farms have declined, agriculture continues to
generate significant economic value in Wadena County.
Between 2012 and 2022, the total market value of agricultural products sold in Wadena
County increased from $57.49 million to $105.64 million. Crop sales increased from $35.8
million to $59.7 million, while livestock sales increased from $21.7 million to $45.9 million.
Average market value of agricultural products sold per farm increased from $89,402 in
2012 to $293,002 in 2022. While annual values can fluctuate because of commodity prices,
weather, input costs, and market conditions, these figures show that agriculture remains a
significant contributor to the county’s economy and should be considered in land use,
transportation, infrastructure, and economic development decisions.
Although Wadena County has a strong agricultural influence, the number of farms in the
county has steadily decreased from the 1960’s forward. Today the number of farms located
in the county is down to about half of what they were during that era. The average number
of acres held by each farm has, however, increased slightly since that time period,
increasing by 100 acres from 1950 to the mid 1990’s and then dropping again after 2000.
The tables and graphs below give the averages and the actual numbers and depict the trend
accordingly.
Table and Graph 12: Total Estimated Farm Land in Wadena County

60

Land in Farms
Wadena County
1974-2022
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
1974

1978 1982

1987

1992 1997

2002

2004 2012

2017

2022

Number of Farms
Wadena County
1950-2022
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
1950 1960 1970 1980 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 2022

Table 13 – Average Size of Farms in Wadena County by Acreage 1950 – 2022

61

Average Size of Farms
Wadena County
1950-2022
300
250
200
150
100
50
1950 1960 1970 1980 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 2022

Graph 15: Farms by Acreage

Number of Farms by Farm Size
Wadena County
2012-2022
Number of Farms

300
250
200
150
100
50
0

1 to 9 ac

10 to 49 ac

50 to 179 ac 180 to 499 ac 500 to 999 ac

2012

2017

1000 ac or
more

2022

Total Ag Parcels – According to the Wadena County Assessor’s assessment for 20122026,
there are a total of 13,89114,666 parcels of property in Wadena County. Of those parcels,
2,177 were classified as some form of agricultural, down from about 2,430 total parcels
were classified as agriculturein 2012. An additional 3,5674,597 parcels are tied to
agriculture, but are classified as rural vacant land or forest managementidentified as rural
vacant or in some form of forestry. There are a total of 284,800 acres tied to those parcels,
or 79% of the total land mass of the County.
The breakdown of those acres into
different categories of use is shown in the graph below.
Irrigation – A noticeable difference in the agriculture industry has been the addition of
62

irrigation to farm fields. In 1978, a total of 7,786 acres was irrigated in the County, but by
2007 2022 those acres have more than doubled to 18,406increased to 32,840 acres.
Irrigated acres have continued to grow in the county with more commercialized agribusiness purchasing land within
Wadena County and surrounding counties and adding
irrigation wells and center pivots. As the size of farms increase, wethe County can probably
anticipate
more growth in the number of irrigated acres in the future.
Land Values – The value of agricultural land in Wadena County, according to the USDA,
started climbing in the 1990’s and continued to increase drastically in 2008 when values
began to level out and even decrease slightly. Minnesota, including Wadena County, is in a
region of the United States where the value of farmland has the highest average of between
$2,500 to $4,999 per acre. That is up over double the value in1999 when the average value
was slightly over $1,000. Of course, these values are highly dependent on the existence of a
residence on the property and the value of the sales from the operation.
Market Values of Ag Products – Agriculture has and still does provide a great deal of
income to Wadena County. According to the United States Department of Agriculture
census from 20072022, the market value of agricultural products sold in Wadena County
was $39,945,000105,639,000. This number is up from 2002 2007 with a reported
$39,310,00039,945,000, increasing the average farm product market value per farm from
$53,555 to $60,798 to $293,002 over that same time period. Livestock market values from
the County made up approximately 6456.5% of the total agricultural market value in 2007
2022 with 3443.5% being from crop sales. This reflects a narrowing gap since 2007 where
the split was 64 to 34 percent. Out of the 87 Minnesota counties, Wadena County ranks
14th in the production of oats for grain, 15th in the production of vegetables and potatoes,
as well as bee colonies, 18th in the production of corn for silage, 24th in the production of
forage products such as hay, haylage, grass silage, and greenchop, 35th in the production of
milk and other dairy products from cows, 42nd in the production of fruits, tree nuts, and
berries, 46th in the production of poultry and eggs, 48th in the production of cattle and
calves. Other agriculture related products grown in Wadena County such as hogs, sheep
and goats, horses, corn for grain, soybeans, and other small grains were ranked between
55
52nd and 73rd among Minnesota counties.
Graph 17: Market Value of Production on Wadena County Farms

63

Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold
Wadena County
2012-2022
$70,000,000

$59,702,000

$60,000,000
$45,937,000

$50,000,000
$40,000,000

$35,827,000
$29,866,000

$30,000,000

$22,978,000
$21,658,000

$20,000,000
$10,000,000
$Crops

Livestock
2012

2017

2022

Average Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold
Wadena County
2012-2022
$350,000
$293,002

$300,000
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000

$102,411

$89,402

$50,000
$Avg Per Farm
2012

2017

2022

Residentially used parcels account for approximately 25.8% of all of the parcels in the rural
Single family dwellings still constitute the majority of residential uses in Wadena
Countyareas of the County (those parcels located outside of its cities). According to the
Wadena County Assessor’s Office, there are total of 5,0142,578 rural parcels which carry
some sort of residential classification. Of these parcels, 4,8562,426 parcels are classified as
single unit dwellings. A total of 83 only 6 parcels have up to 3 units attached and an
additional four parcels contain manufactured home parks.. and 57 parcels are 4 units or
more. There are 17 parcels that are classified as Qualified Low Income Rental Housing. All
of these parcels combined represent about 36% of the total parcels listed in the County and
10,985 total acres or 3% of the total land mass of the county. This does not include an
64

approximate 32 acres in mobile home parks.
Primarily, rural residences and farmsteads are scattered along the County’s road network.
Table 10 above depicts the population density for Wadena County. Although our the
County’s population is considerably less than surrounding counties, our its population
density is higher, or, nearly as high as those counties because the land mass is so much
smaller.
New residential development occurs primarily in or near the city limits of any particular
venue and is encouraged to do so through the Counties current Comprehensive and
Land Use Plan. Research indicates that allowing development to occur in rural or remote
areas of the County can increase services required and can put a strain on the financial
capabilities of the County.
57

The greatest amount of residential development in the past 10recent years has occurred
around the city of Menahga in Blueberry Township. There has also been a noticeable
amount of development along the Crow Wing River where the Potlatch Corporation,
previously known as the Northwest Paper Company, had divided ¼ ¼ section tracts of land
into two parcels for the purpose of land sales with access to the river. Most of the tracts
purchased from Potlatch have some form of building site located on them with approved
onsite sewage treatment system. Others were purchased for resale and have not yet been
developed.
Other development that is occurring in the county presents itself in the single division of a
¼ ¼ section or government lot. Smaller tracts of land in rural areas are in the greatest
demand as lenders prefer to hold mortgages on 5 acres tracts and less when lending to
construct a non-farm, residential homestead.
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Commercial and industrial land use in Wadena County accounts for approximately 1% of
the overall land mass in Wadena County. According to records provided by the Wadena
County Assessor’s Office, roughly 1365 124 acres parcels of land are associated with some
type of commercial use and another 15 are classified as having industrial uses. or industrial
activity. These figures do not include 12 golf course parcels, 6 resort parcels, 8 “Ma and Pa”
resort parcels and various other incidental commercial or industrial uses. Although there
are several Industrial Zones outlined in the County, there is only one industrial park
located outside of the city limits of a municipality. This park was developed with three
phase power in the early 2000’s by the local electrical cooperative. To date, there is oneare
two businesses located within the industrial park.
FORESTED LAND USE
Wadena County has a total of 160 332 parcels associated with an actual Forest
Management classification with a total of about 9,072 acres attached to them. Classified as
“Managed Forest Land” and another 190 parcels classified as “Sustainable Forest”.
Numerous acres associated to agriculture also contain forest or woodlot land use as well as
thousands of acres of forest owned and administered
by
the
Department of Natural Resources, State of Minnesota. Although the forestry industry has
65

suffered decreases in Wadena County for several years, it various public and private
forestry practices continues to be a part the land use and economy, as well as a practice for
conservationist on many different levels..
PUBLIC LAND USE
Several thousands of acres are also available to the public. Wadena County is home to the
Huntersville and Lyons State Forests, 10 county campgrounds with adjoining lands for
hiking, and a number of state administered wildlife management areas and parks. There
are also several hundred acres associated with the public school systems in Wadena
County, churches, and townships.
Additionally, Wadena County obtained 3,355 acres of land in 2025 from a much larger
amount of forestry land that The Conservation Fund purchased from the PotlatchDeltic
Corporation in 2020 in an effort to conserve forest land in the area. Funding for the
purchase was received through the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage grant and Wadena
County worked with The Conservation Fund, Northern Waters Land Trust, the DNR and
seven other counties to acquire the land – a process that took almost five years to complete.
This purchase helps ensure restoration, protection, and enhancement of wetlands, prairies,
forests, game, and wildlife, preventing forest fragmentation, and encouraging forest
consolidation. Other benefits, in the form of income generated, will offset the cost to
taxpayers through sustainable management of these forested parcels, and provide public
access to these areas for the enjoyment of the outdoors.

66

*Zoning Districts are defined on page 61.
67

Zoning Districts
A-1
Transitional Agriculture – Provides a district that will: 1) provide a buffer
between communities and general agricultural land uses; 2) provides for orderly urban
development and expansion in conjunction with the approved Wadena County
Comprehensive Plan; 3) prevents scattered, non-farm growth; and 4) secures economy in
governmental expenditures for public services, utilities and schools.

Mixed Agriculture and Forestry – Establishes a district suitable for livestock and
cash crop farming activities, and commercial timber removal in productive forest areas;
prevents scattered, non-farm development in out-county areas.

A-2

General Agriculture – Provides a district allowing suitable areas of Wadena
County to be retained for general farming activities including cash crop products and
animal husbandry; regulates the encroachment on agriculture land by non-farm land uses.
A-3

Highway Service Business District – Provides a district that will: 1) allow
compact and convenient limited highway-oriented business, closely related to existing
urban areas in the County, and 2) provides development standards that will not impair the
traffic-carrying capabilities of abutting roads and highways.

B-1

B-2
General Business District – Provides a district that will retain and allow general
commercial uses in the small, unincorporated urban communities in the County.

General Industry District – Intended to provide a district that will allow compact,
convenient, limited highway-oriented industry closely related to existing urban areas in the
County and at standards that will not impair the traffic-carrying capabilities of abutting
roads and highways. It is recognized that industrial uses are an important part of the
County’s land use pattern. The regulations for this district are intended to encourage
industrial development that is compatible with surrounding or abutting districts.
I-1

R-1
Suburban Residence District – Provides a district that will allow low-density
residential development and on-lot utilities in areas adjacent to urban development, but
where municipal utilities are not available.

RA Recreational District – Reserves appropriate areas within Wadena County for
recreation areas; to retain existing recreation areas for public use; to prevent development
that would adversely affect new and existing recreation areas, provided that purposes
herein stated shall not restrict the use of adjoining lands classified or zoning as agriculture
districts. All recreation areas created shall contain a minimum of 20 acres.
S-1 Shoreland Overlay District – Provides a district that will: 1) allow for the wise
utilization of the shoreland resources of Wadena CoutnyCounty, and 2) provide shoreland
development guidelines consistent with MN Statutes, Chapter 105, and MN Rules Chapter
6120.

68

69

70

71

SECTION 6: Economic Development
LABOR FORCE - EMPLOYMENT
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMinnesota Department of Employment and
Economic Development (DEED), Wadena County has a labor force of an estimated
6,4436,709 people as of May 2026. This is about the same as reports from 2000; however,
over the ten year period fromSince 2000 1976 to 2010 that number has been as low as an
estimated 6030 5,684 in January 1992around 2005, and as high as an estimated 7040
7,526 in November of 1999in the early part of 2000.
The unemployment rate for Wadena County at the end of 2012 is 6.6as of May 2026 was
4.9%. Since 1976, the rate has varied from as low as 2.2% in September and October of
2022 to as high as 13.5% in March 2009. Over those years, the unemployment rate has
averaged 6.4%This is up nearly double from the beginning of 2000 with a reported 3.6%
unemployment rate. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has steadily increased
over the past ten years with a huge spike in March of 2005 of 14.2% to where it is now,
with spikes also occurring in the winter months of each year due to employment
opportunities that are seasonal in nature.
In comparison, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the State of Minnesota had a
4.02.8% unemployment rate beginning in 2000as of May 2026, gradually increasing to the
current 5.7% rate of unemployment at the end of 2012. The state of Minnesota, as a whole,
does not necessarily experience the highs and lows in the unemployment rate due to the
winter months and seasonal employment, rather, it maintains a more steady existence and
moves up and down with more consistency.
(Coordinating with Human Services to update this section) According to the Wadena
County Human Services Department, while the number of households receiving food
support assistance has increased by 40% since 2008, the number of households receiving
Minnesota Family Investment and Diversionary Work Program assistance has gone down.
In 2008, the number of households receiving this form of assistance numbered 107, with
that number actually increasing over the next 3 years, but then dropping back to 103 in
2012. Households receiving Medical Assistance and General Assistance Medical Care,
however, increased by 10% from 2008. This could be directly attributed to the current
economy, with its increased cost of living and jobs available that do not include medical
benefits.
The labor force for Wadena County, according to the Minnesota State Demographics Center,
is projected to grow over the next several years to an estimated 6,720 and then gradually
come back down below even the current labor force numbers to an estimated 6,380. The
following graph breaks these numbers down by age as well. It is anticipated that a larger
number of people will continue to work past the normal retirement age of 65 presumably
due to a higher cost of living and medical insurance needs.
Graph 18 – Wadena County Labor Force Projections 2010-2035

72

3,000

Wadena County Labor Force Projections by Age
Group 2010-2035

2,500
16 – 24

2,000

25 – 44
45 – 64

1,500

65+
1,000
500
0
2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

Source: Minnesota State Demographics Center, Labor Force Projections 2010-2035
http://www.demography.state.mn.us/documents/MinnesotaLaborForceProjections20052
035.pdf
RETAIL TRADE
In the early 1970’s, Wadena County adopted its first Comprehensive Land Use Plan and
Zoning Ordinances that encouraged trade and industry to take place in those areas
designated for such business. It allows for smaller business, Mom and Pop type operations,
to take place in other zoning districts through a process known as Conditional Use. Even so,
Wadena County does not boast a tremendous amount of trade and industry. According to
the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)U.S.
Department of Labor Statistics, the County’s largest source of employment comes from the
Education and Health Services industry with average employment for 2025 of 2,196
employees. Trade, Transportation and Utilities comes in second with 1,265 employees
followed by Manufacturing at 445. rubber product manufacturing industry has reported
the most growth within the years 2005 to 2010 with an addition of 87 new jobs created.
The job growth in rubber product manufacturing makes up 27.2% of the total growth in
Wadena County in those years. The top five growing industries in the County besides
rubber product manufacturing are: general freight trucking, plastics product
manufacturing, auto repair and maintenance, and newspaper, book and directory
publishers.
The depository credit intermediation industry faced the greatest employment loss with a
total loss of 119 jobs between 2005 and 2010. This decline makes up 15.9% of the total
73

employment decline in Wadena County for that time period. Other industries in Wadena
County that noticed a decline in those five years are: automobile dealers, amusement and
recreation industries, general merchandise stores, and wood product manufacturing
industries.
When looking at average quarterly wages for 2025, the largest source of wages comes from
the same three industries – Education and Health Services at $125,713,472 in wages,
Trade, Transportation and Utilities at $60,188,562 and Manufacturing at $26,491,408.
Reviewing industry size based on the number of establishments for 2025, Trade,
Transportation and Utilities comes out at the top (94 establishments), followed by
Education and Health Services (88) and Construction (66).
Another source of data is Tthe 2007 2022 U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census, which
reported the following core economic statistics for Wadena County retail tradeeconomic
activity:
Table 18- Retail TradeCore Economic Statistics in Wadena County
Retail TradeCore Economic Statistics in Wadena County
Number of
Establishments

Value of Sales,
Receipts,
Shipments, or
Business

Number of
Employees

Annual Payroll
($1,000)

Done ($1,000)

Manufacturing

23

65,566

357

16,678

Wholesale Trade

1613

243,381381,827

487439

22,39225,892

Retail Trade

9863

238664

892687

17,318

177,697
Information

78

N/A19,629

8966

2,8343,290

Real Estate and
rental and leasing

710

7073,094

250-19

271611

18

4,53914,102

4995

2,325N/A

1311

N/A4,175

14720-99

N/A1,618

2

N/A

N/A

N/A

Professional,
Scientific,
Technical Services
Administrative, and
Support, and Waste
Management
Services
Educational
Services

74

Health Care &
Social Assistance

46

128,239139,632

1,976986

57,86357,601

Arts,
Entertainment,

N/A7

N/A

N/A20-99

N/A

Accommodation &
Food Service

3532

10,90619,940

400364

2,9625,480

Other Services

2827

N/A17,095

N/A135

N/A3,406

and Recreation

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2007 2022 Economic Census
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t
INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Wadena County has a number of Industrial Parks scattered throughout its boundaries. All
but one are located in the city limits of a municipality. The County had one industrial
rezoning east of Wadena, in Wadena Township, along U.S, Highway 10. This particular
development was accomplished by the local electrical cooperative, who supplies 3-phase
power to the site.
Sebeka Industrial Park
Located on Industrial Park Road just west of US Highway 71 off of County Road 8, the
Industrial Park is owned by the Sebeka Economic Development Authority (SEDA) and is a
total of approximately 50 acres in size, with 40 acres available for sale in 5 to 10 acre lots.
Services available at the industrial park include electricity only. Onsite sewage treatment
and private wells would serve any new development. There are currently two businesses
located in this park with lots available for sale, and Zoning regulations apply.
The City of Sebeka has some funding available in a revolving loan fund to assist new or
expanding business.
Wadena Industrial Parks
The 60 acre Wadena Industrial Park is located on the east side U.S. Highway 71 south with
49 acres developed and services including: sewer, water, storm sewer, gas, electricity, and
telecommunication capability. There are 12 businesses located in the park that employ
around 118 people.
The 28 acre publicly owned Wadena Business Park is located on the west side of Highway
71 south with 4 developed acres and services including: electricity, gas, and
telecommunication capability available. There are 2 businesses located there which employ
6 people. In both of these industrial parks lot sizes vary and Zoning regulations apply.

75

The City of Wadena has a variety of options available to assist new business and
development within the city. Some of these include: the City Fix-up Loan, tax abatement,
JOBZ Tax Free Development, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the WDA Revolving Loan
Fund, and the MIF Loan Fund.
Staples Industrial Park
The City of Staples Industrial Park is located in the Wadena County portion of the city on
Prairie Avenue West and includes the original industrial park property which is now fully
developed and an additional 154 acres that was recently acquiredis owned by the Staples
Economic Development Authority for future development. The EDA Industrial Park is not
yet platted which allows for flexibility to meet the needs of new businesses locating there.
Water, sewer, electricity, natural gas, fiber and phone services are all available in the park.
The park houses 7 manufacturing business which employ in excess of 100 people.
The City of Staples Economic Development Authority and the City of Staples can provide a
variety of options to assist business expansion and/or development. These options include:
Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Tax Abatement, Business Financing, and subsidized land
purchasing. Additionally, a variety of business revolving loan funds are available to assist
businesses including the Staples EDA, North Central Economic Development Association,
Initiative Foundation, and Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative.
Another attribute to industry in the City of Staples and Wadena County as a whole is the
Central Lakes College training programs such as: Robotics, Machine Tool Technology,
Diesel Mechanics, Heavy Equipment Operations and Maintenance, Welding and many more.
Companies have located in the proximity of Staples in order to have direct access to the
best trained workforce in Central Minnesota.
Menahga Industrial Park
The City of Menahga Industrial Park is located in the south-central portion of the city and
includes the plats: Menahga Industrial Park and Southgate First Addition. It consists of 95
acres with 5 vacant lots available for development through the city and one tax forfeited lot
that can be acquired through Wadena County. Lot sizes vary between .7 and 5 acres and
have access to sewer, electricity, natural gas, fiber, and phone services and readily available
access from U.S. Highway 71. There are currently 11 manufacturing and service oriented
businesses in the park.
A variety of options are available through the City of Menahga to assist with business
expansion or development. These include: Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the Initiative
Foundation, North Central Economic Development Association, Todd-Wadena Electric
Cooperative, and several business revolving loan funds from the City.
Verndale, Nimrod, & Aldrich
Although the City of Verndale has areas and services available for industry, they do not
have a developed Industrial Park.
The cities of Nimrod and Aldrich do not have Industrial Parks, neither do they provide city
sanitary and water services.

76

New Residential and Other Development in Wadena County
Since 2013, three new residential plats have been approved in the County – all in Blueberry
Township around Menahga. These include Blueberry Pines CIC with 8 twin homes and 13
single family dwellings completed; Opal Acres with 14 lots; and most recently in 2025
Blueberry Lands CIC with a proposed 32 units in a combination of twin homes and single
family homes. Since 1999 there have beenThese are in addition to the four new
developments in the unincorporated areas to the north of Menahga, in Blueberry
Township, that were noted in the 2013 Comprehensive Plan. The Those plat names are:
Deer Haven, Pine Haven, Forest Haven, and Tall Timbers. They are residential, single
dwelling developments with individual onsite sewage treatment and individual wells. The
lots are a minimum 80,000 square feet and varying up from there in size. These
developments range from three to eight lots.
Four new developments were also approved north of Staples, in Thomastown Township, in
close proximity to the Crow Wing River. The plat names are: River Ridge Addition, Vintage
Villas, First Addition to Pine Valley Estates, and Pine Ridge Estates. Three of these
developments are residential, single dwelling developments with individual onsite sewage
treatment and individual wells. The lots are a minimum 80,000 square feet and varying up
from there in size. One of these developments consists of five lots, another of eight lots, and
another of seven lots. The other development is a Planned Unit Development (PUD)
consisting of twelve lots with six duplex-style townhomes. For this development, a
clustered onsite sewage treatment system was designed and installed along with private
water sources. An association was also formed to govern the PUD, the operation &
maintenance of the septic system, and the management of the green space.
City of Wadena
Since 1999, the City of Wadena has added water and sanitary services, along with
electricity, curb and gutter to another 19 lots in Folkestad’s East, which is a development
that was platted in 1981 located in the southeast portion of the city. There are 16 lots
available in this newest phase of the plat to receive services.
Another new development in the City of Wadena is White Tail Estates near the White Tail
Run golf course located north on Highway 71. There are 25 lots available in this plat with
lot sizes varying. The roads are developed; however, no services are available. Individual
septic systems and wells would be installed to serve each site.
Since 1999, the City of Wadena has also completed a 4005 feet, hard surface runway
airport, and the Chamber of Commerce completed a downtown beautification program.
City of Staples
The City of Staples has seen a lot of growth over the past 10 years, much of it in the Wadena
County portion of the City. Since 2003, 46 single family residential structures and 44 multifamily residential units were added. In addition, the Central Lakes College Heavy
Equipment facility located on the westerly edge of Staples was planned and developed, and
Lakewood Health Systems implemented a 40 unit complex for senior tenants, attractively
designed in a comfortable, affordable environment that promotes an independent lifestyle
77

for its residents.In addition, Farmer’s Union Processing and Meats and Voyager Industries
have recently built or expanded in the City.
Lakewood Health Systems also expanded their Care Center which is located in the Wadena
County portion of the City. It is a 100-bed long-term care facility which has been recently
renovated and includes services such as: dialysis, pharmacy, rehabilitation nursing,
spiritual care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, oxygen and IV therapy, speech
therapy, and psychiatric services, to name a few. This facility also includes Lakewood
Reflections, which is designed for persons who are experiencing an emotional decline and
mental changes.
City of Sebeka
Since 1999, the City of Sebeka has added and developed Northern Acres Estates. This is a
publicly owned development with 25 lots in three blocks. The lots vary somewhat in size,
however, most lots are about 11,085 square feet in area and have municipal water and
sewer, utilities, and street curb and gutter. There are currently 17 lots available in
Northern Acres Estates.
City of Menahga
New residential development in the City of Menahga in the past 10 years consists of a
residential plat in the northeasterly portion of the City, all have access to electricity, natural
gas, fiber and phone services, but would require individual onsite sewage treatment
systems and private wells. The Menahga Development Corporation has also purchased an
additional 40 acres for anticipated residential, single family housing development.
The cities of Verndale, Aldrich and Nimrod have not had any newly platted residential
areas in more than 10 years.
COMMERCIAL ZONING
In 2025, the Wadena County Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning of extensive
areas to commercial/business zoning in an effort to facilitate business growth in the
County. Along the majority of most of the County’s major transportation corridors – for a
distance of 660 feet (1/8 mile)_on either side – land has been zoned for commercial uses.
These include US Highway 10 running through the southern portion of the County, State
Highway 71 running through the western portion of the County and State Highway 87 west
of Menahga – as well as areas of County Road 23 running north and south of Verndale.
Additionally, large parts of Section 10 in Red Eye Township have been zoned B-2.

78

SECTION 7: Transportation
EXISTING SYSTEMS
Wadena County strives to maintain a safe and well constructed road system with
convenient circulation patterns for internal and external traffic movement throughout the
County.
The Wadena County Highway Department operates and maintains a 460 433 mile road
system in the County. 252 270 miles (5662%) of this system consists of paved or also
referred to as bituminous surfaced roads.
The County highway system is publicallypublicly owned and is its largest asset valued at
over $45 million. The paved portion of the road
system accounts for the greatest part of this value and these routes serve as the primary
highways in the County. Wadena County currently invests approximately
$2.77.4 million dollars annually to maintain, improve, and preserve the highway system. Of
this amount, about $5.652 million is spent on pavement improvements and preservation.
Every year as these paved roads age they deteriorate more and their service life diminishes
from traffic use, weather, and environment.
Because the paved road system represents a significant investment, in 2008, Wadena
County chose to implement a Pavement Management Program to assist engineering with
making critical funding decisions.
Pavement Management – Pavement Management is the process of collecting, organizing,
and analyzing highway pavement data. These highway components include: length, width,
thickness, age, condition, strength, costs, history, and traffic counts. The data is analyzed
and combined with the highway department’s funding amounts and needs, along with
political considerations, to identify the most cost effective ways to maintain the paved
highway system in a satisfactory condition. A pavement management software program
can organize all of this data, forecast pavement conditions, analyze priorities, and create
budget “what-if” scenarios. These “what-if” results can find opportunities to provide a
higher level of service and save tax dollars.
Main Highways
The two main roadways within Wadena County are U.S. Highway 10 and U.S. Highway 71.
Highway 10 accommodates traffic in an east/west direction and passes through the County
connecting Staples to the east and Wadena to the west. Highway 71 runs in the north/south
direction connecting Menahga to the north and Wadena to the south. State Highway 29 is a
short segment within the County (.87 miles) that connects the community of Deer Creek in
Ottertail County with the city of Wadena. U.S. Highway 87 comes into Menahga from the
west and follows U.S. Highway 71 north out of the County.
Major Collectors in the County include: (ADT – Average Daily Traffic)
CSAH #2: 7.85 73 miles running east-west in Staples between Todd County at Aldrich and
Staples. Average daily trafficThe projected ADT for year 2013 2024 is was between 118
and 793 vehicle trips.720 and 756 with a projected ADT of Menahga from the west and
79

follows U.S. Highway 71 north out of the County.
CSAH #3: 1.46 miles running east-west in Staples between the Crow Wing River and 4th
Street. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 1,573 and 1,746 vehicle
trips.The 2013 ADT is between 1950 and 2048 and a projected ADT of 2458 in 2033.
CSAH #4: 10.97 miles running east-west in between Highway 10 in Wadena and CSAH #26
north of Aldrich. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 433 and 1,578
vehicle trips.The ADT numbers for 2013 are between 1700 and 1785 with a project ADT in
2033 of 2142.
CSAH #6: 4 miles running east-west between Highway #71 and CSAH #23. Average daily
traffic ADT for year 2024 was 519 vehicle trips.The projected ADT is 400 to 420 for 2013
and 504 for 2033.
CSAH #7: 16.88 miles running east-west between CSAH #26 and Oylen, then north to the
Cass County Line. The ADT for 2013 is 367.
CSAH #8: 2.99 miles running east-west between the Ottertail County line and Highway #71
at Sebeka. This road segment was CSAH #11 until 1997 when it was renumbered to
coincide with the Ottertail County numbering system. Average daily traffic ADT for year
2024 was between 1,061 and 1,464 vehicle trips.The projected ADT is between 1350 and
1418 for 2013 and 1702 for 2033.
CSAH #12: 15.34 miles running east-west connecting Sebeka and Nimrod and beyond to
the Cass County line. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 424 and 1,921
vehicle trips. The projected ADT in 2013 is 770 to 809 and is projected to be 971 in 2033.
CSAH #17: 4.39 miles running east-west between Menahga and CSAH #23. Average daily
traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 380 and 2,090 vehicle trips.The projected ADT
varies from 3600 in Menahga to 1168 at CSAH #23.
CSAH #18: 17.62 miles east-west and north-south between CSAH #23 and CSAH #12 at
Nimrod. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 158 and 289 vehicle
trips.The projected 2013 ADT is 345 to
362, with the estimated ADT for 2033 being 434.
CSAH #19: 3.30 miles running east-west between CSAH #18 and the Cass County line.
Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 102 vehicle trips. with a projected ADT of 60 to
63 in 2013 and 76 in 2033.
CSAH #20: 5.014.79 miles running north and east between Highway #10 in Wadena and
Highway #71. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 4,811 vehicle trips. with a
projected ADT of between 1000 and 1050 in 2013 and 1260
in 2033.
CSAH #21: 6 miles running northeast- southwest between Highway #71 in Menahga and
CSAH #23 at the Hubbard County line. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was
between 459 and 1,655 vehicle trips.The projected ADT varies from 990 to 1040 in 2013
and is projected be 1248 in 2033.
CSAH #23: 30.91 miles running north-south the entire length of Wadena County. Average
80

daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 490 and 1,449 vehicle trips.The projected ADT
on this entire route is between 1150 and 1208 for 2013 and is projected to be 1450 in
2033.
CSAH #25: 1.9 miles running north-south between the Hubbard County line and CSAH #18
at Huntersville. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 294 vehicle trips.The projected
ADT for 2013 is between 190 and 200 in 2013 and is projected to be 240 in 2033 .
CSAH #26: 18.80.70 miles running north-south between Highway #10 near Aldrich and
CSAH #12 at Nimrod. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 316 and 480
vehicle trips.The projected ADT for 2013 varies from 490 to 515 and is projected to be 618
in 2033.
CSAH #30: 1.63 miles running south and east of Staples from CSAH No. 2 to 4th Street in
the City of Staples and 8.86 miles north-south from the City of Staples to CSAH #7. Average
daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 404 and 2,595 vehicle trips.The projected ADT
in 2013 is between 530 and 557 and is projected to be 668 in 2033.
CSAH #31: 4.15 miles running west to east between Trunk Highway 71 and CSAH #23. The
projected ADT in 2013 is between 315 and 331 and projected in 2033 to be 397.
CSAH #53: .09 miles running north-south on Crooks Street between CSAH #17 and CSAH
#21 in Menahga. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 649 vehicle trips.The
projected ADT for 2013 is between 1400 and 1470. The projected ADT for 2033 is 1764.

81

Minor Collectors:
There are 96.54 81 miles of minor collector routes on thirteen County State Aid Highways
and one county road. In general, these routes carry less than 200 ADT.
The table below shows all the miles of roads in the county according to their functional
classification.
Table 19 – Wadena County Highway Mileage by Functional Classification
Wadena County Highway Mileage by Functional Classification
Principal
Arterial

Minor Arterial

Major Collector

Minor Collector

Local

U.S. Trunk

45.188

-

-

-

-

MN Trunk

-

0.866

-

-

-

County State Aid

-

-

135.51132.15

94.9095.17

10.9419.44

County

-

-

-

1.640

205.748194.3

Township

-

-

-

0.3100

366.966371.57

Municipal Streets

-

-

-

-

63.116

State Forest

-

-

-

-

3.827

Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Roadway Data - Functional Classification
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/html/functional_class.html
Deficiencies: The preceding County State Aid Highway inventory shows approximately
54% of the Wadena County State Aid Highway system is deficient in design speed, cross
section, or structural capacity. This is down 2229% from 1999 when the reported
deficiencies were at 76%. There are approximately:


32.84.1 miles (214%) deficiencies in all three categories;



5670.2 miles (2530%) are deficient in two categories;



1041125.7 miles (5346%) are NOT deficient in any of these categories.

Future County State Aid Highway projects will be programmed to continue to try to correct
deficiencies as surface conditions deteriorate and as construction funds become available.
Means of Transportation to Work: Of the 6,288 283 persons in the civilian labor force in
Wadena County the average length time it takes to travel to their employment is 22.5
minutes. This is very similar to the numbers generated in 1999 where the average travel
time to work was between 20 and 24 minutes. Although the means by which this work
force is traveling to their jobs has not changed, the numbers related to those means have
changed. The chart below indicates numbers reported on the 2010 Censusby the US Census
Bureau in 2010 and 2024.

82

Table 20 - Method of Transportation to Work
Number of
Persons

Number of
Persons

(2010)

(2024)

4,471

4,884

646

576

Public
Transportation

12

46

Walked

216

N/A

Other Means

69

N/A

Working at Home

417

526

Car, Truck, or
Van (Alone)
Car, Truck, or
Van (Carpooled)

Mean Travel Time to
Work
(Minutes)

22.5 (44.7%
N/A (58.2%
traveled 20
traveled 20
minutes or less)minutes or less)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community SurveySelected Economic
CharacteristicsMeans of Transportation to work by Selected Characteristics 2010 and
2024 http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t
In contrast to numbers reported in 1999, 3,644 people drove to work alone, with 482
carpooling. 17 people used public transportation and 337 people walked to work. 71
people either rode a bicycle to work or used some other form of transportation and 625
people worked at their place of residence.

83

Section 8: Facilities & Services
Wadena County, though small, provides a host of services necessary to support the resident
and business population within the County. Most of the information provided here was
received from the municipalities within the county and the school districts whose facilities
are housed within the boundaries of the County.
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS
The school facilities that serve Wadena County are provided by the Independent School
Districts (ISD):
Menahga Public School District #821
Facility Location: 216 Aspen Avenue
Menahga, MN 56464
Facility Contact Info: (218) 564-4141
www.menahga.k12.mn.us Superintendent: Ms. Mary Klamm Elementary Principal: Ms.
Ariana Wright High School Principal: Mr. Daniel StifterMichelle Koch Elementary
Enrollment: 553
High School Enrollment: 327 Elementary Class Size: 22 High School Class Size: 25
Avg. Teacher to Student Ratio: 1-15 Students participating in Post-Secondary: 20

84

Special Academic Programs
Menahga Public School promotes academic achievement through Project Lead the Way.
This is a pre-engineering program in grades 5th, 7th, and 8th, with 9th through 12th grades
elective. Grade 6 is slated to begin Project Lead the Way in 2014. They also offer a foreign
language program in partnership with Rosetta Stone. Students may choose from 26
different languages. A suite of high school and college online learning opportunities are
also provided for grades 10 through 12, and starting in 2013 grades 9 through 12 will
participate in an initiative to incorporate iPads into the curriculum.
Extra-curricular Activities
Menahga Public School systems offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. These
opportunities for students include:


Future Farmers of America (FFA)



Business Professionals of America (BPA)



Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)



Cross Country (paired with Sebeka)



Football (paired with Sebeka)



Girls Volleyball



Wrestling (paired with Sebeka



Girls Basketball



Boys Basketball



Hockey (paired with Park Rapids)



Knowledge Bowl



Student Council



National Honor Society



Band



Choir

Co-curricular:


Spelling Bee



History Day



One Act Play



FIRST Robotics Competition

85

Sebeka Public School District #820

Facility Location: 200 1st Street Northwest, Sebeka, MN 56477
Facility Contact Information Info: (218) 837-5101 or www.sebeka.k12.mn.us
Superintendent: Dave Kerkvliet
Principal: Amie Westberg
Dean of Students & Activities Director: Jon Lillquist

86

Special Academic Programs

87

Trojan Pathways Course List

Health and Human Services

Agriculture and Trades

Business and Fine Arts

World Foods I and II

Introduction to Agriculture

College Writing

Peer Tutoring

Horticulture & Landscape

Introduction to Film

Child Development

Agronomy

Media Literacy

War in Society

Animal Science

Communications Studies

Criminal Justice

Forestry & Natural Resources

Technical Writing

Genocide & the Holocaust

Wildlife Management

Agribusiness
Management

Contemporary Issues

Veterinary Science

Business Math

Anatomy

Large Mammals

College Intro to
Accounting

Forensic Science

Recreational Animals

Yearbook

Child Development

GIS/GPS

Graphic Design

MN History

Agribusiness Management

Sports Business

Psychology

Ag Leadership

Business Internship

Sociology

Agriculture Placement

Computer Applications

Anatomy

Small Gas Engines

American Cinema

Forensic Science

Mechanics

Welding Sculpture I & II

Human Biology

Welding

IT Graphics I & II

Experimental Design

Advanced Welding

Trojan Laser Works

College Writing

Welding Sculpture I & II

Senior Band

88

College Writing About Literature

Woods I

Senior Choir

College Child Literature & YA
Literature

Advanced Woods

College Rock & Pop Music

College Nature Writers

Construction Trades & Small
Construction

Exploring Art

Novel Studies

Engineering & Drafting

Ceramics

Dystopian Literature

Trojan Laser Works

Drawing

Mythology

Robotics

Painting

Communication Studies

IT Graphics I & II

Sculpture

Health 9

Home and Auto Repairs

Printmaking

Spanish I

Ecology

Photography

Spanish Speaking Cultures

Technical Writing

Independent Art

820online Option

89

Facility Location: 200 1st Street Northwest, Sebeka, MN 56477 Facility Contact Info:
(218) 837-5101 or www.sebeka.k12.mn.us Superintendent & K-12 Principal: Mr. David
Fjeldheim Assistant Principal & Activities Director: Mrs. Jill Walter Elementary
Enrollment: 245
High School Enrollment: 249

Elementary Class Size: 17

High School Class Size: 22

Avg. Teacher to Student Ratio: 1-17 Elementary & 1-22 High School
Students participating in Post-Secondary: 36
Percentage of Students Attending Post-Secondary after Graduation:
4 Year College – approx. 30%

M-State Technical Colleges – approx. 75%

Special Academic Programs
Sebeka Public School offers the following in special academic programs & classes:


Elective Art



Criminal Justice



College Algebra



College Accounting



Foreign Languages

90

College Biology


Pop Culture



Political Science



Contemporary Issues



College Stats



Desktop Publishing



Robotics



Anatomy



Applied Physics



College Political Science



College Psychology



College Economics



Webpage



College English



Forensics



Auto Cad

Extra-curricular Activities
Sebeka Public School systems offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities.
T
hese opportunities for students include:


Future Farmers of America (FFA)



Business Professionals of America (BPA)



Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)



Cross Country (paired with Menahga)



Football (paired with Menahga)



Girls Volleyball



Wrestling (paired with Menahga)



Girls Basketball/Boys Basketball



Hockey (paired with Wadena)



Knowledge Bowl
91



Student Council



National Honor Society



Drama



Speech



Cheerleading



Baseball



Softball



Track



Golf

Other special services offered at Sebeka Public School are:


Targeted Services for elementary students and grades 7 and 8



Math Masters for grades 5 and 6



Grad Standards Remediation

Wadena-Deer Creek Public School District #2155-01
Facility Location: 600 Colfax Avenue Southwest, Wadena, MN 56482 Facility Contact
Info: (218) 632-2155 or www.wdc2155.k12.mn.us Superintendent: Mr. Lee Westrum
Kindergarten – 4 Principal: Mr. Louis Rutten
5-12 Principal: Mr. Tyler Church
Elementary Enrollment: K-4: 381 5-6: 145 Total: 526
High School Enrollment: 456
19

Elementary Class Size: 20

High School Class Size:

Avg. Teacher to Student Ratio: 1-11 Elementary w/Specialist & 1-16 High School
w/Specialists
Students participating in Post-Secondary: 50
Percentage of Students Attending Post-Secondary after Graduation: 75%
Special Academic Programs:
Wadena-Deer Creek Public School promotes academic achievement through Project Lead
the Way (PLTW) in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This program
offers 36 credits of concurrent coursework, which is college level, within the school.
Extra-curricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities at Wadena-Deer Creek Schools include a wide variety of both
92

athletic and academic related activities such as:


Boosters



Science Club



Choir



Student Council



Yearbook



Marching Band



Drama



Spanish Club



Speech



Peer Helpers



Knowledge Bowl



CHAMP



Big Buddy



LEO’s Club (Lions)



Yellow Ribbon/SADD



Robotics



Girls Volleyball



Girls/Boys Tennis



Football



Girls/Boys Basketball



Wrestling



Danceline



Cheerleading



Baseball



Softball



Cross Country Running



Girls/Boys Track



Girls/Boys Golf



Girls/Boys Hockey



Weightlifting
93



Special Olympics



Cross-country Skiing (non- sport)



Youth Badminton (non-sport)



Project



Business Professionals of America



National Honor Society



Family Career & Community Leaders of America



Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Friendship/Friends for Rachel

94

Verndale Public School District #818

Facility Location: 411 Southwest Brown Street, Verndale, MN 56481 Facility Contact
Info: (218) 445-5184 or www.verndale.k12.mn.us Superintendent & K-4 Principal: Mr.
Paul Brownlow
5-12 Principal & Assessment Coordinator: Mr. Thomas Riitters
Elementary Enrollment: 262
Size: 38
Student Ratio: 1:12

High School Enrollment: 223 Elementary Class
High School Class Size: 37 Avg. Teacher to

Students participating in Post-Secondary: 27
Percentage of Students Attending Post-Secondary after Graduation: 20
Extra-curricular Activities:


Football



Volleyball



Wrestling



Girls Basketball



Boys Basketball



Baseball



Softball



Track



Cheerleading



Summer Band



Marching Band



Color Guard



School Play



Speech



Annual Staff



SADD



Knowledge Bowl



FCCLA



Driver’s Training



National Honor Society

95



Student Council



Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Staples-Motley Public School District #2177
Although the Staples-Motley Public School’s buildings are not located within the
boundaries of Wadena County, the school district itself is a part of the area of the county
and is definitely considered as a service to residents within Wadena County whose children
attend school there.
Facility Locations:
Motley Elementary & Staples- Motley Middle School
132 First Avenue, Motley, MN 56466
Facility Contact Information: (218) 352-6315 Phone
Principal: Mr. Justin Sperling
Staples Elementary School
1025 4th Street NE, Staples, MN 56479
Facility Contact Information: (218) 894-2433 Phone (218) 894-1545 Fax
Principal: Mr. Jason LuksikRyan Koenigs
Staples-Motley Middle and High School
401 Centennial LaneDrive, Staples, MN 56479
Facility Contact Information: (218) 894-2431 Phone www.isd2170.k12.mn.us
Principal: Mr. Ryan LuftMs. Debbie Ferdon
Superintendent: Mr. Mark SchmitzShane Tappe
Current enrollment numbers:

1174

Average Class Size: 20
Avg. Teacher to Student Ratio:

1:20

Students participating in Post-Secondary: 15
Students Attending Post-Secondary after Graduation: 50 from the Class of 2012
Special Academic Programs:
Special academic programs offered to students attending Staples-Motley schools are: ITV,
on-line classes, and College in the Schools
Extra-curricular Activities
96

Extra-curricular activities at Staples-Motley Schools include a wide variety of both athletic
and academic related activities such as:


Football



Volleyball



Boys Basketball



Girls Basketball



Wrestling



Baseball



Softball



Track & Field



Cross Country



Girls Tennis



Girls Swimming



Boy & Girls Golf



Knowledge Bowl



Speech



Orchestra



Drama



Choir



Band



Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Freshwater Education District 6004
Facility Location:
Office: 910 Ash Ave. NE, Wadena, MN 56482
Learning Centers located in Wadena County: 624 Jefferson St. North, Wadena, MN 56482
Menahga, MN 56466
Facility Contact Info: Wadena Office: (218) 631-3505 www.fed.K12.mn.us
Wadena Learning Center: (218) 631-2281
Menahga Learning Center: (218) 564-6115
Executive Director: Mr. Jerald R. NeslandEric Weber Enrollment at Learning Centers:
97

50 Class Size: 11
Avg. Teacher to Student Ratio: 1:11
Students participating in Post-Secondary: 0
Number
after Graduation: 4

ofStudents

Attending

Post- Secondary

Special Academic Programs – Freshwater offers independent study in a quiet, supervised
environment to students at risk of not graduating.
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Central Lakes College – Staples Campus
Facility Location: 1830 Airport Road, Staples, MN 56477
Facility Contact Information: (218) 894-5100 or (800) 2476836 www.clcmn.edu
President: Dr. Larry A. LundbladKimberly Lynch (Interim)
Interim Dean of Students of the Staples Campus and Grantsand Career & Tech
Programs: Dr. Wendy SchluenderErich Heppner
Central Lakes College’s Staples Campus offers hands-on career and technical programs in a
close-knit, supportive setting. Known for strong agriculture, heavy equipment and skilled
trade programs, Staples connects students to real-world leaning and local industry, helping
them build practical skills and launch meaningful careers. CLC also has a campus in
Brainerd. provides education in career and college transfer programs, provides continuing
and customized training offerings, and offers a broad array of student life activities
including athletics, student
organizations, music, and theater. CLC is rapidly developing on-line programs to meet the
needs of students. Central
Lakes College partners with over 30 school districts in the region to offer “college in the
school” options to high school students.
Central Lakes College – West Campus at Staples, MN
Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M-State)
Facility Location: 405 SW Colfax, Wadena, MN 56482
Facility Contact Information: (218) 631-7821 www.minnesota.edu/wadena
President: Dr. Peggy Kennedy
Senior Dean of Students: Monty Johnson
M-State in Wadena has an enrollment of around 707 students on campus, with an
additional 258 students using the convenience of on-line courses offered through the
school. Class sizes are approximately 17 students and a student to teacher ratio of
98

approximately 17:1. They currently have around 35 high school students participating in a
post-secondary education option for the fall semester and 42 during the spring semester.
M-State in Wadena is affiliated with four other campuses located in Fergus Falls, Detroit
Lakes, and Moorhead, as well as their on-line campus. They offer a variety of sports and
assorted arts programs via their Fergus Falls Campus.
The Wadena campus offers 23 career programs and the University Transfer (Associate of
Arts) degree that allows students to complete the first two years of a four-year degree at MState. The college’s Electrical Line Worker program also offers a diploma program in the
northern Minnesota community of Baudette.
Additionally, the campus has a Nursing Club, Student Senate, and a chapter of SkillsUSA (a
national career preparation organization). Student life activities include organized ski trips,
sponsored student trips, musical performances on campus and community service
activities.
Scholarships are available through the Wadena Area College Foundation.

99

HEALTH CARE
Hospitals
Astera Health
421 11th St NW (Hospital)
415 Jefferson St N (Legacy Campus)
Wadena, MN 56482
asterahealth.org

Lakewood Health Systems
49725 County Road 83
Staples, MN 56479
www.lakewoodhealthsystem.com

Tri County Health Care System
415 Jefferson St. N.
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-3510
(800) 631-1811
Fax (218) 631-7503
www.tricountyhospital.org

Lakewood Health System
49725 County Rd. 83
Staples, MN 56479
(218) 894-1515
(800) 525-1033
Fax (218) 894-8581
www.lakewoodhealthsystem.c

om
General Medical Clinics
Astera Health – Wadena Clinic
421 11th St NW
Wadena, MN 56482
Twin Cities Orthopedics – Staples
49725 County Road 83
Staples, MN 56479
Essentia Health – Menahga Clinic
212 Aspen Ave NE
Menahga, MN 56464
Astera Health – Verndale Clinic
102 Farwell St
Verndale, MN 56481

Lakewood Health Systems – Staples Clinic
49725 County Road 83
Staples, MN 56479
Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s
301 2nd Ave NW
Staples, MN 56479
Astera Health – Sebeka Clinic
106 Minnesota Ave
Sebeka, MN 56477

Wadena Medical Center
4 Deerwood Ave. NE
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-1100
(800) 631-1811
Fax (218) 631-7571
www.tricountyhospital.org

Lakewood Clinic
49725 County Rd 83
Staples, MN 56479
(218) 894-1515
(800) 525-1033
Fax (218) 894-8581
www.lakewoodhealthsystem.c

om
Sebeka Medical Clinic
(Tri County Health Care)

Essentia Health Clinic
212 Aspen Ave. NE
100

106 Minnesota Ave. E.
Sebeka, MN 56477
(218) 837-5333
Fax (218) 837-5944
www.tricountyhospital.org
ELDERLY CARE SERVICES
Nursing Homes
Fair Oaks Lodge
201 Shady Lane Drive
Wadena, MN 56482
www.fairoakslodge.org
Greenwood Connections
427 Main St NE
Menahga, MN 56474
www.greenwoodconnections.com

Menahga, MN 56464
(218) 564-4131
Fax (218) 564-5827
www.essentiahealth.org

Lakewood Health System
401 Prairie Ave NE
Staples, MN 56479
www.lakewoodhealthsystems.com

Fair Oaks Lodge Inc.
201 Shady Lane Dr.
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-1391
Fax (218) 632-5028
www.fairoakslodge.org

Lakewood Care Center
401 Prairie Ave. NE
Staples, MN 56479
(218) 894-8345
Fax (218) 894-8353
www.lakewoodhealthsystem.c

om
Green Pine Acres (Greenwood Connections) 427 Main St. NE
Menahga, MN 56474
(218) 564-4101
Fax (218) 564-5309
www.greenwoodconnections.com

101

Assisted Living and Hospice
Comfort Care Cottage
1232 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482
Fair Oaks Apartments
131 Shady Lane Drive
Wadena, MN 56482
Rose Haven Assisted Living
37 6th St SE
Menahga, MN 56464
Caring Hands Home Care, Inc.
113 Minnesota Ave W
Sebeka, MN 56477
Legacy Home Health & Hospice
201 Shady Lane Dr
Wadena, MN 56482
Comfort Care Cottage
1232 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482
Providence Villa
200 Minnesota Ave E
Sebeka, MN 56477
Comfort Care Cottage
1232 Jefferson St. S
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-4873

Little Bit of Country
813 Harmony Lane
Wadena, MN 56482
Woodside Manor (Greenwood Connections)
427 Main St NE
Menahga, MN 56474
Vitality Living of Sebeka
1005 Wells Ave SW
Sebeka, MN 56477
Lakewood Health System
Home Care & Hospice
401 Prairie Ave NE
Staples, MN 56479
The Meadows of Wadena – Senior Living
110 Hemlock Ave NW
Wadena, MN 56482
Vicie Home Health Care and Hospice
314 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482

Little Bit Of Country
813 Harmony Lane
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-7105

Fair Oaks Apartments
131 Shady Lane Drive
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-1163
(218) 564-4101
Rose Haven Assist Living
37 6th St. SE

Woodside Manor
(Greenwood Connections)
427 Main St. NE
Menahga, MN 56474
Fax (218) 564-5309
www.greenwoodconnections.c

om Menahga, MN 56464
(218) 564-4268
Heritage House of Sebeka 1005 Wells Ave. SW Sebeka, MN 56477
(218) 837-6406
www.heritagehouseofmn.com Home Health Care Services
Caring Hands Home Care, Inc.
Lakewood Health System
113 Minnesota Ave. W
Home Care & Hospice
Sebeka, MN 56477
401 Prairie Ave. NE
102

(218) 837-5572
Fax (218)837-6155
Fax (218) 894-8353
Legacy Home Health & Hospice

Staples, MN 56479
(218) 894-8080

www.lakewoodhealthsystem.c
om 201 Shady Lane Dr.
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 632-1335
Fax (218) 632-1336
www.legacyofwadena.org
Mental Health Care Treatment Centers
Bell Hill Recovery Center 12214 200th St.
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-3610
www.bellhill.org

103

Library
Wadena City Library –
Kitchigami Regional Library System 304 1st Street SW210 First Street SW
Wadena, MN 56482
Phone: (218) 631-2476
Fax: (218) 632-5029
www.krls.org/wadena-city-library
Wadena City Library
The Wadena City Library has been in its new location at 210 First Street SW since 2023.
The original Wadena City Library was built in 1984 and located at 304 1st Street SW and
covers 4,000 square feet. Previously, there was a meeting room that held up to 25 people
within the library but a demand for more children’s area and the lack of use of the meeting
room eliminated that room and it was opened up to expand the children’s area of the
library. The total collection at the library is around 34,985 items which include: books,
videos, sound cassettes, CD’s, computer programs, toys, and magazines. The library has 11
computer terminals with internet capabilities, 3 terminals with access to their card catalog
and several search engines, and, through a contract with 3M, have added e-audio, e-reader
books, and much more. This is the only public library in Wadena County and in 2012 it had
a total checkout number of 5,205. As it is part of the Kitchigami Regional Library System,
whose headquarters are in Pine River, MN, the Wadena City Library had previously been
able to service the rest of the county through bi-weekly stops by the Book Mobile to
Nimrod, Sebeka, and Menahga. In 2012, the Book Mobile had 1517 checkouts in Nimrod,
976 checkouts in Sebeka, and 5,788 checkouts in Menahga.
The Regional Library
System has also begun servicing the county by the use of e-books and through book bins
situated throughout the county for physical books. These techniques are being explored as
options in lieu of the Book Mobile bi-weekly stops because funding for the library and its
operations has been reduced and beginning in 2014 the Book Mobile will no longer be
making stops out in the county.
Public Transit
The Friendly Rider 124 1st Street SE229 Harry Rich Drive, Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-5730
Wadena County provides public transit services through the Friendly Rider Transit, a bus
service managed by Wadena County Human Services. Friendly Rider Transit began
operation in 2003. with a fleet of three buses and a staff of five and was initially managed
by Wadena County Human Services. Now, it has its own facility, 8 busses, 16 staff and is
operated as part of the Wadena County Highway Department. It serves Wadena, Otter Tail,
Todd and Morrison Counties. Within Wadena County, It currently provides daily transit
services seven days a week in Wadena, all weekdays in and Staples, Sebeka, Verndale and
Aldrich and Thursdays in Menahga. with weekly or monthly trips to other parts of Wadena
104

County and Northern Todd County. Annual ridership is around 50,000 persons – up from In
2012, Friendly Rider transported over 5212,000 individualsin 2012 and 12,000 when it
first began. Friendly Rider recognized its 1 millionth rider in 2025 and is currently
constructing a new building and adding new busses.
Fares for these services are presently:


$1.25 1.50 per ride for one-way trips of less than two five miles



$2.503.00 per ride for one-way trips from 2-9 6-10 miles



$3.754.50 per ride for one-way trips over 9 10 miles

Booklets of 12 tickets are $12.5015.00, a savings of $2.503.00 with monthly passes also
available for between $3035 and $100 depending on the length of the trip. These prices are,
of course subject to change with each yearly budget.
Solid Waste & Recycling
Wadena County offers a wide variety of waste disposal and recycling opportunities through
its Solid Waste and Recycling Department. A transfer station, located at 10542 170th
Street, Wadena, was newly constructed and fully operational in October, 1999, and is now
operated by the County. The original purpose of the transfer station was to provide local
haulers with a site within the County in which to dispose of the waste collected by their
packer trucks, rather than transport it to another County's transfer station at a higher cost.
The waste is then hauled by semi-trailer loads to the Perham Resource Recovery Facility or
to a Waste Management owned sanitary landfill where it is properly disposed.
The Transfer Station also serves as the hub for the recycling program in the county.
Recyclables are collected at this site not only from residents but also from recycling
containers strategically placed around the county for collection of recyclables from rural
Wadena County. Presently, recyclables, except for cardboard, are co-mingled and taken to a
Waste Management Recycling facility in the twin cities.
Besides recycling, the Transfer Station offers Household Hazardous Waste collection,
recycling of electronics, receiving of scrap metal (not for payment), used oil collection, and
demolition landfill services. A complete listing of items accepted and fees attached to each
of these collections can be found under the Solid Waste Department at
www.co.wadena.mn.us .
Rural garbage collection services can be obtained in any part of Wadena County through
commercial haulers.
Law Enforcement and Fire Protection
Law Enforcement
The Wadena County Sheriff’s Department provides law enforcement services throughout
the county and extends services also to those cities which do not employ their own police
105

departments. The Sheriff’s Department and Jail is based at the Wadena County Courthouse
located at 415 Jefferson Street South, in Wadena.
Although the County Sheriff’s Department provides the hub for all law enforcement
services, the Cities of Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, and Wadena staff and budget for their
own Police Department. Police services are also budgeted and staffed by the City of Staples
for that portion of Staples located in Wadena County. The various Police Departments, the
State Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Department often assist each other and work together toward
the greater good of the county and the protection of its residents.
Fire Protection, Rescue, & EMS Ambulance Services
Fire protection is realized through established Volunteer Fire Departments located in each
of the four larger cities of Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, and Wadena, and also including the
City of Staples. Each department also has first response teams who respond and are usually
the first people on sight when an accident or medical call is made for help. Each volunteer
fire department covers the rural areas designated to them, providing outstanding fire and
rescue services throughout the county.
Like the local law enforcement, these fire departments often work together to battle blazes
and to provide rescue services whenever the need arises.
The majority of ambulance service is provided through Tri County Hospital EMS in Wadena
and Ambulance Service of Staples, also providing excellent triage and first response.
The map on the following page provides information depicting the different Emergency
Services zones and the providers for each zone.

106

107

Churches of Wadena County
Aldrich
First Congregational Church of Aldrich
264 Central Ave S
First Congregation Church of Aldrich
262 Central Ave. S

Balsamlund Lutheran Church (ELCA)
19550 490th St.

Menahga Area
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
113 Aspen Ave S
RELAYT Church
17 Main St W
Laestadian Lutheran Church of Menahga
25 Juniper Ave
Lakeside Community Church
18 1st St W
First English Lutheran Church (LCMC)
120 Balsam Ave NW
Bethany Lutheran Church (LCMC)
52943 140th St

Pinewood Assembly of God Church
37863 US-71
Redeemer Lutheran Church
15 12th St SE
Runeberg Church
First Apostolic Lutheran Church
10182 Hwy 49
Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church
222 Aspen Ave S

Assumption of Our Lady Catholic Church
Aspen Ave. NW

Bethany Lutheran Church (LCMC) 113
52943 140th St.

First English Lutheran (LCMC)
17 Main St. NW

United Methodist Church
18 4th St. SW

Redeemer Lutheran Church
15 12th St. SE
Assembly of God Church 37863 US Hwy 71

West Side Laestadian Lutheran
25 Juniper Ave. NW

Nimrod Area
Nimrod Lutheran Church
23125 Nimrod Ave
Nimrod Lutheran Church 28134 Co. Rd. 26
Sebeka Area
Living Hope Family Church
100 Jefferson Ave S
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Grace Lutheran Church
500 Wells Ave NW
Friends in Christ Community Church
108

401 2nd St SE
Zion Church

405 N Becker Ave
Blowers Chapel

Bethany Free Lutheran Church
21987 Co Rd 23

The Old Country Church
19973 145th Ave.

Bethany Free Lutheran Church
21987 Co. Rd. 23

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
401 2nd St. SE
United Methodist Church 100 Jefferson Ave. S

Grace Lutheran Church
500 Wells Ave. NW

Friends Of Christ Lutheran Church 305 5th St. SW
Staples Area
Staples Alliance Church
1512 8th St NE
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
310 4th St NE
Staples Assembly of God
914 3rd Ave
Church of Christ
27343 490th St
Staples Seventh-Day Adventist Church
421 Dakota Ave SE

Trinity Lutheran Church
1000 4th St NE
Faith Lutheran Church
430 12th St NE
First Congregational Church United
204 5th St NE
United Methodist Church
310 5th St NE
Thomastown Covenant Church
15940 251st Ave

Thomastown Covenant Church 15940 251st Ave.

109

Verndale Area

Verndale Family Life Church
402 Clark Dr
St. Frederick Catholic Church
20 NW Brown St
Central United Methodist Church
15384 Co Rd 26
St Frederick Catholic Church
20 Mason Ave W

Verndale Alliance Church
109 NW Brown St
Verndale United Methodist Church
213 Farwell St
Bethany Free Lutheran Church
21987 Co Rd 23
Oylen Alliance Church
27182 242nd Ave

Family Life Church of The
Assemblies of God
Dr. NE

Bethany Free Lutheran
21987 Co. Rd. 23, Bluegrass 402 Clark

St. Hubert Catholic Church
22008 Co. Rd. 23, Bluegrass

St. Frederick Catholic Church
20 Mason Ave. W

Hope Chapel Alliance, Inc.
18126 Co. Rd. 7
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Church of Verndale
Wadena

Central United Methodist
15384 Co. Rd. 26
United Methodist Church
213 Farwell St. S 106 Farwell St.

Assemblies of God
419 1st St NW
St. Ann Catholic Church
514 1st St SE
Southbrook Baptist Church
1842 2nd St SW
Immanuel Lutheran Church
403 2nd St SE
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
625 3rd St NW
Wadena Branch – The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints
220 Jefferson St N
Wadena Apostolic Lutheran Church
603 Jefferson St S
Wadena Seventh Day Adventist Church
14711 125th Ave
First Missionary Baptist
104 Cedar Ave NW

Epicenter Church
119 1st St SE
St. John Lutheran Church
710 Franklin
Wadena Alliance Church
1428 Jefferson St S
Joyful Spirit Methodist Church
61847 MN-29
United Church of Christ
110 Colfax Ave SW
St. Helens Episcopal Church
22 Dayton Ave SW
First Missionary Baptist Church
222 3rd Street NE
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
310 Main St

110

Assembly of God Church
421 1st St. NW

First Missionary Baptist
222 First St. NE

St. Ann’s Catholic Church
512 1st St. SE
Wadena Evangelical Church
421 2nd St. NE
First Congregational United
Church of Christ

The Church of Christ
509 King Ave. SW
St. Helen’s Episcopal Church
24 Dayton Ave. SW
Zion Free Lutheran Church
602 Jefferson St. S 110 Colfax Ave. SW

Seventh Day Adventist Church
14711 125th Ave.

Immanuel Lutheran Church
403 2nd St. SE

St. John Lutheran Church
710 Franklin Ave. SW
Christian Missionary & Alliance Church
1428 Jefferson St. S

United Methodist Church
23 Dayton Ave. SE
Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall
625 3rd St. NW

Southbrook Baptist Church 1842 2nd St. SW

111

Other Available Services
Municipal Water and Sewer
The cities of Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, Wadena, and that portion of the City of Staples
located in Wadena all provide sanitary sewer and water services to most of the extent of
their city limits. In the areas not linked to the city sanitary or water lines, private wells and
onsite septic systems may be permitted according to the County’s Sub-Surface Sewage
Treatment System (SSTS) Ordinances. The cities of Nimrod and Aldrich are served by
private wells and onsite septic systems.
Table 21: Wadena County Community Water Systems
Wadena County Community Water Systems
Water
System
Name

Population
Served

Primary
Water
Source

Storage
Capacity

Pumping
Capacity

Average
Demand

Peak
Demand

Water System
ID

Type
Bell Hill
Recovery

100

Ground
Water

-

-

-

-

MN1800005

1220

Ground

205,000

300

84,500

180,000

MN1800001

Water

gal

gal/min

gal/day

gal/day

Ground

50,000 gal

250

124,000

262,500

gal/min

gal/day

gal/day

Center
Menahga

Sebeka

710

Water
Verndale

575

Ground

5575,000 gal

Water

250
gal/min

50,33441,61 83,00087,50
4
0
gal/day

Staples

Wadena

3104 (314

Ground

-850,000 gal -500 gal/min

in Wadena)

Water

4294

Ground

500,000

1,830

Water

gal

gal/min

253,000
gal/day-

MN1800002

MN1800003

gal/day
-352,000
gal/day

MN1770011

665,740

1,627,200

MN1800004

gal/day

gal/day

Source: 2012 Wadena County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Waterworks
http://www.co.wadena.mn.us/county_directory/emergency_manage/PDFs/Hazard%20Pl
an%20Revision%2 0072307-Public.pdf
The cities of Wadena, Verndale, and Staples have all developed and adopted Well Head
Protection Plans in a proactive effort to minimize the vulnerability of their public water
supply wells. Well Head Protection Plans for the cities of Sebeka and Menahga are in the
beginning stages of planning and should be completed sometime in 2013-2014.

112

Table 22: Wadena County Storm and Waste Water
Wadena County Storm and Waste Water

Community
Aldrich

Storm
Supply

Sanitary

-

-

Sewer /
Discharge

Sewer
Discharge

Treatment
Type

-

-

Capacity

Average

Peak

-

-

-

Yes, Spirit Lake Yes, Yaeger Pond System 111,000
& Blueberry
Lake
gal/day
River

85,000

120,000

gal/day

gal/day

-

-

-

Pond

432,000

100,000

200,000

System

gal/day

gal/day

gal/day

Pond

83,500

System

gal/day

82,79542,54 62,158
2
170,000

Menahga

Yes

Nimrod

-

-

-

Sebeka

Yes

Yes, Red Eye

Yes

River
Verndale

Yes

Yes, Rapid
Infiltration
Basins
(RIBsWing

Yes

-

gal/day

gal/day

River
Staples

Yes

Yes, Hayden

Yes

Creek
Wadena

Yes

Yes, Union

Mechanical
System

Yes

Creek

-680,000
gal/day

Mechanical 1,000,000
System

gal/day

-281,000
gal/day

-554,000
gal/day

500,000

750,000

gal/day

gal/day

Source: 2012 Wadena County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Waterworks
http://www.co.wadena.mn.us/county_directory/emergency_manage/PDFs/Hazard%20Pl
an%20Revision%20072307
-Public.pdf
Electric and Gas Services
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative, Itasca Mantrap Electric Cooperative, and Minnesota
Power and Light provide the electrical utilities that supply Wadena County with power for
its residents, business, and industry. Natural gas service for properties with access to it is
provided by Northern Minnesota Utilities. The City of Wadena is unique in that it provides
electrical services to city residents and business. They are a member of the Missouri River
Electric services, which is their exclusive provider.
Postal Services
Rural mail delivery is customary in Wadena County. Each city has a post office serving post
office box customers as well as the rural route deliveries for their areas. Nimrod is the only
city that no longer has a post office.
113

Banking & Finance
Each city is host to, at least, one bank and lending institution, with multiple institutions in
most of the cities. In addition, there are a number of finance and investment agencies
located throughout the cities in Wadena County.
Gas, Groceries, Restaurant, & Mercantile
From most areas of the county residents are within 20 miles or less of everyday needs such
as gas, groceries and basic mercantile items such as hardware, other household items, and
farm supplies. In addition, specialty shops and other privately owned service oriented
businesses are also conveniently located in the different towns within the county. A
number of eating establishments mark the County from Huntersville to Aldrich and every
town in between with a wide variety of menus and venues.
Wadena County is home to Senior Citizen organizations serving most areas of the county,
as well as many civic organizations in which residents may participate such as: Booster
Clubs, Lions Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Veterans of Foreign Wars clubs, Legion Club
organizations, Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Associations, and 4-H organizations scattered
around the County, to name a few.

114

SECTION 9: Parks and Recreation
COUNTY
Wadena County is well known for the beautiful Crow Wing River Canoe Trail. Its name has
its origin with the Chippewa Indians; they called it “Kagiwegwon”, or “Raven’s Wing”. The
river winds its way through the County from north to south, beginning at the Blueberry
Bridge northeast of Menahga and exiting the County at the very southeasterly corner just
west of the City of Staples. There are 14 campsites located along the trail and spaced at
convenient intervals to accommodate all levels of canoeing enthusiasts and tubers. There
are no dams or portages to obstruct the flow and no charging rapids to navigate, so travel is
very enjoyable at whatever pace you choose, and is generally uninterrupted so long as the
water stays at a normal level. The average current is about 3 miles per hour, however, this
may vary depending on wind direction and speed, as well as the level of the water. All but
one campground are “first come, first served” and are primitive, but offer some amenities
in that there are outhouses, hand-pumped water sources, fire rings, and picnic tables.
Campfire wood is supplied at the County operated campgrounds only. A quiet, picturesque,
family oriented setting is what you will find at each of these primitive but peaceful
campgrounds.
SHELL CITY CAMPGROUND
Once the location of a flourishing factory which made buttons from the shells of fresh water
clams, this campsite is the first in the long line of campgrounds along the Crow Wing River
in Wadena County. This campsite is also adjacent to many miles of horseback riding trails
in the Huntersville State Forest.
Shell City Campground is owned and operated by
the State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. From here it is approximately 6
miles to the next campground on the river.
TREE FARM LANDING CAMPGROUND
This campground was formerly part of the surroundingPotlatchsurrounding Potlatch Paper
Company. In October of 2007, the County did a land exchange with Potlatch Corporation to
add 17 acres to the campground for future campsite expansion, as well as to allow more
area for walking and hiking trails. The forested area at the Tree Farm Landing is managed
by the Department of Natural Resources – Forestry Division and sports a very picturesque
view of the river from above while the campsites are located on the flat next to the river
with a calm, generally shallow, and sandy swimming area and place to launch tubes and
canoes. Another attraction at the Tree Farm Landing is a memorial placed at the Tree Farm
during the summer of 2010, recognizing long-time supporter of the Crow Wing River Trail,
John Rife, Sr. for his contribution in getting the designation for the canoe trail. From here it
is approximately 3.5 miles to the next campground.
In 2023, the County began planning for and expanding the footprint of the park to include
camper-friendly primitive sites on the north end of the property high above the river. The 7
additional campsites were completed at the end of 2025 and include tables, fire rings,
115

potable water and an outhouse.
HUNTERSVILLE TOWNSHIP & BIG BEND CAMPGROUNDS
Huntersville Township campground is a small, privately owned campground accessible to
the public which is .75 miles upstream from the Big Bend Campground which is accessible
only from the river. Big Bend is a relatively small campground as well and is owned by the
State of Minnesota. From Big Bend it is 2.75 miles to the next campground.
HUNTERSVILLE FOREST CAMPGROUND
Located in the heart of the Huntersville State Forest, this campground is also along the
Crow Wing River and offers a great place to put in, and take out, canoes and tubes from the
river as it winds through the forest. This campground is owned and operated by the State
of Minnesota and also offers miles and miles of old logging trails for hiking.
ANDERSON’S CROSSING CAMPGROUND
Lying to the north of Nimrod, this campground was once an Indian crossing, that was later
named for a pioneer settler, and is the beginning of the Butterfield Rapids. Despite the
name, these rapids are a short series of rippling water posing little to no threat as it is
navigated by tubers and canoeists. Surrounded by over 100 acres of County-owned land,
this campsite not only allows access to the river, but also to a number of trails for walking
and hiking. It is 5 miles to the next available landing.
STIGMAN’S MOUND PARK
Located in the little town of Nimrod, Stigman’s Mound Park was originally established by
the Nimrod Grange organization, and is now owned by the County. It is named for Dick
Stigman, who was raised in Nimrod, and later went on to play professional baseball and
pitch for the Minnesota Twins. This little park does not offer overnight camping but hosts a
good sized shelter for family picnics and outdoor organizational meetings, and outhouses
are available. Canoes cannot be landed at this site, however they can be landed across the
river from this picnic area and access to the park gained by walking across the bridge. From
here it is 1 mile to the next available landing.
FRAME’S LANDING CAMPGROUND
Down river one mile from Nimrod is the 14 acre County campground named for one of
Nimrod’s first citizens. In the early 1940’s a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp was set
up in this location. This popular campground on the river is a terrific place for swimming
with its sandy bottom and gentle current. From here it is 6 miles to the next available
landing.

116

LITTLE WHITE DOG CAMPGROUND
Legend has it that this former Indian lookout point was used for Indian gatherings and
ceremonies that honored the Indian deities. Regardless of the legend, this landing on the
river will provide you with a beautiful and vast view of the river. This campground is
somewhat more remote. From this County-owned campground it is approximately 5.5
miles to the next available landing.
KNOB HILL CAMPGROUND
This unique County-owned campground has an upper and a lower level for camping. The
lower level allows a panoramic view of the river accessed by the gently descending rustic
stairway. The upper level, while providing access to the river via the stairway, is
surrounded by forest and really gives the effect of camping in the woods. A popular place
for tubers to get on the water, it is approximately 3 miles to the next available landing.
COTTINGHAM PARK CAMPGROUND
Cottingham is a very popular park for picnicking and swimming. It is part of a 56 acre
property owned by Wadena County with trails for walking. A through trail from
Cottingham Park to Bullard’s Bluff Park provides approximately 2.5 miles of nature
walking, horseback riding, ATV riding, and hiking. Cottingham is also unique in that it has
campsites available for accommodating horse enthusiasts. Located just to the south of
Wahoo Valley, this is also a popular spot for landing tubes and canoes. From here it is 5.5
miles to the next available landing.
BULLARD’S BLUFF CAMPGROUND
Although easily accessed by the river, Bullard’s Bluff Campground can be found at the end
of a mile long low maintenance road that winds through the woods and the wetlands.
Called Hog Haven in early Wadena County history, this area was known for the wild hogs
that inhabited it. This remote campground and park offers a view from above while easily
being able to land a canoe or take tubes off the water. From here it is 5 miles to the next
available landing.

OLD WADENA PARK CAMPGROUND
Between the mouths of the Leaf and the Partridge Rivers, you will find this history-filled
campsite. In 1783, the fur traders built the Crow Wing’s first trading post on the “little
round hill”, which means Wadena in the Chippewa language. A great battle was fought here
between the voyagers and the Sioux Indians over the prized hunting ground; and, while
history records say the voyagers won this battle, it was also noted that it was 9 years
before the traders returned to the Crow Wing River country. This is also the first townsite
for the City of Wadena, and also where the Red River Ox Cart trail crosses the Crow Wing
River. This is the only park in the County’s park system that may be reserved for a party. It
117

boasts a large open area for family reunions and weddings with a large pavilion and
smaller shelter with electricity that can be accessible when the park is reserved.It boasts a
large open area with plenty of shade for family reunions and weddings, a small shelter, and
electricity that can be accessed by request if the park is reserved. There are numerous
trails for walking to enjoy and a foot bridge that crosses over the Leaf River to access the
little round hill site. Another interesting draw to the park is the Old Wadena Society’s
Bogwalk. Constructed of donated docking sections and secured by metal pilings driven
deep into the mire, this offers an interesting and educational opportunity to enjoy the
natural beauty of the wetland while walking through it. The Old Wadena Society’s
Rendezvous is hosted at Old Wadena Park the 2nd weekend in August annually. Despite
significant damage to the park in 2022 from a tornado that ran through the community,
Parks staff have worked diligently to ensure that the park remains a welcoming and
attractive place to recreate. From here Old Wadena Park it is 1.5 miles downstream to the
next available landing.
MCGIVERN PARK CAMPGROUND
McGivern Park marks the end of the designated Crow Wing River Canoe Trail that winds its
way through Wadena County. This quaint little park with its mix of hardwoods and pine is
also the home of the Staples Sportsmen’s Club and Shooting Range. With its close proximity
to the City of Staples, McGivern Park is used often for picnicking and other small gatherings.
THE CROW WING WILDERNESS SADDLE AND SNOWMOBILE TRAIL
With 31 miles of developed trails for saddle horses lying along the Crow Wing River Canoe
Trail, this particular trail has become quite popular. Campsites at Shell City and the
Huntersville State Forest provide overnight accommodations for horse enthusiasts. The
trail doubles as a snowmobile trail in the wintertime with the added miles and miles of old
logging trails that pattern the state forest.
In addition to the Crow Wing Wilderness Saddle and Snowmobile Trail, Wadena County has
about 150 miles of additional snowmobile trails throughout its boundaries that are
mapped and marked. These trails are groomed and maintained by the Wadena County Trail
Breakers, Inc., snowmobile club.
Included in this section on the following pages are maps depicting the Crow Wing River
Canoe Trail, the Wadena County Snowmobile Trails, Off-Highway Vehicle and All-Terrain
Vehicle Trails in Huntersville State Forest, and Horseback Trails and State Forest Roads
through Huntersville State Forest.
Township & City Parks and Recreation in Wadena County
Blueberry Township
Blueberry Township located at 37493 US Highway 71, Menahga, offers 40 acres with two
walking trails: a one mile and a one quarter mile. This is also a hot spot for Wi-Fi.

118

Aldrich
Aldrich City Park, located at 348 Central Ave. S offers picnicking and a basketball court.
Menahga
Memorial Garden, located at 825 Aspen Ave. SW, has a pavilion surrounded by flower
beds, shrubs and trees which offers visitors a beautiful setting in which to relax. Campsites
and restrooms are available here as well.
Spirit Lake Public Access
Beautiful Spirit Lake with its white sugar sand beach is a favorite place in the summertime.
The swimming beach has lifeguards on duty and swimming lessons are available. A large Tshape fishing pier is available for public use and there is a public boat access with a
courtesy dock near the pier.
Menahga also offers tennis and basketball courts.
Nimrod
The Swimmin’ Hole, located on the south side of the bridge on St. Hwy. 227, offers
swimming access to the river as well as a small playground for children.
Nimrod is also home to Stigman Baseball Field and the Nimrod Gnats. Sebeka
Sebeka City Park, located on US Hwy 71 South, offers overnight camping sites with full
hook ups and showers. Shelters and seating are available in the park which also offers
horseshoe pits, Frisbee golf, and a playground. Seasonal rates and reservations are
available.
Town Square Park, located at 200 Minnesota Avenue W, though small, offers beautiful
flower gardens, some seating, and even a fountain.
Sebeka also has a public swimming pool that is popular during the months of June, July, and
August and is manned by a certified lifeguard at all times when it is open.
Verndale
McNair Park, located on 1st Ave S., offers a railroad theme with restrooms, playground
and picnic area.
Verndale is also home to Anderson Park Baseball Field with concessions and restrooms
available.
Wadena – Wadena County Portion of the City
Sunnybrook Park is located at 951 Sunnybrook Road and 210 Harry Rich Drive.
This beautiful park features fishing (age 0-16 & 65 and older) in Whiskey Creek, (stocked
with rainbow trout, crappies, and sunfish), picnic area, children's playground, semienclosed shelters, campground area with full hook-up and tent sites, two camping cabins,
119

showers, frisbee golf, volleyball area and a children's zoo, which includes buffalo, whitetail
deer, peacocks, and golden pheasants.
Northside Playground, located at 600 1st St. NW, offers a bicycle and skateboard track,
picnic tables, playground, basketball, ice rink and warming house.
Ehlen Park, located at 716 3rd St. SE, offers playground, basketball and softball field.
Southwest Athletic Park, located at 310 7th St. SW, offers a playground, picnic area,
shelters, tennis courts, softball fields, basketball and restrooms.
Burlington Northern Park, located at Aldrich Ave. SW, offers picnic area and restored
Historic Depot Visitor Center.
Tapley Park, located at 617 Lincoln Ave. SW, offers playground, shelter, restrooms,
basketball and soccer fields.
Southwest Complex, located at 1701 2nd St. SW, offers softball fields, horseshoes, shelter
with restrooms, sledding hill.
Leaf River Bike Trail - Take in nature's beauty and enjoy the abundant wildlife and birds
along the recreation trail that begins at Sunnybrook park and winds its way through a
wetland area with 3.5 miles of recently resurfaced blacktop (map is included at the end of
Section 9.
Staples – Wadena County Portion of the City
Wilson Park is located in the 100 block of Park Avenue.
Lakewood Park is located at the intersection of 4th Street and Prairie Avenue.
In addition to all the parks and trails offered in Wadena County, there are also three golf
courses located in Wadena County:
Whitetail Run Golf Course
Located at 13379 Leaf River Road, Wadena, MN, offering 18 holes, carts, clubhouse, and pro
shop.
Blueberry Pines Golf Course
Located at 39161 U.S. Highway 71, Menahga, MN, offering 18 holes, carts, pro shop, and
restaurant.
Vintage Golf Course
Located at 27923 McGivern Park Drive, Staples, MN, offering 18 holes, carts, and club
house.

120

121

Wadena County Snowmobile Trails
Maintained & Sponsored by the Wadena County Trailbreakers

122

123

124

125

SECTION 10: Goals & Objectives
If you look up the word “GOAL” in the dictionary, one definition will tell you that a goal is
“that toward which effort is directed, an aim or an end”. In setting goals with regard to the
future, both near and farther out, the citizens of Wadena County who were involved in the
public meetings used a realistic, common sense approach to their view of the future, their
“aim”, and the efforts that need to be made to ensure we are not only surviving as a county
into the future… but thriving! The set of goals outlined in Section 10 of the Wadena County
Comprehensive Plan 2013, for the most part, are attainable goals, and the objectives, or
efforts, sited to help reach those goals are realistic and practical in nature as well. Regular
review of these efforts with appropriate participants will keep key players, including
citizen groups, in a forward motion toward obtaining and/or sustaining each goal.
(NOTE: The following language is new language presented to the Planning Commission
with changes they requested during discussions marked in red. The original 2013 Goals
and Objectives are listed at the end (all crossed out) and intended to be replaced by what
follows here).
Natural Resources
Goal
Protect, conserve, and enhance Wadena County’s agricultural lands, forests, rivers, lakes,
wetlands, groundwater resources, and scenic rural landscapes while accommodating
responsible growth and development that benefits current and future generations.
Objectives
1. GIS Land Classification: Utilize GIS mapping datasets to identify and classify county
lands into critical preservation areas (sensitive natural/water resources),
productive agricultural and forestry tracts, and areas suitable for development
purposes.
2. Intergovernmental & Permitting Coordination: Partner Engage with local, state,
and federal agencies to monitor land use, stay informed on environmental permits,
and provide proactive local input and advocacy for thorough and accountable on
regulatory and conservation decisions.
3. Voluntary Stewardship Partnerships: Actively cooperate with private
landowners, agricultural producers, townships, and watershed districts to promote
voluntary activities like best management practices (BMPs), tree planting, forestry
stewardship, and erosion control.
4. Water Quality & Groundwater Monitoring: Protect the quality and quantity of
ground and surface waters —with emphasis on the Crow Wing, Leaf, Shell, and

126

Blueberry River watersheds—through septic enforcement, livestock feedlot
regulations, well-sealing programs, and irrigation monitoring.
5. Wetland & Habitat Protection: Preserve and restore critical wetlands, shorelands,
and riparian corridors as key environmental and economic assets, in direct
coordination with the Wadena County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
6. Waste Management: Ensure proper disposal of solid waste, municipal sludge, and
agricultural by-products utilizing the best available science and technology.
7. Emerging Pollutants: Actively monitor, plan for, and work with local, state and
federal partners to mitigate emerging threats to ground and surface waters and
human health— including PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic) chemicals
or substances such as PCBs, heavy metals, DDT, PBDEs, PFAS and microplastics—to
protect county water resources and public health.
Land Use
Goal
Maintain Wadena County's rural character, agricultural heritage and respect for property
rights while supporting responsible residential, commercial, and industrial growth that
meets current and future housing and economic development needs.
Objectives
1. Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Guidelines: Establish a Future Land Use Map to
guide zoning map amendments, ensuring protected areas are maintained largely in
their natural state, resource-dependent working lands remain productive and
protected from over-fragmentation, and areas suitable for responsible and efficient
development are identified for future rezoning as demand and landowner desires
dictate.
2. Agricultural Preservation & Right-to-Farm: Preserve productive agricultural
lands and working family farms as economic and cultural pillars, minimizing
fragmentation of land that would inhibit their continuation and incorporating
explicit 'Right-to-Farm' provisions in county zoning ordinances to resolve neighbor
conflicts.
3. Housing Variety: Continue to ensure that county zoning regulations accommodate
a wide range of traditional and emerging rural housing options that make rural
Wadena County an attractive place to live — including single-family homes, twofamily homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), tiny homes, and multi-generational
homes.
4. Orderly, Infrastructure-Adjacent Growth: Facilitate higher-density residential
growth in areas adjacent to existing cities and communities where public utility

127

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

infrastructure is available and public services can be provided effectively and
efficiently.
Strategic Siting for Commerce & Industry: Continue to accommodate appropriate
home-based businesses and small-scale startup businesses at rural locations while
directing more resource-intensive commercial and industrial developments that
may conflict with rural or residential settings to locate in appropriately zoned areas
near major transportation routes.
Shoreland Stewardship: Continue to enforce minimum statewide shoreland
management regulations along the County’s rivers and lakes and consider additional
standards where necessary to protect them as essential aspects of the County’s
wildlife habitat, heritage, culture and attractiveness to residents and visitors.
Fiscal Impact & Cost-of-Service Studies: Utilize fiscal impact analyses and cost-ofservice studies to guide land-use decisions, ensuring new development does not
create unsustainable long-term maintenance liabilities for roads, utilities, and
school transportation.
Conservation Subdivision Design: Where appropriate, encourage and
accommodate conservation design concepts, clustering, and agricultural zoning
districts to preserve open space, farmland, wildlife habitat, historic resources and
scenic rural vistas.
Intergovernmental Planning Coordination: Continue to coordinate land use
planning efforts with the County’s cities, townships, watershed organizations, and
neighboring counties while partnering with various regional and state partners
when appropriate.

Economic Development
Goal
Promote a diverse and resilient economy that leverages Wadena County's strategic
location, transportation infrastructure, workforce, agricultural heritage, natural resources,
and quality of life to promote entrepreneurship, support existing businesses and attract
new development while preserving the rural character and environmental assets that make
the County an attractive place to live, work, and invest.
Objectives
1. Marketing and Branding: Establish a cohesive countywide marketing and
branding effort to attract tourists, new residents and new businesses focused on
leveraging the County’s unique assets, including:
 its location at the crossroads of major state and federal highways,
128

its opportunities for value-added manufacturing and processing,
its many cultural events and historic resources, and
the many opportunities for recreation- and resource-based tourism such as river
paddling, motorsports, gravel biking, agri-tourism, dark-sky solitude.
Workforce Development & Education: Partner with local employers, school
districts, and regional higher education institutions to expand vocational training,
support skilled and unskilled labor pipelines, and create high-skill, living-wage jobs.
Value-Added Agriculture & Value Chain Support: Encourage value-added
agricultural businesses, food processing, and distribution facilities that complement
and expand Wadena County's farming economy.
Coordinated Economic Development Effort: Collaborate with regional and city
economic development agencies to promote economic growth throughout the
County’s urban and rural areas. The County will explore mechanisms to provide
dedicated staff and resources to accelerate economic development that supports
and attracts entrepreneurs, businesses and industries appropriate for both rural
and urban locations and cultivates strategic synergies between rural and urban
business sectors.
Communications and Workforce Infrastructure: Continue to support initiatives
to expand essential high-speed internet access and eliminate cellular gaps along
with regional childcare services and transportation options to support the County’s
businesses and workforce.
Local Business Support & Financing: Promote and support the continuation and
expansion of existing in-county businesses while encouraging well-planned publicprivate financing partnerships to stimulate local job growth.
Scenic and Historic Wayfinding: Collaborate with local and state tourism
organizations, historical societies, and transportation agencies (such as MnDOT) to
design and implement a countywide wayfinding and signage strategy. This
coordinated network will build awareness and guide motorists traveling to or
through the area directly to our communities and historic landmarks to maximize
tourism activity and promotion of the County’s scenic and cultural resources.
Emerging “Mega-Project” Land Uses: Carefully prepare for, evaluate and regulate
any utility- or industrial-scale “mega-project” proposals – such as data centers, solar
and wind farms or large agricultural feedlots or gravel mining operations – to
ensure that their economic and tax-base benefits can be realized without imposing
unsustainable long-term costs on the County’s taxpayers or harm to the County’s
rural character.




2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

129

Transportation
Goal
Ensure long-term public safety and economic vitalization by providing a well-constructed,
structurally sound transportation network with optimized traffic circulation patterns. The
County will coordinate design improvements to accommodate diverse transit needs—
minimizing congestion, protecting rural township roads from heavy-vehicle wear, and
fostering efficient, conflict-free travel for internal commuters and regional freight carriers
alike.
Objectives
1. System Maintenance & Uniform Standards: Maintain and upgrade the county's
road system to uniform standards, with the long-term goal of providing a grid-type
network of 9-ton capacity roads at reasonable intervals.
2. Long-Range Planning & Asset Management: Develop and maintain an ongoing
road improvement project list, coordinating county plans with federal, state,
municipal, and township agencies to match capacity with current and future traffic
volumes.
3. Sustainable Funding Sourcing: Actively monitor and research local transportation
funding source opportunities to build on the County’s ½ percent sales tax – such as
a wheelage tax – to build and sustain the local transportation network.
4. Highway Access Management Plan: Draft and implement a Highway Access Plan
to regulate spacing, access points, and safety interfaces on roadways experiencing
new residential or commercial development.
5. Multi-Modal Transportation System: Collaborate with local municipalities,
regional partners, and the State of Minnesota to build and maintain a multi-modal
transportation system that expands options beyond just personal vehicles for
efficiently moving residents between where they live, work, shop, and access
services.

Facilities & Services
Goal
Provide reliable, cost-effective, and strategically located public service facilities that
anticipate and meet the evolving needs of our residents and businesses.

130

Objectives
1. Public Service Prioritization: Prioritize infrastructure investments that enhance
public safety, support economic resilience, and ensure the continuous high-quality
delivery of essential county services.
2. Asset Management & Facility Assessments: Establish a recurring facility
assessment protocol to monitor the structural integrity, technology readiness, and
energy efficiency of existing public facilities, ensuring they meet modern service
delivery standards.
3. Joint Powers & Shared Services Siting: Explore joint-powers agreements and
shared-facility opportunities with neighboring counties and school districts to
eliminate duplicate services, align utility expansions, and reduce the overall local tax
burden.
4. Commercial Corridor Utility Preservation: Direct non-taxable public utilities and
municipal facilities away from high-visibility highway corridors, preserving
premium highway frontage for tax-generating private commercial investments.
5. Infrastructure Support for Economic Siting: Prioritize capital investments—
including high-speed broadband, cellular tower optimization, and grid power—that
support value-added rural business locations and remote workers located
throughout the County.
6. Alternative Sourcing for Expansions: Maximize the use of state and federal
infrastructure grants, low-interest loans, and public-private partnerships (P3s) to
fund public facility expansions and reduce property tax reliance.
7. Long-Term Fiscal and Planning Review: Ensure all major new facility proposals
undergo a robust fiscal analysis evaluating both upfront construction costs and
multi-decade staffing, operation, and maintenance liabilities – with review by the
Planning Commission to ensure alignment with the Comprehensive Plan where
appropriate or required by state law.
8. Solid Waste Partnership & Prairie Lakes Authority: Advance solid waste,
recycling, and hazardous waste programs through continuous operational
improvements, optimizing waste-to-energy recovery and enhancing local recycling
initiatives through the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority partnership.

Parks & Recreation
Goal
Develop and maintain an accessible, interconnected system of parks and recreation
amenities that support lifelong health and wellness for residents of all ages and abilities.

131

Objectives
1. Equitable Access: Ensure recreational facilities are equitably distributed and
conveniently located so as to enhance the quality of life for families, youth and
seniors throughout the entire County.
2. River Corridor Protection & Passive Siting: Focus county park acquisition and
conservation efforts on managing existing park holdings along the Crow Wing, Leaf,
and Redeye River corridors rather than acquiring new lands. Preserve public water
access and low-impact, passive recreational spaces—such as primitive campsites
and nature trails.along the Crow Wing, Leaf, and Redeye River corridors, preserving
public water access and expanding low-impact, passive recreational spaces like
primitive campsites.
3. Crow Wing River Wilderness Preservation: Maintain and protect the primitive,
wilderness setting of the Crow Wing River corridor recreation area as a standalone
ecological and cultural asset for future generations.
4. Multi-Jurisdictional Trail Siting & Design: Explore opportunities to develop
multi-modal trail systems utilizing river courses, utility easements, and abandoned
railways that connect county parks and trail systems directly with city parks and
commercial areas within those cities.
5. Standardized Wayfinding Signage: Prioritize the development of clear,
standardized wayfinding signage along Highways 10, 71, and 29 to direct residents
and visitors safely to trailheads, river access points, and recreation hubs.
6. Volunteer Stewardship & Public-Private Partnerships: Foster volunteer
networks (such as 'Adopt-a-Park' or 'Friends of the River' groups) and publicprivate partnerships to assist with the low-cost maintenance, beautification, and
upkeep of trails and canoe launches.
7. Park Development and Maintenance Funding: Formulate a comprehensive
County Parks Plan to provide for adequate funding to develop, enhance and
maintain the County park system over time – pursuing public-private capital and
actively seeking public funds (e.g. Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy
Amendment Funds) to support these efforts.
Land Acquisition and Conservation Priorities: Focus county park acquisition and
conservation efforts along the Crow Wing, Leaf, and Redeye River corridors,
ensuring public water access and the wilderness setting of the Crow Wing River
corridor recreation area in particular is preserved for future generations while
expanding low-impact, passive recreational spaces like primitive campsites and
nature trails.
8. Year-Round Community Programming: Utilize county parks and fairgrounds
when appropriate to provide supplemental sites for regional community events,
youth activities, farmers' markets, and cultural festivals while ensuring facilities are

132

equipped to support year-round activities (including winter sports like
snowshoeing and skating).
9. Local Historical Sponsoring: Continue active support of local historical and
preservation efforts, including collaborating with the Old Wadena Society to
maintain and enhance Old Wadena Park.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Identify and classify important natural resources and consider the impacts on each when
planning and directing future development in Wadena County.
OBJECTIVES:
It is recognized that the Wadena County Soil and Water Conservation District Office works
directly with the natural resources issues outlined in this Section 4 of the Comprehensive Plan.
It is also recognized that certain goals and strategies of the Wadena County Comprehensive
Local Water Plan are included into this portion of the Plan. The Wadena Soil and Water
Conservation District is charged with carrying out these objectives along with all other
County agencies when and where natural resources are a factor.
Protect, conserve, and preserve the natural resources of the County in an effort to create an
environmentally healthy and vibrant place for current and future residents.
Recognize the value of preserving the remaining wetlands in Wadena County to maintain
their value as fish and wildlife habitat, storm-water runoff storage areas, water filtering
basins, and socioeconomic benefits, when reviewing and planning for areas of
development:
Identify and map all wetlands with initial priority going to those of at least five acres in size
or those along lakes and streams
Inventory drained wetlands in the County and investigate restoration of critical wetlands.
Identify the Wadena County Soil and Water Conservation District Office as the lead agency
for jurisdictions for all wetlands in the County.
Work with and give technical advice to Sportsmen’s Clubs within the County on the
development of wildlife refuges and wetland areas.
Prevent contamination and preserve the quality and quantity of Wadena County’s ground
and surface waters:
Support and encourage the continuation of agriculture conservation plans and Best
Management Practices (BMP’s) for farmers, and provide educational opportunities and
materials with regard to the same.
Inventory and evaluate current feedlot regulations and livestock producer representatives.
Provide public notice and receive public comment prior to any recommendations for
change. Provide education and information to ensure good management practices of
livestock producers.
133

Through landowner cooperators, create a database of wells around large tracts of irrigated
farm fields to monitor water depths and change in quality to better understand effects for
planning purposes.
Continue sealing abandoned wells within the county and provide financial support for well
sealing whenever possible.
Adopt and initiate specific plans for the provision of adequate waste water collection and
treatment systems for all areas of the County with dense development that are lacking such
systems.
Develop and computerize land use maps and use that information to protect water quality
and guide County policy decisions regarding future land use:
Identify areas within the County that are sensitive to water contamination from land use,
such as, Leaf and Shell River Watersheds, and urban growth areas.
Identify soil erosion areas along critical lakeshores and stretches of rivers and streams
Provide for proper disposal of sewage, municipal sewage sludge, solid waste, industrial
waste and by-products, and agricultural waste and by-products:
Encourage strict enforcement of individual sewage treatment regulations and give high
priority to systems in highly developed areas.
Make protection of groundwater quality and quantity a routine consideration in all
government decisions involving planning and zoning.
LAND USE
GOAL:
Preserve Wadena County’s rural character, farmland, woods, streams, and open spaces by
directing development to growth areas and areas designated for a particular use.
OBJECTIVES:
Encourage future residential, commercial, and industrial development adjacent to urban
areas:
Designate areas for residential development in order to prevent “leap frog” development.
Encourage development of multiple family housing units in areas deemed appropriate.
Encourage development of higher density in growth areas to encourage efficient
development that will support public facilities and services and preserve open space.
Encourage commercial and industrial development in areas adjacent to major
transportation routes in order to prevent routing truck traffic through residential areas.
Encourage and support commercial services to be allowed along major highway corridors
by providing appropriate zoning districts along those routes.
134

Protect agricultural use throughout the County.
Protect the Crow Wing Recreation area to retain the pristine quality of the corridor:
Provide adequate funding for long range capital improvements.
Protect important historical, cultural, and natural resources as a means to maintain the
County’s character and heritage.
Achieve an ongoing relationship between the County, Cities, and Townships in all matters
related to planning:
Recognize issues and concerns and work cooperatively with all municipalities.
Natural features and resources that may be unproductive for farming (wooded areas,
wetlands, floodplains) are also important components of the natural systems and rural
character which the County wishes to preserve:
Agricultural zoning should be designed to protect environmentally sensitive areas for
forest and open space purposes.
Wadena County should take steps to reduce potential conflicts with non-farming property
owners living adjacent to agricultural zones where farming operations are taking place.
The County should support and promote county and state programs that encourage sound
farming practices relating to surface water protection, soil erosion control, nutrient
management, sedimentation control, and manure controls in an effort to minimize
conflicts.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GOAL: Encourage and support economic development activity appropriate to Wadena
County which creates employment and business opportunities to meet County residents’
current and future economic needs.
OBJECTIVES:
Research and plan the best way to add commercial zoned areas to the County’s highway
corridors and residential zones around urbanized areas, then take measures to amend the
official zoning map to include those districts.
Provide assistance in the form of staff or other outreach to people wanting to start a
business but that do not have knowledge or information they need to get started or to
market their product or service.
Encourage stable economic growth and steady development of new jobs and recognize and
support the business and industrial activities that already exist.
Promote and encourage patronization of local, in-county businesses whenever and
wherever possible
Promote and support community awareness of and for the need for infrastructure to bring
135

and keep business, industry and forms of development into the County
Encourage and support the use of well-planned public and private financing partnerships
to enhance economic development.
Encourage the development of businesses that process agricultural products.
Support regional cooperation between local governments, educational institutions, and
businesses to create high skill, living wage jobs.
Work with cities and townships to locate existing commercial buildings that are empty and
ready to be used for new business, and then encourage the use of those buildings for new
business development whenever possible.
Recognize and support the economic development commitment and activities provided by
area organizations and surrounding communities.
Participate with Economic Development Authorities and/or Alliances whenever possible
Support and encourage expansion and development of manufacturing and agriculturally
related business and industry.
Encourage development of a county-wide tourism plan to incorporate the municipal
tourism efforts with the County recreation areas.
Create a Wadena County Tourism Advisory Group.
Research grant opportunities for funding of this plan with the Minnesota Office of Tourism.
Support the addition of more recreational trails.
Encourage county pride and county-wide awareness of the value of economic growth.
Promote Wadena County unity and pride which enhances our identity and quality of life.
Encourage and utilize resident participation in all local decision-making procedures.
TRANSPORTATION
GOAL: Maintain a safe, well-constructed road system, and convenient circulation patterns
for internal and external traffic movement through Wadena County.
OBJECTIVES:
Wadena County should provide a grid-type network of 9 ton capacity roads at reasonable
intervals throughout the county.
Wadena County should research and consider alternative funding sources for road
maintenance and improvement (i.e. wheelage tax and ½ percent sales tax)
Wadena County should continue its program of upgrading and improving, existing deficient
and inadequate transportation facilities, and maintaining improved roads in good
standards.
Develop and maintain an ongoing project list of roads in need of improvements.
136

Maintain all county roads, regardless of traffic counts, in the same standard.
Wadena County will encourage a variety of transportation uses.
Promote a cooperative effort between the county, county municipalities, and townships in
designing and implementing a county trails system.
Explore funding to assist with developing bike routes in the County.
Wadena County will continue its support of the development of a long range transportation
road improvement and management plan.
County road planning should be coordinated with Federal, State, City, and Township road
plans.
Analyze existing and future traffic volumes versus road capacities and provide appropriate
improvements.
In areas designed for growth, Wadena County should promote efficient and innovative land
use patterns that minimize negative traffic problems.
Wadena County should consider the development of a Highway Access Plan to manage
access to roads. A highway access plan defines how new development may interface with
local roadways by regulating the spacing and number of access points and turning
movements relative to the capacity and volumes existing or proposed on the highway.
Wadena County should consider the Scenic Byways program. This program recognizes
outstanding scenic roads and landscapes.
Work with the Minnesota State Scenic Byways program for criteria and application rules.
Roads that follow the Crow Wing River area may fall under the historical, natural, and
recreational areas of the program. Designating Scenic Byway roads normally results in
increased tourism activity/dollars in the area.
FACILITIES & SERVICES
GOAL: Ensure that proposals for new facilities and services and expansion of existing
public service facilities meet the needs of Wadena County’s residents and businesses.
Future public or private improvements should be reviewed by the Planning Commission to
determine whether the proposed project is in accordance with the County’s adopted
Comprehensive Plan when the project relates to the following:
The location, opening, vacation, extension, widening, narrowing, or enlargement of any
street, public ground, or water course;
The location, erection, demolition, removal, or sale of any public structure located within
the municipality;
The construction, extension, or abandonment of any water line, sewer line, or sewage
treatment facility.

137

Wadena County should continue with its program to ensure the proper operation and
maintenance of onsite sewage treatment systems.
Wadena County should encourage the use of alternative wastewater disposal technologies
and collection technologies where individual onsite sewage treatment is not compatible
with existing conditions.
Wadena County should continue and improve on its program for solid waste disposal and
recycling.
PARKS & RECREATION
GOAL: Provide park and recreation amenities for all age groups in convenient locations.
Adequate funding should be appropriated for development and maintenance of public
parks, open spaces, and recreation facilities.
Private/public funding sources should be sought and a County Park plan developed
Research possible Legacy funding for procurement to assist with potential large scale
projects.
Promote recreation opportunities that are already available in the County and promotion
of wintertime recreation opportunities in the county such as: cross country skiing, ice
skating, snow shoeing, and sledding.
Public/private partnerships should be encouraged and developed to enhance recreation
opportunities and services.
Encourage development of a Scenic Byways road that travels the route through the County
Parks system.
Continue to support the Old Wadena Society efforts at Old Wadena Park.
Create a network of business and organizational providers of recreation, leisure, and
cultural opportunities in the County in order to coordinate seasonal calendars of activities,
expand services, and create viable business opportunities in areas of need.
Continue in the trails development that follow river courses, utility easements and
abandoned railways to create and enhance a trail system linking recreation areas and
commercial areas.
Encourage cooperation between Wadena County and municipalities in efforts to link
recreation opportunities.
Support development of a bike/walking trail connecting communities in Wadena County.
Preserve the wilderness setting of the Crow Wing River corridor recreation area for
future generations.

138

Wadena County
Comprehensive Plan
Wadena County Planning
Commission Members:

INTRODUCTION
Comprehensive plans are intended to anticipate
and plan for change, not merely reflect it.
Change, whether in a county, township, or city,
can be subtle and slow to emerge, or it may be
rapid and dramatic. In either case, a well-crafted
Comprehensive Plan should foresee where and
how the community is changing, as well as be
responsive to change as it occurs during the life
of the Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is the legal basis for the
land use controls, or Zoning Ordinances, adopted
by the County. The state of Minnesota gives
counties the authority to adopt Comprehensive
Plans and subsequent land use and zoning
ordinances under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter
394. Counties exercise their authority under this
statute to promote and protect the “health,
safety, morals, and general welfare of the
community”.
Updating the 2013 plan adopted by the Board of
Commissioners, this document provides a
roadmap for Wadena County's future. It actively
supports responsible housing expansion and
economic development while safeguarding our
natural resources, the Crow Wing and Red Eye
River watersheds and our cultural and economic
heritage.
By
balancing
progress
with
preservation, this Plan ensures the long-term
vitality of our agricultural, forestry, and
recreational communities."This Plan positions
Wadena County within the broader regional
economy, recognizing that our growth is
significantly shaped by the actions of the
County’s landowners, residents and businesses
but also by external market trends and
1

Linda
Youngbauer
(Chair)
Mike Weyer
Randy Becker
Trisha Kraemer
Randy Wenthold
Bryan Winkels

Wadena County Board of
Commissioners:
Ron Noon - District 1
Bryan Winkels - District 2
Bill Stearns - District 3
Murlyn Kreklau - District
4 Jon Kangas – District 5

Wadena County Planning &
Zoning Staff
Deana M. Malone, Administrator
Kathy Hastings, Adm. Assistant

Maps provided by:
Gina Dahms, GIS Coordinator
Anne Oldakowski – SWCD
Diana Heston – WCHD
Ivan Reinke - NRCS
MN Dept. of Natural Resources

Demographic Information
Provided by:
Tad Erickson and Jake Huebsch
Region 5 Development
Commission

geographic realities over which we have little
control. Unlike many counties in our region,
Wadena County cannot rely on lakeshore-driven
tourism or development. Instead, our stability is
anchored in our own distinct assets: a resilient
and productive agricultural base, productive
timberlands, the Crow Wing and Red Eye River
corridors, a productive workforce, highereducation resources and our role as a central
transportation and employment hub.
Crucially, the policies outlined in this Plan seek to address the significant structural
challenge of balancing local tax revenues with the County’s infrastructure, public education,
social service, and public safety obligations. The County recognizes that many of these vital
educational, public safety and human service programs are strictly state-mandated without
a corresponding increase in state funding. Therefore, the County must aggressively seek
ways to grow its local tax base with new agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial
development. At the same time, Wadena County must carefully avoid inefficient growth
models that may result in the costs of servicing new development outpacing the revenues
generated. By grounding our land-use policies in these realities, the County ensures that
current development choices build long-term fiscal sustainability rather than future
infrastructure liabilities.
Wadena County recognizes that this Plan is only as strong as the community behind it. Our
residents, landowners, local businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations,
and the dedicated staff and elected officials at all levels of government are the true drivers
of our county’s economic and social vitality. The process of updating this Plan actively
sought information from the community and their feedback during this planning process
was absolutely vital. We deeply value the diverse perspectives shared by everyone working
every day to make Wadena County a wonderful place to live and learn and conduct
business. By ensuring transparent and accurate communication, this Plan seeks to build on
and strengthen a collaborative framework where local voices directly shape our land-use
and fiscal policies.
This Plan should be the foundation for the day-to-day activities of the County and its
officials and staff. It should be referenced regularly and used in justification of specific
actions when making land use decisions. The Plan also needs to be adaptive to change
when and where it is necessary, and, so, should be reviewed with residents, business
owners, and other stakeholders from time to time to ensure it is in step with changing
trends. Those reviews and potential updates should be conducted at regular intervals to
keep the Plan current.

2

Table of Contents
Section 1:

Public Participation

Section 2:

Wadena County Early History

Section 3:

Demographics and Housing Trends

Section 4:

Natural Resources

Section 5:

Land Use

Section 6:

Economic Development

Section 7:

Transportation

Section 8:

Facilities & Services

Section 9:

Parks & Recreation

Section 10:

Goals & Objectives

3

Table of Charts & Graphs

4

5

Table of Maps

6

SECTION 1: Public Participation
All communities in Minnesota exist in a changing economic and social environment. Within
this challenging framework, communities must work particularly hard to stay strong. A
comprehensive plan for the future is an important part of this effort.
Although comprehensive planning has been a part of the county’s history since 1971, with
the passing of time and changing circumstances, attitudes and opinions will also change.
Priorities and goals will also have a tendency to vary in some manner. Our plan needs to
grow and change to reflect those changes in priorities and goals. Changes can be driven by
a number of things including some form of change in the population. Perhaps it comes with
an aging of the population, a more diverse population residing within the county, or a
population who have obtained a better understanding and broader knowledge of the
purpose of land use planning and the benefits it can produce. Change in attitudes and
opinions can also be the direct effect of a growing or slumping economy, a difference in
social influences, or changes being made on a higher governmental level.
However, the change is derived, we know it happens, and it is very important to hear from
the people living, working, and raising families in Wadena County.
Public Input from 2013 Update Process
In order to obtain public input and to provide opportunities for the most people, the 2013
planning process divided the County into 5 localized areas and notices sent out to
townships and cities situated within those areas to invite local officials, as well as the
general public, to attend and participate in the meetings. This provided an opportunity, on
a smaller scale, to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses, and the priorities and goals
documented within the current plan, and then to discuss possible changes to those which
may have occurred during the past several years. Because local citizens have a broad range
of attitudes toward growth and development, it is important to note that, although all of the
public input from the meetings is documented within Section 1 of this Plan, the input
provided from the public was reviewed and discussed through the appropriate processes
and blended to produce a document that would serve Wadena County, as a whole, in the
best possible manner. The following documents these meeting and the outcomes of each.
Meeting #1 – Nimrod Area Community Hall
This meeting location was not well attended, however, numerous topics were brought up,
resulting in a good round table discussion.
Strengths: water quality and current quantity, agriculture and forestry and the revenue
generated by them, community pride, the Crow Wing River and other water systems
Weaknesses: large tracts of land purchased for seasonal use and taken out of production,
not purchasing locally resulting in lost businesses, clear cutting of large tracts of land for
agri-business irrigated fields, poor economy, poor tax base, school districts suffer some
because non-resident large tracts of land are not part of any bond issue for them
Suggested Changes to Current Goals: None Suggested Added Objectives:
7

Natural Resources:


Preserve and protect the quantity and quality of surface waters as well as ground
water

Economic Development:


Promote and encourage patronization of local, in-county businesses whenever and
wherever possible

Other Suggestions & Points of Discussion:


Adding a page to the Plan Update to define what the different Zoning Districts are



Possible revisions to the Zoning map to allow for more ease in opening a business
along some of the main road ways in the County

Meeting #2 – Blueberry Township Hall
This group, though small, had the greatest attendance and was quite diversified in
backgrounds and interests. Aside from a few differing views on certain topics that were
covered, this group brought some great input to the table.
Strengths: lakes and rivers, parks, recreation (i.e. snowmobile trails, horse trails, camping,
golf courses), clean water, parks, exceptional emergency services, orderly development
practices, natural environment & wildlife, fresh air, the work force, major highways coming
in and going out of the county, the railroad in the southern tier of the County, the school
systems, friendly people
Weaknesses: livable wages, people not knowing each other anymore or the businesses that
do exist in the county, high property taxes, lack of transportation options, lack of
promotion of the things we do have to offer
Suggested Changes to Current Goals: None Suggested Added Objectives:
Natural Resources:


Protection of the County’s surface waters

Land Use:


Encourage and support services to be available along the highway corridors

Economic Development:


Research and plan the best way to add commercial zoned areas to the County’s
highway corridors and take measures to amend the official zoning map to include
those new districts



Work toward centralizing our development and work together with cities and
townships where existing commercial buildings are empty and ready to be used

Transportation:


Explore innovative ways to fund road improvements and general maintenance
(wheelage tax, .5% sales tax)
8

Parks & Recreation:


Research and support the development of a bike/walking trail connecting
communities in Wadena County

Other Suggestions & Points of Discussion:


Use of Legacy funding for financial support of building a trail system



Possible light rail from the County to another strategic location in another county



Impact of large agri-business (clear cutting, fertilizing, & irrigation) on surface &
ground water quality and quantity, forests, wild life habitat, and rural residential
property owners



Develop collaborative efforts with other counties in the areas of economic
development, transportation, environmental protection, human services, and public
safety



Encourage organic grower’s that can be certified – demand for these products is
increasing



Increase collaborative agreements with State agencies for funding sources



County Board needs to maintain communication with state legislators so when
funding is available to finance efforts outlined in the Comprehensive Plan we are
working to procure it



Blueberry Township walking trail should be added to the Comprehensive Plan
under Parks & Recreation



Wind Farms – do we want them in our county

Meeting #3 - Sebeka Senior Citizen Center
This meeting was not well attended but citizens who did attend provided great input and
were primarily interested in economic development and promotion of the things that the
county has to offer presently.
Strengths: Agriculture, Crow Wing River, School Systems, exceptional emergency services,
wetlands, close proximity to medical care, lots of city and county parks, campsites county,
state, and city, golf courses, community festivals, snowmobile trails, golf courses, 2 college
campuses, available land
and buildings for commercial use, telecommunications systems-fiber optics, two major
highways fun through the county
Weakness: Limited number of lakes, lack of productive soils for agriculture, lack of
promotion of the things the county does have to offer, not enough senior services, an aging
population and work force, lack of infrastructure in areas where commercial development
might be suited to take place, only two major highways run through the county
Suggested Changes to Current Goals:
Natural Resources:
9



Incorporate language into the Goal to include protection against ground water
depletion

Economic Development:


Incorporate language into the Goal to say that we not only “encourage” economic
development but that we “support it” as well.

Transportation:


Incorporate language into the Goal to encourage and support alternative methods of
transportation, including bike trails which connect communities.

Suggested Added Objectives:
Transportation:


Explore options for funding to assist with developing bike routes in the County

Economic Development:


County support of the West Central Economic Development Alliance



Develop and exercise a collaborative effort between the County and the Cities in
locating businesses and other forms of development



Promote and support community awareness of and for the need for infrastructure
to bring and keep business & industry in the County

Facilities & Services:


Promote community support for infrastructure



Study services provided by similar sized counties to determine where we lack or
where we provide more

Parks & Recreation:


Better promotion of what we already have to offer



Better promotion of wintertime outdoor activities, i.e., cross country skiing, ice
skating, snow shoeing, sledding



Research possible Legacy funding for procurement to assist with potential larger
scale projects

Meeting #4 – Thomastown Township Hall
This small group provided a terrific discussion that centered mostly around natural
resources and parks and recreation; however, there was also some very good input with
regard to economic development.
Strengths: Rivers & streams, Wahoo Valley, good balance of forest and open land, two
college campuses, technology infrastructure is good in parts of the county
Weaknesses: lack of technology infrastructure in parts of the County, no electrical access in
most County Parks, lack of promotion of some of the recreation the County does have to
offer
10

Suggested Changes to Current Goals: None Suggested Added Objectives:
Natural Resources:


Take action to alleviate the negative effects of clear cutting large tracts of forest land
for center pivot irrigated farm fields (i.e. erosion, lost animal habitat, overuse of
chemicals, water depletion and soil depletion)

Economic Development:


Provide assistance in the form of staff or other outreach to people with an idea for a
business but who do not have the knowledge or information they need to market
their product



Support more recreational trails

Transportation:


Research and consider alternative funding sources for road maintenance and
improvement

Parks & Recreation:


Road improvements to county parks



Upgrade at least one county park to include RV parking and some amenities like
showers and modern bathroom facilities



Work on bike trails



Allow geocaching and promote it within the county and the county parks systems



Consider the county taking over the River Trail Riders Saddle Club grounds for
public use

Meeting #5 – Wadena County Courthouse Auditorium
There were no members of the general public at this particular meeting. Some of the topics
brought up at the other meetings by members of the public were mentioned with some
brief discussion between staff, the two County Commissioners, and the two Planning
Commission members who were there. However, due to the lack of public participation, the
meeting was adjourned early.
Public Input from 2026 Update Process
As part of the 2026 update process, the County supplemented and updated the 2013 input
in several ways:
1.
A joint meeting of the Planning Commission and County Board to help identify
issues and trends facing the County that they felt needed to be addressed by the County as
it updated its Plan. The following issues were identified, and solutions were suggested
during this meeting:
a.

Key Issues and Concerns

11



Restrictive Zoning and Land-Use Barriers: Current zoning in approximately 97% of
the county (A2 and A3 districts) is specifically designed to "prevent or discourage
non-farm growth," which many members felt was now prohibitive to necessary
development.



Economic Disparity and High Taxation: Wadena is recognized as one of the poorest
counties in Minnesota by income while simultaneously maintaining some of the
state's highest property tax rates.



Depopulation and Institutional Decline: The county is experiencing a steady decline
in dairy farming, which in turn causes shrinking enrollment in schools and struggles
for local churches and civic organizations to remain viable.



Workforce Housing Shortage: There is a significant lack of available workforce and
affordable housing, which prevents local employees and young families from living
within the county.



Agricultural and Residential Conflicts: There is a history of conflict when new
residential development occurs near active agricultural operations, such as feedlots,
leading to nuisance complaints regarding smells and dust.



Environmental Risks: Concerns were raised regarding water quality, specifically
nitrate contamination and the need for continued groundwater protection.



Brain Drain: Despite having highly-rated schools, the county struggles to retain
educated youth who often leave for better opportunities elsewhere.

b.

Suggested Solutions


Streamlining Land Splits: Participants suggested easing subdividing restrictions to
allow up to five residential "splits" on a 40-acre parcel via "permit by rule" rather
than requiring expensive and lengthy Conditional Use Permits (CUPs).



Reducing "Red Tape": Board members emphasized the need to cut administrative
hurdles as much as possible to make Wadena County competitive with neighboring
counties like Hubbard and Otter Tail.



"Middle of Everywhere" Marketing: The county should leverage its high-speed
internet and quality schools to attract remote workers who want a quiet, safe rural
lifestyle but do not want to live in city centers.



Protecting Agricultural Interests: While encouraging housing, the plan should
include "Right-to-Farm" policies or specific language to protect existing agricultural
operations from nuisance lawsuits and neighbor complaints.



Incentivizing Development: Proposals included creating tiered tax abatements and
exploring multi-family housing options like twin homes or triplexes that utilize
shared septic systems to lower construction costs.



Strategic Planning and Accountability: The new Comprehensive Plan should include
updated demographics and "action items" that the upcoming County Administrator
can use as a tool for economic recruitment.
12



Watershed Integration: The updated plan must include new watershed data and
plans for the Crow Wing, Red Eye, and Long Prairie regions to address
environmental concerns.

2.
Two meeting with the general public to gather information about what they saw as
the most important issues for the County to address as it moves forward – one in Wadena
at the County Courthouse and one in Sebeka at the Senior Center. A summary of the various
issues and concerns raised by the public during these meetings is as follows:
a.

Property Tax Burdens

A common theme across all meetings was what was expressed as a significant tax burden
on residents.


High Tax Rates: It was noted that Wadena County is among the poorest in the state
by income but maintains the 8th highest tax rate.



Comparisons: People noted that the taxes on a home in Wadena County are
significantly higher than those that apply to the same value of home in other nearby
counties like Otter Tail and Hubbard counties.



Absentee Landowners: Concern was expressed about landowner from other areas of
the state or country utilizing state tax breaks that cost the local levy significant
revenue.



Suggested Solutions: Participants suggested a number of possibilities, including
cutting county spending, a greater focus on attracting tourists and businesses
(especially those that provide significant employment), tax incentives to be more
business-friendly and even "abolishing" the county or merging services with Otter
Tail County to reduce overhead.

b.

Land Use: The Struggle for Housing Flexibility

A central conflict emerged between those wanting to protect farmland and activities and
those viewing current zoning regulations as a barrier to needed growth in housing
opportunities.

c.



Restrictive Zoning: Some participants suggested that approximately 98% of the
county is currently zoned to discourage or prevent non-farm growth, based on
1970s-era logic.



The "One-Split" Barrier: The limit of one residential split per 40 acres prevents
families from passing land to children or elderly owners from splitting off home
sites to fund nursing care.



Suggested Solutions: Many participants advocated for allowing more housing in the
rural areas of the County – i.e. up to five residential splits on a 40-acre parcel,
particularly on marginal land (sandy or swampy) unsuitable for tilling. There was
also strong support for permitting "mother-in-law" apartments or rental
bunkhouses for supplemental income.
Agriculture and "Right-to-Farm" Protections

13

While seeking growth, residents were wary of the challenges that come with new residents
in areas historically used for agricultural activities—where new residents move to the
country and then complain about agricultural noise and smells.


Dairy Decline: The county is down to roughly 15–17 dairy farms, a trend driven by
market shifts rather than zoning.



Suggested Solutions: Proponents strongly urged the county to codify "Right-toFarm" policies directly into the Comprehensive Plan to provide legal cover for
existing producers and the be careful about where new homes are allowed as they
may cause more conflict with agriculture (further pushing it out of the County),
public costs for road maintenance, road upgrades, and other public services than
they generate in revenue.

d.

Workforce Barriers: Childcare and Transit

Public input identified barriers preventing people from joining the local workforce.


Childcare Availability: Staples and other areas report one-year waitlists for infants,
and rising regulations are driving small home-based providers out of business.



Transit Profitability: Rural bus routes are frequently shut down by the state if they
do not meet "ridership per hour" quotas within a few months.



Suggested Solutions: The county should help make use of underutilized properties
for childcare centers and explore the feasibility of scheduled public transit routes
rather than "dial-a-ride" models.

e.

Technology and Infrastructure


Broadband vs. Cellular: It was noted that Wadena County is 7th in the state for
broadband coverage (98.8%), but "dead spots" for cell service make the area
unattractive to youth.



Park Access: Residents noted that roads into county parks like Bullard’s Bluff and
Old Wadena are "rough" or primitive, hindering tourism.



Suggested Solutions: Prioritize snow plowing on north-south commuter routes and
leverage local telephone providers new cell service to close coverage gaps.

f.

Marketing and Identity


"Middle of Everywhere": There is a desire to rebrand Wadena as a safe, quiet, and
high-speed-internet-ready alternative to "lake-life" counties like Otter Tail.



Suggested Solutions: Hiring a dedicated marketing position or using drones and
social media for low-cost promotion. Billboards on Highways 10 and 71 were
suggested to catch travelers who currently see Wadena as a "drive-through" county.

3.
A survey of the County’s cities, townships, school districts, emergency service
providers and higher education institutions to both ensure that statements made about
them in the updated Plan were current and accurate and to request input on how the
pattern of new development impacts their budgetary considerations and ability to
effectively serve their various constituents.
14

a.

Summarize Survey Responses Here

15

SECTION 2: Wadena County Early History
Wadena County, with its vast geographic differences was long overlooked as a source of
abundant agricultural wealth.
The Indians used it as hunting grounds, the French and British saw it as a land rich with fur
bearing animals, and even the logging industry used only the northern and northeastern
portions of the county for harvesting the rich, white pine they sought. Even after
Minnesota was organized as a state and Wadena County was plotted in 1858, few white
people had settled on the land. It would take over three decades before the true
agricultural wealth of Wadena County would take its place of prominence in Minnesota’s
agricultural economy.
Wadena County was established by the state legislature in June of 1858. Although this act
was passed in 1858, it was not until February 21, 1873, that the county was officially
organized. The city of Wadena was established as the county seat.
The completion of the Northern Pacific railroad through the county gave rise to the genesis
of many communities along its right of way. One of the earliest hamlets to begin growing
was Aldrich, which was settled about 1871. The laying of track reached Aldrich in 1872,
and gave such a tremendous flourishing to the burg that between 1872 and 1883 the
population of the site grew to over one hundred.
By the early 1880’s only six townships had been populated enough to allow formal
organization of the areas into townships, and they were Wadena, Leaf River, Bullard, Wing
River, Aldrich, and Thomastown. The northern portions of the county remained sparsely
populated except for isolated pockets of settlers. In 1885, the settlers in and around Shell
City petitioned the county for recognition as a township. As the population of the
county continued to grow, other townships sought organization. Red Eye Township was
organized on January 15, 1889, Rockwood followed on July 8, 1893, North Germany on
December 18, 1893, Lyons on January 7, 1896, Meadow on March 13, 1896, Blueberry
around 1888, Huntersville around 1898, and Orton in September of 1898. The population
of the county, which was listed as six by the Federal Census in 1870, showed a tremendous
growth to over 2,000 inhabitants by 1880. Within the next decade the population had
reached just over 4,000, and by the turn of the century there were over 7,900 settlers.
With increasing population growth came the genesis of other communities through the
county. Wadena, Verndale, and Aldrich came into existence with the building of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. Shell City and Nimrod came into existence as a result of logging
operations and wheat growing as these industries spread northward into the county by
1880. The construction of the Wadena-Park Rapids railroad in 1891 brought into being the
communities of Sebeka and Menahga, with other smaller communities such as Blue Grass
and Central springing up around 1905. (Taken from “Silhouettes of Time: A History of
Wadena County Focusing on Shell City and Nimrod, MN”).
Wadena County was on one of the original trapper-trader routes connecting Pembina to
Fort Snelling. Later this route was to become the northern Red River oxcart trail so heavily
used before the coming of the railroad. Though Wadena County was included in the 1855
Indian land cession, it remained unsettled until the superior prairie land further to the west
16

had been taken and the railroads made the territory more accessible.
During the late 1800’s, large numbers of northern Europeans migrated to Minnesota. The
northern part of Wadena and adjoining sections of Becker and Ottertail Counties gained
large numbers of Finnish settlers. The east central portion of the County around Nimrod
was strongly German, with Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and English occupying the
southern townships. Much of the evidence of ethnic ties are still apparent on the landscape
and in the names of people in the area today, especially in the Finnish areas.
With the railroads came increased numbers of farmers and service towns along the lines.
Compared to southern Minnesota, the farms, especially in the north, were small and the
farmers supplemented their incomes with forestry. Ironically, today, farmers in Wadena
County continue to supplement their incomes, only with jobs off the farm instead of
forestry.
TOWNS & VILLAGES – Brief History
Information provided here is from an article provided by the Wadena County Historical
Society entitled, “An Early History of Wadena County Towns and Villages”, and from
information obtained from current city administration.
Aldrich
Aldrich has the distinction of being the first settlement in Wadena County. In the year 1872,
the railroad arrived, giving a terrific boost to the town’s population. W. A. Bryant and Bro.’s
opened the first regular store in 1876. In 1881, Delos Helmer built a beautiful hotel which
he called the “Aldrich House”. In 1882, L.D. French, W.F. Markus and J.M. Russ built the first
saw mill. The population in 1883 had reached the all-time high of 100 people. In 1883, the
town witnessed their first industrial strike, when five mill hands left their work on general
grievances. The strike wasn’t too drastic, however, as new mill hands were hired and the
mill resumed operation two days later. By 1922, the population had grown such that a new
residential section was built, adding new homes, and improving, greatly, the already
popular town of Aldrich. Here the first post office and the first Catholic Church in Wadena
County were established.
Aldrich is still in existence today with a population of 46, governed by a Mayor and 3
member City Council.
Bluegrass
The village of Bluegrass actually began developing in 1917. The Co-op Creamery was long
remembered as one of the outstanding businesses. Today there are only a few residences
occupied at Bluegrass along with St. Hubert’s Catholic Church and the Bethany Free
Lutheran Church, also known as the Hay Creek Congregation.
Huntersville & Orton
Not a great deal of actual history has been recorded for these two villages. We know only
that they were small and that the good neighbors living there kept quite closely to
themselves. J.N. Wiley, promoting a new railroad from Minneapolis to Winnipeg, Canada, to
17

run through Orton and Huntersville voted $8,200 in bonds to assist the venture. The bonds,
however, were soon voided as the deal failed to go through.
Today the little village of Orton is non-existent, while the village of Huntersville is a
recreational hub for tubing and canoeing traffic on the Crow Wing River and horseback
riding and hiking in the Huntersville State Forest. The Huntersville Outpost Bar and Grill
provides dining and entertainment to visitors and area residents alike.
Leaf River
At one time in Leaf River, there were so many deer killed that buckskins adorned the cabin
walls and fences around most of the homestead cabins. In November 1879, a Mr. Wiswell
threshed around 800 bushels of wheat, which was a goodly amount for those days. The saw
mill arrived shortly after that time and soon was running, utilizing the huge timber of the
forests that existed at that time. Leaf River town site did not flourish or develop into an
incorporated town.
Menahga
D.E. Jones was responsible for establishing the Menahga town site in January of 1891. Late
summer 1891, the railroad came through for the first time. When the railroad was
established, Chet Eddy, Charles, Barney Kelly, and Joseph Askew immediately set up a
sawmill. W.R. Baumbaugh is reported to have opened the first store. The town was given
the name, “The Gateway to the Pines” by the Governor of Louisiana on his visit, when the
Jefferson Highway, now US Highway 71, was opened. Joseph A. Quinn was one of the
outstanding bankers in the village. Menahga, too, had a terrible fire, which nearly destroyed
the village in 1903. Midsummer Days has long since been established as an annual
celebration.
Menahga’s current population is 1306, and they are governed by an elected Mayor and 4
member City Council. Each year in July, Menahga’s Mid-Summer Celebration takes place. In
mid-March, St. Urho Days provide a variety of fun activities attracting visitors from all over
to celebrate the legend of St. Urho driving the grasshoppers out of Finland and saving the
vineyards.
Nimrod
Located on the banks of the beautiful Crow Wing River, in the township of Orton, Nimrod
was established in 1879 by a man named Savoy in the days when the “log drives” down the
river were increasing. It was not incorporated as a village until 1924, and as a city until
1946. In the early years of lumbering, it was first only a tie camp, but still a very important
little village. Jake Graba was recorded to have kept the first stopping place for lumbermen,
offering them room and board for a nominal fee. Nimrod was also recorded as a very
important village between the wheat prairies and Verndale, since its location was such that
the early settlers could get supplies there.
Today, Nimrod is a small town of 69, governed by an elected Mayor and a 3 member City
Council. The city holds a town celebration known as Jubilee Days that swells the town’s
population sometimes by the thousands over Labor Day weekend.
Oylen
18

In 1913, a co-op creamery opened in Oylen, long since known as the “Village with the
friendly people”. A few residential sites and the Christian Missionary Church and assembly
grounds is all that exists there today.
Sebeka
Sebeka was built close to the banks of the Red Eye River and came into existence a little
ahead of the railroad. The earliest mention of the Sebeka area dates back to 1878.
According to the diary writings of E.H. Pelton, grandson of Revolutionary war hero, Oscar
Pelton, there was a log landing on the site where the pioneer monument now stands in the
Sebeka Park. The logs from the N.P. Clark Company were landed on the river here and
during the spring flood stage were floated down the Red Eye River to the Crow Wing River
to Motley. Although Sebeka was incorporated as a village in 1898, it actually was put on the
map several years earlier when the Great Northern Railway established the “K” Line from
Sauk Centre to Cass Lake. Surveying for the rail line took place in 1881, with the town sites
plotted at distances approximating a day’s round trip with a horse and wagon, six or seven
miles as a rule. The town site was originally the farm of E. Alfred Olson.
Currently Sebeka’s population is 711, and they are governed by an elected Mayor and 5
member City Council. The Sebeka Economic Development Authority (SEDA) is an
appointed 5 member board established in 1996. The Red Eye River celebration is the
town’s summer celebration and occurs in June every year.
Shell City
Although now only a memory, Shell City was first established as a lumbering camp in 1879,
and boasted a population of nearly 75, which in those days was quite large. Shell City was a
thriving, though temporary, community on the “Wheat Trail” between Verndale and the
Hubbard Prairies. The Shell City town site did not continue to develop and there is nothing
left there today.
Thomastown
S. Dower had 50 men in the woods making ties and getting out wood for the railroad
company in Aldrich. In the year 1913, H.I. Davey of Thomastown had 40 Acres of alfalfa
which yielded some 2,000 bushels of seed. Thus, alfalfa growing in Wadena County began.
This site, like so many others, never developed.
Verndale
Verndale, once known as the most beautiful town site along the Northern Pacific Railroad
between Brainerd and Fargo, was settled in 1877 when Capt. John E. Butler, Charles W.
Brown, John B. Kelly, and Charles C. Kelley arrived from Iowa. Judge L. W. Smith laid out the
first town site in October of 1877 and it was named for his granddaughter, Helen Vernette
“Vernie” Smith. The first school house was built in 1878 and cost about $1200 to build.
There were 25 pupils the first term. One of the first newspapers was started in 1877, and
went under the name of the Wadena County Tribune. Dr. Harding opened the first drug
store in Verndale about 1878. Verndale boasts the organization of the first lodge in the
county when, in January of 1880, the Fidelity Lodge (Masonic) was organized with H.
Brintell as the master. In 1883, the population had grown to 700. Verndale boasted two
grain elevators and was developed as a wheat trading center for the county, and much of
19

central Minnesota. The grist mill, on the hillside on the east bank of the Wing River, was
completed in 1880 at a cost of $12,000 ($235,000 in 2008 dollars) in an attempt to keep
Verndale moving forward. The dam for the mill was destroyed during spring flooding in
1910 and the mill itself was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1912.
Today Verndale has a population of 602 and is governed by an elected Mayor and 4
member City Council. Straw Hat and Sun Bonnet Days are hosted every summer in the still
beautiful city of Verndale.
Wadena
Wadena, named for Chief Wah-de-Nah, an Ojibway Indian Chief of the late nineteenth
century, was established in the early part of 1878. At that time, Wadena had a population of
96 residents. The Merchant’s Hotel, Meyer and Coon’s Store, S.S. Garner’s land office were
some of the early businesses, and Charley Peake held the honor of opening the first store.
In 1891, a terrible grippe epidemic hit Wadena, causing illness to the majority of the
residents. In 1903, Thomas Miller brought the first horseless carriage into Wadena, and
Henry Ebner purchased a Rambler at the same time. Carl and Roller built the first brewery
in 1881. Harry Hutton, a telegraph operator had the first high wheel bicycle in town in
1883. On October 15, 1901, Burch’s new opera house opened with the “Quo Vadis”
presented by the Sanford Dodge Co. In 1903, Standard Oil Company built the first oil
station. The Pioneer Journal, Wadena County’s largest newspaper, was established in 1877
and is one of the oldest business firms still in operation today.
Today, the City of Wadena has a population of 4088. It is governed by an elected Mayor and
4 member City Council. The Wadena Housing and Redevelopment Authority (WHRA),
throughout its 45 year history, has served as a technical and financial resource and is
continually finding new and innovative ways to meet its goals. Wadena’s June Jubilee town
celebration is traditionally held the 3rd weekend in June.

20

SECTION 3: Demographics and Housing Trends
An accurate vision for Wadena County’s future begins with a clear understanding of the
population and housing and other demographic trends that have occurred in the past and
are shaping the community now. Shifts in population demographics and characteristics
directly shape housing demands, economic priorities, and demands on public services. This
section examines Wadena County’s demographic landscape by establishing our historical
trajectory, analyzing current baseline data, and evaluating future growth projections where
such data exists. Grounding our policies in these data-driven realities allows the County to
proactively anticipate and serve the evolving needs of our communities. Population
Trends – Since Wadena County was first formed in 1858 and organized in 1873, the
County’s population has gone through three distinct phases – rapid initial growth between
1870 and 1940 as the County first became populated, a period of moderately fluctuating
population between 1940 and 1990 and a period of slow, steady growth between 1990 and
2025. The initial population boom was primarily fueled by the 1862 Homestead Act that
supported the formation of small farms and the expansion of the Northern Pacific Railroad
into the area in the 1870s and 1880s that made the movement of people and commodities
easier. The more fluctuating population trends in the middle phase can be attributed at
least partly to the mechanization of farming and less need for farm workers and to the
consolidation of farms and improved highway systems allowing the population to spread
out from urban centers more easily. The current phase has been marked by steady growth likely reflecting its location at the intersection of main highway transportation corridors
but also its lack of what has driven growth in other communities such as large amounts of
lakeshore and proximity to interstate freeways or already established large regional
centers.
Compared to surrounding counties, Wadena County is easily the smallest in terms of total
land area - 543 square miles compared to the next smallest County (Todd County at 979
square miles) and the largest (Cass County at 2,414 square miles). It also has far less water
coverage than the other counties at about 7 square miles of water compared to Todd
County’s next lowest 34 square miles and Cass County’s highest amount at 392 square
miles of water. When comparing the density of each county’s population however, Wadena
County fits more in the middle with a population density of 26.8 persons per square mile of
land area compared to 15.5 in Cass County, 24.2 in Hubbard County and Otter Tail County
with 31.0.
By overall population, Wadena County trails other counties in the region with a 2025
estimated population of 14,388 compared to Hubbard County at the next highest (22,369)
and Otter Tail County as the highest in the region (61,041). Since 1990, Hubbard County
has experienced the greatest percentage growth (49.7%) trailed by Cass County (44.2%)
and Becker County (27.3%). Wadena County has had the slowest growth over that period
(9.4%) followed by Todd County (11.5%) and Otter Tail County (20.4%),
In looking at the population trends of Wadena County’s cities and townships, the City of
Wadena remains the primary population center for the County with a 2024 estimated
population of 4,239 compared to the next highest of 1,384 in Menahga, 860 in the Wadena
County portion of the City of Staples and 750 in the City of Sebeka. Among Townships,
21

Wadena (959), Blueberry (941) and Thomastown (847) Townships have the highest
populations. Overall, 54.4% of the County’s population is located within cities and 45.6% is
in its townships – about the same ratio as existed in the 2010 Census data.

Population Change
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1860-2025
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
1840

1860

1880

1900

1920

1940

1960

1980

2000

Becker County

Cass County

Hubbard County

Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

2020

2040

Table 1: Population of Wadena County and Adjacent Counties 1860-2025
Becker County Cass County Hubbard County Otter Tail County Todd County Wadena County
1860

386

150

0

240

430

0

1870

308

380

0

1,968

2,036

6

1880

5,218

486

0

18,675

6,133

2,080

1890

9,401

1,247

1,412

34,232

12,930

4,053

1900

14,375

7,777

6,578

45,375

22,214

7,921

1910

18,840

11,620

9,831

46,036

23,407

8,652

1920

22,851

15,897

10,136

50,818

26,059

10,699

1930

22,503

15,591

9,596

51,006

26,170

10,990

1940

26,562

20,646

11,085

53,192

27,438

12,772

1950

24,836

19,468

11,085

51,320

25,420

12,806

1960

23,959

16,720

9,962

48,960

23,119

12,199

1970

24,372

17,323

10,583

46,097

22,114

12,412

1980

29,336

21,050

14,098

51,937

24,991

14,192

22

1990

27,881

21,791

14,939

50,714

23,363

13,154

2000

30,000

27,150

18,376

57,159

24,426

13,713

2010

32,504

28,567

20,428

57,303

24,895

13,843

2020

35,183

30,066

21,344

60,081

25,262

14,065

2025

35,497

31,430

22,369

61,041

26,060

14,388

27.3%

44.2%

49.7%

20.4%

11.5%

9.4%

Source: US Census, Decennial Censuses (1880-2020),Population Estimates (2025)

23

Population Age -

A detailed review of data from the Minnesota State Demographer and the U.S. Census
Bureau allows the County to consider how the County’s population is distributed across
various age groups – both now and into the future. Understanding the distribution of a
population across age groups is critical for Wadena County's long-term planning because
different age groups place different demands on public infrastructure and social services
and can impact the County’s tax base in significantly different ways.
For instance, analyzing age distribution allows a county to plan strategically across several
key areas:


Fiscal Sustainability and Tax Capacity: Working-age residents (typically ages 20 to
64) form the primary backbone of the local economy and property tax base. If a
county has a shrinking workforce but a growing youth or senior population, it is
likely to struggle to meet the demand for public services (like school services and
infrastructure demands) due to the relatively small portion of the population that
provides the tax base for the community.



Housing Market Alignment: Age demographics dictate the types of housing a
community needs. Young families typically look for affordable single-family starter
homes, while aging seniors often require maintenance-free housing, townhomes, or
assisted living facilities closer to medical centers. Understanding these shifts helps
officials align zoning laws with actual market demand to prevent housing shortages.



Public Safety and Emergency Services: Emergency medical service (EMS) and
ambulance run volumes are closely tied to an aging demographic. Conversely, a high
concentration of children or young adults may require different law enforcement
and community policing strategies. Knowing where these age groups live
geographically helps optimize station locations and response times.



Social Services and State-Mandated Care: Many public health and human services
are strictly mandated by state law. An older population requires robust adult
protection, specialized transportation, and senior services, while a larger youth
population drives up childcare licensing, public health programs, and school
transportation costs.

A close look at specific age segments and projections from the Minnesota State
Demographer’s office reveals shifting generational dynamics across the county:



Youth: The population of high school age children and younger currently sits at
around 28.7% of the County’s population. This is expected to increase to about
30.3% by 2055.



Young Adults and Families: The age group representing young single adults and
young families (the 20–39 age bracket) currently represents about 22.2% of the
County’s population. It is projected to increase to 23.8% by 2055.



Adults (40-64): Working age adults and families represent the single largest age
24

group in Wadena County at about 4,189 persons – or 28.5% of the population. Their
percentage is also expected to increase – to about 30.2% of the County’s population
in 2055.


Older Adults (65+): Persons over 65 years old in Wadena County currently account
for approximately 20.6% of the population. Contrary to the other age groups, this is
the one group of people that is expected decline as a percentage of the overall
population – with a projected drop to about 15.6% by 2055.

It is important to note that the State Demographer's methodology relies heavily on
historical continuity – i.e. it assumes that past demographic behaviors, regional migration
trends, and relationships will remain relatively constant. If a major economic shift occurs
(such as a sudden housing boom or a factory closure or the construction of a large assisted
living facility), actual figures will very likely be significantly different, which is why the
state releases mid-decade updates to course-correct the models. As such, any estimates
listed above should always be viewed as potentially inaccurate and the County will need to
monitor changing conditions that could affect the age-based mix of the County’s population
as it plans future services and zoning decisions.
Historical data from 1980 to 2020 tracks a consistent upward trend in older age brackets.
The 65–74 age cohort peaked at 1,713 in 2020 but is projected to experience minor
stabilization down to 1,597 by 2055. Conversely, the population aged 75–84 hovered at
1,029 in 2020 and is projected to slowly decline to 925 by 2055, while residents aged 85
and over are expected to transition from 513 in 2020 down to 240 by 2055.
Table 2: Persons by Age – Wadena County 2000 – 2055
Age Group

2000

2010

2020

2025

2035

2045

2055

Under 5 years

871

916

894

1,062

1,201

1,312

1,365

5–19 years

3,070

2,774

2,869

3,151

3,474

3,789

4,000

20–39 years

2,943

2,731

2,879

3,256

3,725

4,063

4,206

40–64 years

4,102

4,504

4,168

4,189

4,539

4,965

5,338

65–74 years

1,301

1,360

1,713

1,732

1,562

1,498

1,597

75–84 years

990

1,010

1,029

959

1,139

978

925

85 years and over

436

548

513

325

268

288

240

Total

13,713 13,843 14,065 14,674 15,908 16,893 17,671

Source: MN State Demographer, Long Term Population Projections
Table 3: Wadena Counties Elderly Population Changes 1980 – 2020

25

Geography

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

United States

25,614,000

31,241,831

34,991,753

40,267,984

55,792,501

Minnesota

479,564

546,934

594,266

683,121

949,293

Wadena County

2,328

2,527

2,727

2,918

3,255

Geography

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

United States

9,966,000

13,135,273

16,600,767

18,554,555

22,680,536

Minnesota

209,416

525,412

298,441

328,694

392,095

Wadena County

1,058

1,265

1,537

1,558

1,542

Geography

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

United States

2,239,700

3,080,165

4,239,587

5,493,433

6,336,435

Minnesota

52,789

68,835

85,601

106,664

116,658

Wadena County

285

355

430

548

513

Projected Growth - Wadena County is projected to grow steadily but moderately over the
next three decades. The county’s population increased from 13,713 in 2000 to 14,065 in
2020, with an estimated 14,388 residents in 2025. State projections show continued
growth through 2055 with the population estimated to rise to 16,671. As noted previously,
these estimates generally assume that past trends will generally continue into the future
and the County will need to stand ready for alternate scenarios where population growth
increase more rapidly or where population begins to decline.
Graph 1: Population Growth of Wadena County & Adjacent Counties 1970 - 2030

26

Population Projections
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
2025-2055
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
2025

2035

2045

Becker County

Cass County

Hubbard County

Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

2055

Source: MN State Demographer, Long Term Population Projections
Past Population Trends of Cities - Population trends within Wadena County’s cities has
been a mix of growth and decline. On the growth side, Menahga has grown from 835
persons to 1,384 in 2024 and Sebeka has grown from 668 to 750 over that same time
period. The City of Nimrod has also grown slightly – from 64 to 88. The Wadena County
portion of the City of Staples has grown significantly from 98 in 1970 to 871 in 2010, but
has essentially maintained the same population since that time.
Wadena – the County’s largest city – grew slightly between 1970 and 1980 from 4,640 to
4,699, but then dropped down to 4,109 by 1990 has experience both moderate decline and
growth in the years since then – settling at 4,239 in 2024. The cities of Aldrich and
Verndale have also experienced fluctuations in their population over the years, but have
generally declined over the last 20-30 years.
Among the County’s 15 townships, populations have generally remained stable, although
individual townships show different patterns of growth and change. The highest population
townships are those located along the Highways 10 and 71 corridors, with lower
populations in the central and eastern portions of the County.
Blueberry Township (surrounding the City of Menahga) has grown notably in recent years,
rising from 338 in 1970 to 732 by 2000 and to 958 residents in 2024. Wadena Township
around the City of Wadena remains the county’s largest township but has grown much
more moderately and now has essentially the same population as Blueberry Township.
Thomastown is the third largest township with 847 residents in 2024. Combined, these
27

three townships account for 41.7% of the County’s total township non-city population. The
next largest Townships include Red Eye Township (530 residents or 8.1%), Leaf River
Township (492 or 7.5% of the non-city population), Aldrich Township and Wing River
Townships (each with 451 or 6.9% of the non-city population) and Rockwood Township
(394 persons or 6.0% of the non-city population).
The Minnesota State Demographer discontinued making projections on individual city and
township populations around 2014. Instead, they release annual population estimates each
year.
Table 4: Historic Wadena County City Populations 1970 - 2024
City

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Aldrich

85

88

70

Menahga

835

980

1,076 1,220 1,306 1,340 1,384

Nimrod

64

69

65

75

69

78

88

Sebeka

668

774

662

710

711

741

750

Staples city (part)

98

264

397

642

871

868

860

Verndale

570

504

560

575

602

511

507

53

48

35

38

Wadena city (part) 4,640 4,699 4,109 4,244 4,022 4,218 4,239
Source: MN State Demographer, Historical estimates of Minnesota and its cities' and
townships' population and households, 2000-2024 (released July 2025)
Table 5: Historic Wadena County Township Populations 1970 - 2024

Township

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Aldrich

445

559

475

418

430

411

451

Blueberry

338

567

526

732

721

828

958

Bullard

129

163

156

207

219

190

302

Huntersville

70

89

105

128

119

101

167

Leaf River

748

663

575

515

531

524

467

Lyons

162

185

162

180

192

186

195

Meadow

240

270

215

228

217

216

286

28

North Germany 373

374

322

327

313

290

320

Orton

187

234

217

220

204

200

257

Red Eye

332

406

378

421

490

506

535

Rockwood

465

491

375

388

390

386

437

Shell River

153

220

233

276

233

287

326

Thomastown

748

934

887

714

819

829

847

Wadena

794 1,094 1,134 1,010 868

826

959

Wing River

366

446

451

512

455

430

468

Source: MN State Demographer, Historical estimates of Minnesota and its cities' and
townships' population and households, 2000-2024 (released July 2025)

EDUCATION – Education is a central component of community vitality and economic
development in Wadena County. Public school districts serving Wadena County include
Wadena-Deer Creek, Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, and Staples-Motley, with some district
boundaries extending beyond county lines. Freshwater Education District also provides
specialized public education services. In 2025–26, all-grade enrollment was 1,126 for
Menahga, 1,088 for Wadena-Deer Creek, 937 for Staples-Motley, 492 for Verndale, 425 for
Sebeka, and 187 for Freshwater Education District. Enrollment trends vary by district, with
some experiencing growth and others experiencing long-term decline. These differences
reinforce the need for flexible planning that supports educational access, family retention,
and efficient use of facilities.
The county also benefits from nearby postsecondary and career training opportunities,
including Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena and Central Lakes
College in Staples. These institutions are important partners for workforce development,
career and technical education, and training programs aligned with local and regional
employment needs.

29

Total Enrollment by School District
Wadena County School Districts
2005-2006 through 2025-2026
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

VERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
SEBEKA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
MENAHGA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

All Grades
All Grades
All Grades

WADENA-DEER CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT All Grades
Freshwater Education District All Grades
STAPLES-MOTLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

All Grades

Source: MN Department of Education
Educational attainment in Wadena County is strong at the high school level. Among
residents age 25 and older, 92.6 percent have a high school diploma or higher, compared
with 93.9 percent statewide. Bachelor’s degree attainment is lower, with 19.8 percent of
county residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher compared with 39.4 percent
statewide.
Graph 3: Educational Attainment for Wadena County & Minnesota 2024, 25 years
and older

30

Educational Attainment
Wadena County, Minnesota
2024
Graduate or

Less than 9th grade
3%
9th to 12th grade, no
diploma
5%

professional degree
5%
Bachelor's degree
15%

High school graduate
(includes equivalency)
35%

Associate's degree
16%

Some college, no
degree
21%

Compared with nearby Counties, Wadena County has relatively high percentages of people
with a high school education and either some college education or Associate’s degrees, but
relatively low numbers of people with Bachelor’s degrees or higher.

Educational Attainment
Selected Counties
2024
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Becker County,
Minnesota

Cass County,
Minnesota

Hubbard County, Otter Tail County,
Minnesota
Minnesota

Todd County,
Minnesota

Less than 9th grade

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

High school graduate (includes equivalency)

Some college, no degree

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Graduate or professional degree

31

Wadena County,
Minnesota

INCOME – Per Capita - Wadena County’s per capita income remains below surrounding
counties and the statewide average. In 2024, per capita income was $32,541 in Wadena
County, compared with a surrounding-county range of approximately $33,830 to $41,842
and a statewide average of $48,237. Median household income was $61,467, compared
with $89,062 statewide. Median family income was $84,103, also below Minnesota’s
median family income of $113,993. These income patterns affect housing affordability,
transportation costs, access to services, and local economic development priorities.
Graph 4: Income for Wadena County & Nearby Counties

32

Median Income Wadena County’s 2024 median household income of $61,467 is lower than each
surrounding comparison county and substantially below the statewide median of $89,062.
Mean household income was $77,288, and mean family income was $95,040.
Additional income measures, including mean household income and family income, show
that Wadena County generally remains below surrounding counties and the statewide
average.

HOUSING INVENTORY –
Housing inventory can be measured in two related ways: total housing units and occupied
households. Total housing units include all residential units, whether occupied, vacant, or
used seasonally. Households include only occupied housing units. Both measures are
important for understanding housing supply, community growth, and the relationship
between population change and housing demand.
Wadena County has experienced slow but steady growth in both housing units and
households over the long term. Total housing units increased from 4,280 in 1970 to 7,021
in 2024, with the fastest growth occurring during the 1970s and more moderate growth in
recent decades. Since 2010, the county’s housing inventory has grown only modestly,
Surrounding counties have experienced similar long-term growth in housing units,
although the pace and pattern of growth differ by county. Regional housing trends are
influenced by employment access, lake and recreational amenities, retirement housing
demand, construction costs, and the availability of infrastructure and services.
Household growth has followed a similar pattern. The number of households increased
from 3,790 in 1970 to 5,962 in 2024, with faster growth in earlier decades and more
gradual increases in recent years.
Graph 6: Number of Household 1970 – 2010

33

Total Housing Units
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1970-2024
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Becker County

Cass County
1970

Hubbard County Otter Tail County

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Todd County

Wadena County

2024

Total Households
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1970-2024
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Becker County

Cass County
1970

1980

Hubbard County Otter Tail County
1990

2000

2010

2020

Todd County

Wadena County

2024

Source: US Census Bureau, Decennial Census; MN State Demographer, Historical estimates of
Minnesota, its Economic Development Regions, and its counties' population and households,
1990-2024 (released July 2025)
Note: 2020 data listed as not available. Figure was calculated as average of 2019 and 2021 data.

34

Structural Characteristics of Housing – Wadena County’s housing inventory is
dominated by single-family detached homes. In 2024, 5,434 of the county’s 7,021 housing
units, or approximately 77 percent, were one-unit detached structures. Manufactured
housing also remains an important part of the inventory, with 484 mobile homes reported.
Single-family attached units and two-family housing represented a small share of the total,
while multifamily housing accounted for approximately 11 percent.
Graph 7: Wadena County Structural Characteristics for Housing 2024

Units in Structure
Wadena County, Minnesota
2024
20 or more units Mobile home
4%

7%

Boat, RV, van, etc.
0%

10 to 19 units
3%
5 to 9 units
1%
3 or 4 units
3%
2 units
2%
1-unit, attached
3%

1-unit, detached
77%

Source:
US Census BureauYear Built –

Wadena County has a mixed-age housing stock. In 2024, 1,357 housing units were built in
1939 or earlier, and another 1,357 were built between 1940 and 1969. The largest single
decade category was 1970–1979, with 995 units. Only 67 units were reported as built in
2020 or later.
Table 6: Number of Housing Units by Year Built

Year Built

Housing Units

Total housing units

7,021

Built 2020 or later

67

Built 2010 to 2019

635

35

Built 2000 to 2009

798

Built 1990 to 1999

732

Built 1980 to 1989

691

Built 1970 to 1979

995

Built 1960 to 1969

780

Built 1950 to 1959

606

Built 1940 to 1949

360

Built 1939 or earlier 1,357

Housing Year Built
Wadena County, Minnesota
2024
Built 1939 or earlier
19%

Built 2020 or later
1%

Built 2010 to 2019
9%
Built 2000 to 2009
11%

Built 1940 to 1949
5%
Built 1990 to 1999
11%

Built 1950 to 1959
9%

Built 1960 to 1969
11%

Built 1970 to 1979
14%

Built 1980 to 1989
10%

Source: US Census Bureau

Source: US Census Bureau
Value of Owner-occupied Housing 2010 – Owner-occupied housing values have
increased over time, but Wadena County remains more affordable than Minnesota and
most nearby lake-oriented counties. In 2024, the median owner-occupied housing value in
Wadena County was $173,000, compared with $329,300 statewide. Nearby comparison
counties had higher median values, ranging from $207,700 in Todd County to $291,000 in
Becker County.
Table 7: Value of Owner-occupied Housing Units 2024
36

Housing Value - Owner-Occupied Units
Selected Counties
2024
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Becker County,
Minnesota

Cass County,
Minnesota

Hubbard County,
Minnesota

Otter Tail County,
Minnesota

Todd County,
Minnesota

Wadena County,
Minnesota

Less than $50,000

$50,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$150,000 to $199,999

$200,000 to $299,999

$300,000 to $499,999

$500,000 to $999,999

$1,000,000 or more

Source: US Census Bureau
Occupancy - In 2024, Wadena County had 7,021 total housing units, including 6,081
occupied units and 940 vacant units. Owner-occupied units accounted for 4,474 occupied
units, while renter-occupied units accounted for 1,607. The homeowner vacancy rate was
0.3 percent, and the rental vacancy rate was 1.3 percent.
Graph 8: Housing Units in Wadena County 2000 – 2010

Housing Occupancy
Wadena County
2024
8,000

7,021

7,000

6,081

6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000

940

1,000
0
Total housing units

Occupied housing units

37

Vacant housing units

Housing Tenure
Wadena County
2024
5,000

4,474

4,000
3,000
1,607

2,000
1,000
0
Owner-occupied

Renter-occupied

Source: US Census Bureau
Persons Per Household – Average household size in Wadena County has declined over
the long term, reflecting demographic change and a growing number of smaller
households. Countywide persons per household declined from 2.44 in 2000 to 2.34 in 2010
and was 2.36 in 2024. Wadena County’s average household size is comparable to several
surrounding counties and lower than Todd County.
Table 8: Persons per Household for Wadena & Surrounding Counties 1970-2024

Persons Per Occupied Household
Wadena County and Surrounding Counties
1970-2024
3.4
3.2
3
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Becker County

Cass County

Hubbard County

Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

38

2024

County

2000 2010 2020 2024

Becker County

2.49

2.42

2.40

2.38

Cass County

2.45

2.37

2.34

2.36

Hubbard County 2.44

2.34

2.35

2.32

Otter Tail County 2.45

2.33

2.33

2.34

Todd County

2.58

2.52

2.48

2.53

Wadena County 2.44

2.34

2.32

2.36

39

SECTION 4: Natural Resources
This section is a compilation of available natural resources data to aid in decision making
and directing physical planning and development in Wadena County. For the purposes of
this document, natural resources are the geology, water, soil, vegetation, and topography of
Wadena County.
SOILS, VEGETATION, AND TOPOGRAPHY
The soils in Wadena County are formed in glacial till, in material sorted out of glacial
meltwater, and in organic matter. About 60% of the soils were formed in sandy and
gravelly outwash, 25% in glacial till, and 15% in organic matter.
The Wadena drumlin field of the Wisconsin Glaciation is the most recent evidence of glacial
action in the county. At one time, this drumlin field extended across the entire county in a
northeast to southwest alignment. The meltwater from more recent glacial events has
significantly altered the appearance of the drumlin field. The most evident drumlins are in
the west-central part of the county, near Sebeka and Blue Grass. The landscape is gently
sloping. Blowers, Paddock, Rockwood, and Runeberg soils formed in the glacial till on the
Drumlins.
Two distinct glacial outwash areas are in the county. One area of outwash is generally
north and east of the drumlin field and the Red Eye and Leaf Rivers. It extends into
Hubbard and Cass Counties. It is dominantly sand, some of which is fine or coarse, and
small amounts of gravel. The landscape is nearly level to gently sloping, except along the
rivers.
Another distinct area of outwash is south of the Leaf River, and it extends into Todd County
and the southeastern part of Otter Tail County. The outwash in this area consists of
calcareous sand and gravel which is dominantly sand and coarse sand with moderate
amounts of gravel. Carbonates are leached to a depth of about four feet. The landscape in
this area is also nearly level to gently sloping with sand covered drumlins existing there as
well. Dorset, Nymore, Verndale, Oylen, and Forado soils formed in this outwash material.
The organic material in the County consists of herbaceous plant material. Soils that formed
in this material have a high water table. Plants such as cattails, sedge, reeds, grasses and
some shrubs thrive in these soils. Because the high water table affects the rate of
decomposition, materials from these plants accumulate faster than they decompose. The
organic material is eight inches to more than seven feet thick, and is moderately
decomposed to highly decomposed. The organic soils are in depressions, potholes, and
broad drainage ways through the County. Seelyville, Rifle, Markey and Cathro mucks are
examples of the soils in these areas.
Erosion Prone Soils – The Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) classification of
erosion prone soils include those prone to either wind or water where there is a soil loss of
“T” (3 to 5 tons of soils loss per acre per year). Presently the County has about 20,683 acres
of high priority wind erosion, on about 129,400 acres of cropland. The severest problem is
found on cropland located in the southern one-third of the county on soil classes SSWD and
SLWD (example, Verndale-Nymore-Forada association) and also in the northern half of the
County on soil classes SSWL and SSPL. The irrigated acres are of special concern with
40

regard to wind erosion. (Soil Definitions: H=Water, S=Sand, L=Loam, P=Poorly drained,
W=Well drained, A=Alluvial (floodplain) Peat (high organic)
Original Vegetation – The original vegetation of Wadena County reflected its position
within the transition zone from the “great prairie” to the “big woods”. According to the
original survey done during the time period of 1847- 1907, the most dominant vegetation
was the conifer forest with a mixture of Jack Pine, Red Pine, Oak and Hazel. Nearly fifty
percent of the County ranging from the north, middle, and eastern parts of the County was
covered with it. The western edge of the county was covered with a Boreal HardwoodConifer Forest mixture containing Aspen,
Birch, Balsam, Fir, White Spruce, and White Cedar. The southeastern corner of the County
was covered with a mixture of prairie grasses and wetland grasses. and vary in distance.
Closed depressions are common in the outwash. The outwash plains make up about 70% of
the county.
In the northwest part of Wadena County, the drumlin field has an elevation of about 1,510
feet, which is the highest area in the county. The lowest area, which is about 1,225 feet, is
along the southeast corner of the county. The mean elevation for the county is at about
1,350. All the runoff in the county eventually will flow into the Crow Wing River and its
tributaries. The major tributaries are the Cat, Leaf, Partridge, Red Eye, Shell, and Wing
Rivers.
Watersheds in the county contain series of depressions rather than through a carved valley.
GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES
Topography – Wadena County is divided into two distinct areas, the Wadena drumlin field
and the outwash plains.
The drumlin field is dominantly in the west-central part of the
county. A few small areas are in the eastern and southern parts. The drumlins are nearly
level to sloping. Slopes are smooth and are short to moderately long. The drumlin fields
make up about 30% of the county. The sandy outwash areas are dominantly level to gently
sloping except where they are adjacent to rivers and lakes. Slopes are smooth
All of Wadena County is underlain by Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks that are
from 100 to 400 feet below a glacial till layer. This bedrock layer does not have any water
aquifers except locally in faults and fractures.
Aquifer Systems – Most ground water in the county is in pores or openings between
particles of sand and gravel in glacial outwash or glacial till. The thickness of the saturated
area is as much as 70 feet, but it averages about 36 feet. Some areas do not have a saturated
zone. The ground water is shallow in the outwash areas because the thick layers of glacial
till restrict the downward movement of water. In areas that have glacial till above and
below outwash sand and gravel, well water is available in lenses of sand and gravel within
the glacial till. In Wadena County well yields of up to 1000 gallons per minute in the thicker
saturated aquifers are common. Most water throughout the county is of the calcium
bicarbonate type and is normally suitable for most purposes, although certain uses may
require water treatment. Recharge of the water aquifers is done primarily by precipitation.
Most discharge occurs as evapotranspiration, base flow is to the Crow Wing River on the
eastern side of the county, and base flows to other smaller streams and lakes.
41

Gravel Deposits – Wadena County has significant gravel deposits throughout the County.
Existing pits have been mapped as recently as 2002 by the state and the state is currently
engaged in mapping untapped gravel deposits throughout much of the state, with Wadena
County being identified (as of May 2026) as having requested mapping as time and
resources are available.
Watersheds – Wadena County has three major watersheds as defined by the State of
Minnesota – with the County being an active partner in the Crow Wing and Red Eye
Watersheds but having lesser involvement in the Long Prairie Watershed due to its
relatively small coverage of the County:
CROW WING: Sixty-nine watersheds from Wadena County drain into the Crow Wing River.
Presently, the state has it classified as a Canoeing River. Mostly a forested river, population
along this river is sparse. There is one city located along its banks, however, it is quite small
and does not have community sewer and water.
RED EYE: The Red Eye River is a tributary of the Crow Wing River and has 25 watersheds.
It flows through some major farming areas and one community which does have sewer and
water services.
LONG PRAIRIE: The smallest of the three watersheds, the Long Prairie river only has one
watershed located within Wadena County.
Protected Waters, Ditches, and Control Structure
The protected waters inventory is divided by state regulation into two categories: waters
and wetlands. There are 29 lakes in Wadena County which occupy a total of 3343 acres.
There are 32 wetlands with a total of 907 acres and 23 natural and altered natural
watercourses which are protected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR). These numbers are from the final inventory for Wadena County dated July 5, 1984.
The DNR is responsible for issuing protected waters permits. The biggest protected water
is Blueberry Lake with 555 acres and the smallest is 10 acres and is unnamed. Wadena
County shares four lakes that are inventoried in two other counties, two in Cass County and
two in Hubbard County. The following is a listing of lakes located in Wadena County:
Lakes In Wadena County
Lake Name

**Lake Location

Lake Number

Radebaugh Lake

T-134 R-33 S-1

80-2

Simon Lake

T-134 R-33 S-12

80-3

Lovejoy Lake

T-134 R-33 S-16/21

80-4

Unnamed

T-135 R-33 S-1/2

80-8

Sand Lake

T-135/136 R-33 S-1/36

80-11

Granning Lake

T-136 R-33 S-16

80-12

Strike Lake

T-136 R-33 S-16/17

80-13

42

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-10/11/14/15

80-15

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-12

80-16

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-17

80-17

Burgeon Lake

T-138 R-33 S-32/33

80-18

Round Lake

T-138/139 R-33 S-4/33

80-19

Yaeger Lake

T-137 R-34 S-3/4/9/10

80-22

Mud Lake

T-137 R-34 S-8/9

80-23

Rice Lake

T-137 R-34 S-9/16

80-24

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-14/23

80-26

Jim Cook Lake

T-138 R-34 S-19/20/29/30

80-27

Finn Lake

T-138 R-34 S-22/23

80-28

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-23/24

80-29

Lower Twin

T-138 R-34 S-6/1

80-30

Blueberry

T-138 R-35 S-2/3/9/10/11

80-34

Stocking

T-138 R-35 S-13/14/23

80-37

Spirit

T-138 R-35 S-21/22/27/28

80-39

Unnamed

T-136 R-33 S-16/17

80-48

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-15/22

80-50

Unnamed

T-138 R-33 S-19

80-52

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-1/2

80-57

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-14

80-61

Unnamed

T-138 R-34 S-14

80-62

Unnamed

T-136 R-33 S-29/32

80-82

Farnham

T-135 R-32 S-18/13

11-513

Dry Sand

T-135/136 R-32/33 S-6/1/31/36

11-514

Duck

T-138/139 R-33/34 S-6/1/31/36

29-142

Upper Twin

T-138/139 R-34 S-6/31

29-157

**T=Township R=Range
S=Section

43

Wetlands – The 1987 Soil Survey of Wadena County lists 46 different soil descriptions for the
County. Of these, 17 have a drainage class of very poorly drained to poorly drained. These 17 soil
types make up 30.5% of the County lands for a total of 109,355 acres. Wadena County is considered
among the counties in the state of Minnesota who still have 80% or greater original wetlands
existing within their borders.

There are six controlled wetland areas in Wadena County. Huntersville Water
Impoundments use four water control units to help maintain water levels. Stocking Creek
also has control units to help maintain water levels in Stocking Lake. Duck Lake is mostly in
Hubbard County. The control outlet is also located in Hubbard County.
Floodplains – The 1987 Soil Survey of Wadena County lists four different classes of soils
that flood frequently and they cover about 2.3% of the County, or 7,690 acres. Snow melt
and large thunder storms resulting in run off to rivers and streams are the main causes of
flooding. Wadena County expects to receive more accurate, updated mapping of the
floodplains within the County from the DNR within the next two years.
Wildlife Habitat - Several hundred acres of shallow and deep freshwater marshes and
wetlands exist in the County. These areas provide habitats for furbearers, such as muskrat,
mink, and beaver.
Wadena County is also home to big game animals like deer and bear. Bobcat, fox, coyote,
elk, cougars, wild turkey and timberwolves have been sighted or are prevalent in the
forested areas of the County. These areas also provide habitat for smaller animals such as
rabbits, squirrels, skunks, raccoon badgers and furbearing mammals. A wide variety of
songbirds and game type birds like pheasant and grouse occupy these areas as well as the
rural farm areas.
Public fishing is provided in most of the major lakes in the County as well as on the main
waterways of the Crow Wing, Shell, and Leaf Rivers and numerous other smaller bodies of
water and streams. The fish in these areas include Northern Pike, Bass, Walleye, and a
variety of panfish. Some coldwater streams support trout or have the potential to provide
habitats for trout. There are four designated trout streams in the County, those being: Cat
Creek, Farnham Creek, Hay Creek, and Union Creek. There are no designated trout lakes in
the County. “Designation” means that conditions are favorable for a trout habitat.
In addition to the fish, these water bodies, along with the numerous marshes and wetlands,
provide a habitat for a variety of waterfowl.
Soils also affect the kinds and amount of vegetation that is available to wildlife as food and
cover. Much of the county is made up of forest and agriculture lands which normally
provide enough food and cover for the wildlife that already exists in the County. Wildlife
habitats can also be created or improved by planting appropriate vegetation, by
maintaining the existing plant cover, or by promoting the natural establishment of
desirable plants.
Wildlife/Fish Management Areas – In Wadena County, between sportsman’s
organizations and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there are between
4,000 and 5,000 acres of managed Wildlife Areas.
Agency Resources – There are several agencies available from which to gather
44

information regarding Wadena County’s natural resources:
Soil & Water Conservation District Office 4 Alfred Street SE
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-3195, Ext. 4
Natural Resource Conservation Service 4 Alfred Street SE
Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-3195, Ext. 3
MN Dept. of Natural Resources Forestry Office
30066 Huntersville Road
Sebeka, MN 56477
(218) 472-3262
MN Dept. of Natural Resources
Wildlife Office
603 1st Street West
Park Rapids, MN 56470
(218) 732-8452

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

SECTION 5: Land Use

The scenic beauty of Wadena County’s approximate 543 square miles of area can be seen in
its abundant forests and its farm fields, across its open wetlands, and along the banks of the
beautiful Crow Wing River. These also offer a variety of recreational opportunities like
tubing and canoeing, hunting and fishing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding, to name a
few. The combination of these elements makes Wadena County an attractive place to live
and potentially work. This is evidenced by the fact that, although Wadena County has a
considerably lesser land mass than its surrounding Counties, its population density is
nearly as great as Becker, Todd and Ottertail Counties.
Since the initial adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in the early 1970’s, and subsequent
adoption of county-wide Zoning, Wadena County and its residents have taken a strong
stance on protecting its agricultural lands, the forests, the open spaces, the lakes and rivers,
and the recreational opportunities those resources provide, from development that might
prove to be harmful or detrimental to these resources. The residents of the County take a
great deal of pride in the land on which they live, and, for many, on the land by which they
make a living.
At the same time, the County recognizes the benefits that additional rural housing and
commercial/industrial development have for the community’s economic health and the
essential nature of making the County an attractive and welcoming place for new
development not just in its cities but also in its rural area. Balancing this desire for growth
and new development with the desire to preserve and protect the County’s agricultural and
natural resources is a primary goal of this Plan.
The purpose of a land use inventory is to quantify the existing development of the County.
From this inventory and other background information, areas for potential development,
the intensity of the development, and in some cases, the need to protect areas from
development, can be determined.
Table 10 - Total Land Area for Wadena & Surrounding Counties

52

Total Land Area for Wadena & Surrounding Counties

2025
Population
Land Area
(Sq. Mile)
Water Area
(Sq. Mile)
Density:
Persons/Sq.
Mile

Wadena
County

Todd
County

Otter Tail Cass County
County

Hubbard
County

Becker
County

14,388

26,060

61,041

31,430

22,369

35,497

536.35

945.10

19714.64

2021.49

926.03

1315.04

6.95

34.42

252.69

392.49

73.47

46.94

26.83

27.57

30.96

15.55

24.16

26.99

A review of the land mass that makes up Wadena County was accomplished in 2007 by the
DNR. Their research indicated a strong agricultural presence still exists within the County
with total cropland, pastureland, native pastures, hay land, irrigated land, barn lots, and
farmsteads alone making up 42% for the total acreage in the County, or 144,331 acres. The
influence of total acres determined to be coniferous forest, natural coniferous areas, mixed
woodlot forest, natural mixed areas, natural deciduous forest, and deciduous is greater still
with a total acres of 150,240.3, or 44% of the total land mass.
Below is the complete breakdown of land use according to the research that was
conducted:
Table 11: Wadena County Land Use Summary
Wadena County Land Use Summary
Acreage

% of
County

Abandoned Farmstead

156.8

0.05%

Gravel Pits

165.2

0.05%

RIM (Reinvest in MN)

349.9

0.10%

Altered Water

570.7

0.16%

Commercial / Industrial

1,017.1

0.29%

Recreation Land

1,159.8

0.33%

Community Service

1,197.7

0.34%

Barn Lots

1,727.5

0.50%

Wildlife Land

3,674.9

1.06%

53

Farmstead

3,715.8

1.07%

Natural Areas –
Coniferous

4,627.5

1.33%

Residential Land

4,933.8

1.42%

Water

5,558.8

1.60%

CRP

5,943.0

1.71%

Transportation Services

9,670.6

2.78%

Native Pastures

12,356.1

3.56%

Hay Land

15,991.7

4.60%

Deciduous Forest

17,340.4

4.99%

Irrigated Land

17,659.8

5.08%

Natural Areas - Grass

18,549.5

5.34%

Pasture Land

19,717.4

5.67%

Natural Areas - Deciduous

22,070.4

6.35%

Natural Areas - Mixed

23,980.8

6.90%

Mixed-Woodlot Forest

26,169.7

7.53%

Coniferous Forest

56,051.5

16.13%

Cropland

73,162.7

21.05%

Total

347,520.05

100.00%

AGRICULTURE LAND USE
Agriculture remains an important land use, economic activity, and part of Wadena County’s
rural identity. Agricultural lands support food and fiber production, farm-related
employment, equipment and service businesses, and the rural landscape valued by
residents. Agriculture also influences transportation needs, drainage systems, land use
compatibility, natural resource management, and the long-term character of rural
townships.
Consistent with broader state and national trends, Wadena County has experienced a longterm decline in both land in farms and the number of farms. At the same time, the average
size of remaining farms has generally increased, indicating continued consolidation within
the agricultural sector. These trends have implications for farmland preservation, rural
housing development, road use, drainage, and the ability of smaller and beginning farmers
to access land.
According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, land in farms in Wadena County declined from
54

191,372 acres in 1978 to 123,335 acres in 2022. The number of farms declined from 1,590
in 1950 to 442 in 2022. Over the same general period, average farm size increased from
179 acres in 1950 to 279 acres in 2022, despite some fluctuation in intermediate decades.
These changes indicate that agriculture continues to be an important land use, but one that
is operating on fewer farms and a smaller overall land base than in the past.
Several factors have contributed to these long-term changes, including mechanization,
commodity markets, federal farm policy, crop insurance programs, land values, and
changing farm economics. These forces have generally favored larger operations and
increased capital investment in land and equipment. For county planning purposes, the key
consideration is how to support a viable agricultural economy while managing rural
residential growth, protecting productive land, and reducing conflicts between farm and
non-farm uses.
Although the number of farms and acres in farms have declined, agriculture continues to
generate significant economic value in Wadena County.
Between 2012 and 2022, the total market value of agricultural products sold in Wadena
County increased from $57.49 million to $105.64 million. Crop sales increased from $35.8
million to $59.7 million, while livestock sales increased from $21.7 million to $45.9 million.
Average market value of agricultural products sold per farm increased from $89,402 in
2012 to $293,002 in 2022. While annual values can fluctuate because of commodity prices,
weather, input costs, and market conditions, these figures show that agriculture remains a
significant contributor to the county’s economy and should be considered in land use,
transportation, infrastructure, and economic development decisions.
The tables and graphs below give the averages and the actual numbers and depict the trend
accordingly.
Table and Graph 12: Total Estimated Farm Land in Wadena County

Land in Farms
Wadena County
1974-2022
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
1974

1978 1982

1987

1992 1997

55

2002

2004 2012

2017

2022

Number of Farms
Wadena County
1950-2022
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
1950 1960 1970 1980 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 2022

Table 13 – Average Size of Farms in Wadena County by Acreage 1950 – 2022

Average Size of Farms
Wadena County
1950-2022
300

200
150
100
50

Number of Farms

250

1950 1960 1970 1980 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017 2022

Acreage

56

Graph 15: Farms by

Number of Farms by Farm Size
Wadena County
2012-2022
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1 to 9 ac

10 to 49 ac

50 to 179 ac 180 to 499 ac 500 to 999 ac

2012

2017

1000 ac or
more

2022

Total Ag Parcels – According to the Wadena County Assessor’s assessment for 2026, there
are a total of 14,666 parcels of property in Wadena County. Of those parcels, 2,177 were
classified as some form of agricultural, down from about 2,430 total parcels in 2012. An
additional 4,597 parcels are identified as rural vacant or in some form of forestry. There
are a total of 284,800 acres tied to those parcels, or 79% of the total land mass of the
County.
The breakdown of those acres into different categories
of use is shown in the graph below.
Irrigation – A noticeable difference in the agriculture industry has been the addition of
irrigation to farm fields. In 1978, a total of 7,786 acres was irrigated in the County, but by
2022 those acres have increased to 32,840 acres. Irrigated acres have continued to grow in
the county with more commercialized agri-business purchasing land within Wadena
County and surrounding counties and adding irrigation wells and center pivots. As the size
of farms increase, the County can probably anticipate more growth in the number of
irrigated acres in the future.

Market Values of Ag Products – Agriculture has and still does provide a great deal of
income to Wadena County. According to the United States Department of Agriculture
census from 2022, the market value of agricultural products sold in Wadena County was
$105,639,000. This number is up from 2007 with a reported $39,945,000, increasing the
average farm product market value per farm from $60,798 to $293,002 over that same
time period. Livestock market values from the County made up approximately 56.5% of the
total agricultural market value in 2022 with 43.5% being from crop sales. This reflects a
narrowing gap since 2007 where the split was 64 to 34 percent.
Graph 17: Market Value of Production on Wadena County Farms

57

55

Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold
Wadena County
2012-2022
$70,000,000

$59,702,000

$60,000,000
$45,937,000

$50,000,000
$40,000,000

$35,827,000
$29,866,000

$30,000,000

$22,978,000
$21,658,000

$20,000,000
$10,000,000
$Crops

Livestock
2012

2017

2022

Average Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold
Wadena County
2012-2022
$350,000
$293,002

$300,000
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000

$102,411

$89,402

$50,000
$Avg Per Farm
2012

2017

2022

Residentially used parcels account for approximately 25.8% of all of the parcels in the rural
areas of the County (those parcels located outside of its cities). According to the Wadena
County Assessor’s Office, there are total of 2,578 rural parcels which carry some sort of
residential classification. Of these parcels, 2,426 parcels are classified as single unit
dwellings. A total of only 6 parcels have up to 3 units attached and an additional four
parcels contain manufactured home parks..
Primarily, rural residences and farmsteads are scattered along the County’s road network.
Table 10 above depicts the population density for Wadena County. Although the County’s
population is considerably less than surrounding counties, its population density is higher,
or, nearly as high as those counties because the land mass is so much smaller.

58

New residential development occurs primarily in or near the city limits of any particular
venue and is encouraged to do so through the Counties current Comprehensive and
Land Use Plan.
The greatest amount of residential development in recent years has occurred around the
city of Menahga in Blueberry Township. There has also been a noticeable amount of
development along the Crow Wing River 57
where the Potlatch Corporation, previously
known as the Northwest Paper Company, had divided ¼ ¼ section tracts of land into two
parcels for the purpose of land sales with access to the river. Most of the tracts purchased
from Potlatch have some form of building site located on them with approved onsite
sewage treatment system. Others were purchased for resale and have not yet been
developed.
Other development that is occurring in the county presents itself in the single division of a
¼ ¼ section or government lot. Smaller tracts of land in rural areas are in the greatest
demand as lenders prefer to hold mortgages on 5 acres tracts and less when lending to
construct a non-farm, residential homestead.
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Commercial and industrial land use in Wadena County accounts for approximately 1% of
the overall land mass in Wadena County. According to records provided by the Wadena
County Assessor’s Office, 124 parcels of land are associated with some type of commercial
use and another 15 are classified as having industrial uses.. These figures do not include 12
golf course parcels, 6 resort parcels, 8 “Ma and Pa” resort parcels and various other
incidental commercial or industrial uses. Although there are several Industrial Zones
outlined in the County, there is only one industrial park located outside of the city limits of
a municipality. This park was developed with three phase power in the early 2000’s by the
local electrical cooperative. To date, there are two businesses located within the industrial
park.
FORESTED LAND USE
Wadena County has a total of 332 parcels Classified as “Managed Forest Land” and another
190 parcels classified as “Sustainable Forest”. Numerous acres associated to agriculture
also contain forest or woodlot land use as well as thousands of acres of forest owned and
administered
by
the
Department of Natural Resources, State of Minnesota. Although the forestry industry has
suffered decreases in Wadena County for several years, various public and private forestry
practices continue to be a part the land use and economy .
PUBLIC LAND USE
Several thousands of acres are also available to the public. Wadena County is home to the
Huntersville and Lyons State Forests, 10 county campgrounds with adjoining lands for
hiking, and a number of state administered wildlife management areas and parks. There
are also several hundred acres associated with the public school systems in Wadena
County, churches, and townships.
Additionally, Wadena County obtained 3,355 acres of land in 2025 from a much larger
59

amount of forestry land that The Conservation Fund purchased from the PotlatchDeltic
Corporation in 2020 in an effort to conserve forest land in the area. Funding for the
purchase was received through the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage grant and Wadena
County worked with The Conservation Fund, Northern Waters Land Trust, the DNR and
seven other counties to acquire the land – a process that took almost five years to complete.
This purchase helps ensure restoration, protection, and enhancement of wetlands, prairies,
forests, game, and wildlife, preventing forest fragmentation, and encouraging forest
consolidation. Other benefits, in the form of income generated, will offset the cost to
taxpayers through sustainable management of these forested parcels, and provide public
access to these areas for the enjoyment of the outdoors.

60

*Zoning Districts are defined on page 61.
61

Zoning Districts
A-1
Transitional Agriculture – Provides a district that will: 1) provide a buffer
between communities and general agricultural land uses; 2) provides for orderly urban
development and expansion in conjunction with the approved Wadena County
Comprehensive Plan; 3) prevents scattered, non-farm growth; and 4) secures economy in
governmental expenditures for public services, utilities and schools.

Mixed Agriculture and Forestry – Establishes a district suitable for livestock and
cash crop farming activities, and commercial timber removal in productive forest areas;
prevents scattered, non-farm development in out-county areas.

A-2

General Agriculture – Provides a district allowing suitable areas of Wadena
County to be retained for general farming activities including cash crop products and
animal husbandry; regulates the encroachment on agriculture land by non-farm land uses.
A-3

Highway Service Business District – Provides a district that will: 1) allow
compact and convenient limited highway-oriented business, closely related to existing
urban areas in the County, and 2) provides development standards that will not impair the
traffic-carrying capabilities of abutting roads and highways.

B-1

B-2
General Business District – Provides a district that will retain and allow general
commercial uses in the small, unincorporated urban communities in the County.

General Industry District – Intended to provide a district that will allow compact,
convenient, limited highway-oriented industry closely related to existing urban areas in the
County and at standards that will not impair the traffic-carrying capabilities of abutting
roads and highways. It is recognized that industrial uses are an important part of the
County’s land use pattern. The regulations for this district are intended to encourage
industrial development that is compatible with surrounding or abutting districts.
I-1

R-1
Suburban Residence District – Provides a district that will allow low-density
residential development and on-lot utilities in areas adjacent to urban development, but
where municipal utilities are not available.

RA Recreational District – Reserves appropriate areas within Wadena County for
recreation areas; to retain existing recreation areas for public use; to prevent development
that would adversely affect new and existing recreation areas, provided that purposes
herein stated shall not restrict the use of adjoining lands classified or zoning as agriculture
districts. All recreation areas created shall contain a minimum of 20 acres.
S-1 Shoreland Overlay District – Provides a district that will: 1) allow for the wise
utilization of the shoreland resources of Wadena County, and 2) provide shoreland
development guidelines consistent with MN Statutes, Chapter 105, and MN Rules Chapter
6120.

62

63

64

65

SECTION 6: Economic Development
LABOR FORCE - EMPLOYMENT
According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
(DEED), Wadena County has a labor force of an estimated 6,709 people as of May 2026.
Since 1976 that number has been as low as an estimated 5,684 in January 1992, and as high
as an estimated 7,526 in November of 1999.
The unemployment rate for Wadena County as of May 2026 was 4.9%. Since 1976, the rate
has varied from as low as 2.2% in September and October of 2022 to as high as 13.5% in
March 2009. Over those years, the unemployment rate has averaged 6.4% with spikes also
occurring in the winter months of each year due to employment opportunities that are
seasonal in nature.
In comparison, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the State of Minnesota had a
4.0% unemployment rate as of May 2026. The state of Minnesota, as a whole, does not
necessarily experience the highs and lows in the unemployment rate due to the winter
months and seasonal employment, rather, it maintains a more steady existence and moves
up and down with more consistency.
(Coordinating with Human Services to update this section) According to the Wadena
County Human Services Department, while the number of households receiving food
support assistance has increased by 40% since 2008, the number of households receiving
Minnesota Family Investment and Diversionary Work Program assistance has gone down.
In 2008, the number of households receiving this form of assistance numbered 107, with
that number actually increasing over the next 3 years, but then dropping back to 103 in
2012. Households receiving Medical Assistance and General Assistance Medical Care,
however, increased by 10% from 2008. This could be directly attributed to the current
economy, with its increased cost of living and jobs available that do not include medical
benefits.
The labor force for Wadena County, according to the Minnesota State Demographics Center,
is projected to grow over the next several years to an estimated 6,720 and then gradually
come back down below even the current labor force numbers to an estimated 6,380. The
following graph breaks these numbers down by age as well. It is anticipated that a larger
number of people will continue to work past the normal retirement age of 65 presumably
due to a higher cost of living and medical insurance needs.
Graph 18 – Wadena County Labor Force Projections 2010-2035

66

3,000

Wadena County Labor Force Projections by Age
Group 2010-2035

2,500
16 – 24

2,000

25 – 44
45 – 64

1,500

65+
1,000
500
0
2010

2015

2020

2025

2030

2035

Source: Minnesota State Demographics Center, Labor Force Projections 2010-2035
http://www.demography.state.mn.us/documents/MinnesotaLaborForceProjections20052
035.pdf
RETAIL TRADE
In the early 1970’s, Wadena County adopted its first Comprehensive Land Use Plan and
Zoning Ordinances that encouraged trade and industry to take place in those areas
designated for such business. It allows for smaller business, Mom and Pop type operations,
to take place in other zoning districts through a process known as Conditional Use. Even so,
Wadena County does not boast a tremendous amount of trade and industry. According to
the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the
County’s largest source of employment comes from the Education and Health Services
industry with average employment for 2025 of 2,196 employees. Trade, Transportation
and Utilities comes in second with 1,265 employees followed by Manufacturing at 445.
When looking at average quarterly wages for 2025, the largest source of wages comes
from the same three industries – Education and Health Services at $125,713,472 in wages,
Trade, Transportation and Utilities at $60,188,562 and Manufacturing at $26,491,408.
Reviewing industry size based on the number of establishments for 2025, Trade,
Transportation and Utilities comes out at the top (94 establishments), followed by
Education and Health Services (88) and Construction (66).
Another source of data is the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census, which reported
the following core economic statistics for Wadena County economic activity:
67

Table 18- Core Economic Statistics in Wadena County
Core Economic Statistics in Wadena County
Number of
Establishments

Value of Sales,
Receipts,
Shipments, or
Business

Number of
Employees

Annual Payroll
($1,000)

Done ($1,000)

Manufacturing

23

65,566

357

16,678

Wholesale Trade

13

381,827

439

25,892

Retail Trade

63

238664

687

17,318

Information

8

19,629

66

3,290

Real Estate and
rental and leasing

10

3,094

0-19

611

Professional,
Scientific,

95
18

14,102

11

N/A

N/A

Technical Services
Administrative and
SupportServices

20-99

Health Care &

N/A

57,601

Social Assistance

46

139,632

986

Arts,
Entertainment,

N/A

N/A

20-99

N/A

Accommodation &
Food Service

32

19,940

364

5,480

Other Services

27

17,095

135

3,406

and Recreation

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census

68

INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Wadena County has a number of Industrial Parks scattered throughout its boundaries. All
but one are located in the city limits of a municipality. The County had one industrial
rezoning east of Wadena, in Wadena Township, along U.S, Highway 10. This particular
development was accomplished by the local electrical cooperative, who supplies 3-phase
power to the site.
Sebeka Industrial Park
Located on Industrial Park Road just west of US Highway 71 off of County Road 8, the
Industrial Park is owned by the Sebeka Economic Development Authority (SEDA) and is a
total of approximately 50 acres in size.
Services available at the industrial park include electricity only. Onsite sewage treatment
and private wells would serve any new development.
The City of Sebeka has some funding available in a revolving loan fund to assist new or
expanding business.
Wadena Industrial Parks
The 60 acre Wadena Industrial Park is located on the east side U.S. Highway 71 south with
49 acres developed and services including: sewer, water, storm sewer, gas, electricity, and
telecommunication capability. There are 12 businesses located in the park that employ
around 118 people.
The 28 acre publicly owned Wadena Business Park is located on the west side of Highway
71 south with 4 developed acres and services including: electricity, gas, and
telecommunication capability available. There are 2 businesses located there which employ
6 people. In both of these industrial parks lot sizes vary and Zoning regulations apply.
The City of Wadena has a variety of options available to assist new business and
development within the city. Some of these include: the City Fix-up Loan, tax abatement,
JOBZ Tax Free Development, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the WDA Revolving Loan
Fund, and the MIF Loan Fund.
Staples Industrial Park
The City of Staples Industrial Park is located in the Wadena County portion of the city on
Prairie Avenue West and includes the original industrial park property which is now fully
developed and an additional 154 acres that is owned by the Staples Economic Development
Authority for future development. The EDA Industrial Park is not yet platted which allows
for flexibility to meet the needs of new businesses locating there. Water, sewer, electricity,
natural gas, fiber and phone services are all available in the park. The park houses 7
manufacturing business which employ in excess of 100 people.
The City of Staples Economic Development Authority and the City of Staples can provide a
variety of options to assist business expansion and/or development. These options include:
Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Tax Abatement, Business Financing, and subsidized land
purchasing. Additionally, a variety of business revolving loan funds are available to assist
69

businesses including the Staples EDA, North Central Economic Development Association,
Initiative Foundation, and Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative.
Another attribute to industry in the City of Staples and Wadena County as a whole is the
Central Lakes College training programs such as: Robotics, Machine Tool Technology,
Diesel Mechanics, Heavy Equipment Operations and Maintenance, Welding and many more.
Companies have located in the proximity of Staples in order to have direct access to the
best trained workforce in Central Minnesota.
Menahga Industrial Park
The City of Menahga Industrial Park is located in the south-central portion of the city and
includes the plats: Menahga Industrial Park and Southgate First Addition. It consists of 95
acres with 5 vacant lots available for development through the city and one tax forfeited lot
that can be acquired through Wadena County. Lot sizes vary between .7 and 5 acres and
have access to sewer, electricity, natural gas, fiber, and phone services and readily available
access from U.S. Highway 71. There are currently 11 manufacturing and service oriented
businesses in the park.
A variety of options are available through the City of Menahga to assist with business
expansion or development. These include: Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the Initiative
Foundation, North Central Economic Development Association, Todd-Wadena Electric
Cooperative, and several business revolving loan funds from the City.
Verndale, Nimrod, & Aldrich
Although the City of Verndale has areas and services available for industry, they do not
have a developed Industrial Park.
The cities of Nimrod and Aldrich do not have Industrial Parks, neither do they provide city
sanitary and water services.
New Residential and Other Development in Wadena County
Since 2013, three new residential plats have been approved in the County – all in Blueberry
Township around Menahga. These include Blueberry Pines CIC with 8 twin homes and 13
single family dwellings completed; Opal Acres with 14 lots; and most recently in 2025
Blueberry Lands CIC with a proposed 32 units in a combination of twin homes and single
family homes. These are in addition to the four new developments in the unincorporated
areas to the north of Menahga, in Blueberry Township, that were noted in the 2013
Comprehensive Plan. Those plat names are: Deer Haven, Pine Haven, Forest Haven, and
Tall Timbers. They are residential, single dwelling developments with individual onsite
sewage treatment and individual wells. The lots are a minimum 80,000 square feet and
varying up from there in size. These developments range from three to eight lots.
Four new developments were also approved north of Staples, in Thomastown Township, in
close proximity to the Crow Wing River. The plat names are: River Ridge Addition, Vintage
Villas, First Addition to Pine Valley Estates, and Pine Ridge Estates. Three of these
developments are residential, single dwelling developments with individual onsite sewage
treatment and individual wells. The lots are a minimum 80,000 square feet and varying up
70

from there in size. One of these developments consists of five lots, another of eight lots, and
another of seven lots. The other development is a Planned Unit Development (PUD)
consisting of twelve lots with six duplex-style townhomes. For this development, a
clustered onsite sewage treatment system was designed and installed along with private
water sources. An association was also formed to govern the PUD, the operation &
maintenance of the septic system, and the management of the green space.
City of Wadena
Since 1999, the City of Wadena has added water and sanitary services, along with
electricity, curb and gutter to another 19 lots in Folkestad’s East, which is a development
that was platted in 1981 located in the southeast portion of the city. There are 16 lots
available in this newest phase of the plat to receive services.
Another new development in the City of Wadena is White Tail Estates near the White Tail
Run golf course located north on Highway 71. There are 25 lots available in this plat with
lot sizes varying. The roads are developed; however, no services are available. Individual
septic systems and wells would be installed to serve each site.
Since 1999, the City of Wadena has also completed a 4005 feet, hard surface runway
airport, and the Chamber of Commerce completed a downtown beautification program.
City of Staples
The City of Staples has seen a lot of growth over the past 10 years, much of it in the Wadena
County portion of the City. In addition, Farmer’s Union Processing and Meats and Voyager
Industries have recently built or expanded in the City.
Lakewood Health Systems also expanded their Care Center which is located in the Wadena
County portion of the City. It is a 100-bed long-term care facility which has been recently
renovated and includes services such as: dialysis, pharmacy, rehabilitation nursing,
spiritual care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, oxygen and IV therapy, speech
therapy, and psychiatric services, to name a few.
City of Sebeka
Since 1999, the City of Sebeka has added and developed Northern Acres Estates. This is a
publicly owned development with 25 lots in three blocks. The lots vary somewhat in size,
however, most lots are about 11,085 square feet in area and have municipal water and
sewer, utilities, and street curb and gutter. There are currently 17 lots available in
Northern Acres Estates.
City of Menahga
New residential development in the City of Menahga in the past 10 years consists of a
residential plat in the northeasterly portion of the City, all have access to electricity, natural
gas, fiber and phone services, but would require individual onsite sewage treatment
systems and private wells. The Menahga Development Corporation has also purchased an
71

additional 40 acres for anticipated residential, single family housing development.
The cities of Verndale, Aldrich and Nimrod have not had any newly platted residential
areas in more than 10 years.
COMMERCIAL ZONING
In 2025, the Wadena County Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning of extensive
areas to commercial/business zoning in an effort to facilitate business growth in the
County. Along the majority of most of the County’s major transportation corridors – for a
distance of 660 feet (1/8 mile)_on either side – land has been zoned for commercial uses.
These include US Highway 10 running through the southern portion of the County, State
Highway 71 running through the western portion of the County and State Highway 87 west
of Menahga – as well as areas of County Road 23 running north and south of Verndale.
Additionally, large parts of Section 10 in Red Eye Township have been zoned B-2.

72

SECTION 7: Transportation
EXISTING SYSTEMS
Wadena County strives to maintain a safe and well constructed road system with
convenient circulation patterns for internal and external traffic movement throughout the
County.
The Wadena County Highway Department operates and maintains a 433 mile road system
in the County. 270 miles (62%) of this system consists of paved or also referred to as
bituminous surfaced roads.
The County highway system is publicly owned and is its largest asset. The paved portion of
the road
system accounts for the greatest part of this value and these routes serve as the primary
highways in the County. Wadena County currently invests approximately
$7.4 million dollars annually to maintain, improve, and preserve the highway system. Of
this amount, about $5.65 million is spent on pavement improvements and preservation.
Every year as these paved roads age they deteriorate more and their service life diminishes
from traffic use, weather, and environment.
Because the paved road system represents a significant investment, in 2008, Wadena
County chose to implement a Pavement Management Program to assist engineering with
making critical funding decisions.
Pavement Management – Pavement Management is the process of collecting, organizing,
and analyzing highway pavement data. These highway components include: length, width,
thickness, age, condition, strength, costs, history, and traffic counts. The data is analyzed
and combined with the highway department’s funding amounts and needs, along with
political considerations, to identify the most cost effective ways to maintain the paved
highway system in a satisfactory condition. A pavement management software program
can organize all of this data, forecast pavement conditions, analyze priorities, and create
budget “what-if” scenarios. These “what-if” results can find opportunities to provide a
higher level of service and save tax dollars.
Main Highways
The two main roadways within Wadena County are U.S. Highway 10 and U.S. Highway 71.
Highway 10 accommodates traffic in an east/west direction and passes through the County
connecting Staples to the east and Wadena to the west. Highway 71 runs in the north/south
direction connecting Menahga to the north and Wadena to the south. State Highway 29 is a
short segment within the County (.87 miles) that connects the community of Deer Creek in
Ottertail County with the city of Wadena. U.S. Highway 87 comes into Menahga from the
west and follows U.S. Highway 71 north out of the County.
Major Collectors in the County include: (ADT – Average Daily Traffic)
CSAH #2: 7.73 miles running east-west in Staples between Todd County at Aldrich and
Staples. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 118 and 793 vehicle trips.

73

CSAH #3: 1.46 miles running east-west in Staples between the Crow Wing River and 4th
Street. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 1,573 and 1,746 vehicle trips..
CSAH #4: 10.97 miles running east-west in between Highway 10 in Wadena and CSAH #26
north of Aldrich. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 433 and 1,578
vehicle trips.
CSAH #6: 4 miles running east-west between Highway #71 and CSAH #23. Average daily
traffic ADT for year 2024 was 519 vehicle trips.
CSAH #8: 2.99 miles running east-west between the Ottertail County line and Highway #71
at Sebeka. This road segment was CSAH #11 until 1997 when it was renumbered to
coincide with the Ottertail County numbering system. Average daily traffic ADT for year
2024 was between 1,061 and 1,464 vehicle trips.
CSAH #12: 15.34 miles running east-west connecting Sebeka and Nimrod and beyond to
the Cass County line. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 424 and 1,921
vehicle trips. CSAH #17: 4.39 miles running east-west between Menahga and CSAH #23.
Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 380 and 2,090 vehicle trips.
CSAH #18: 17.62 miles east-west and north-south between CSAH #23 and CSAH #12 at
Nimrod. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 158 and 289 vehicle
trips.CSAH #19: 3.30 miles running east-west between CSAH #18 and the Cass County line.
Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 102 vehicle trips.
CSAH #20: 5.01 miles running north and east between Highway #10 in Wadena and
Highway #71. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 4,811 vehicle trips.
CSAH #21: 6 miles running northeast- southwest between Highway #71 in Menahga and
CSAH #23 at the Hubbard County line. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was
between 459 and 1,655 vehicle trips. CSAH #23: 30.91 miles running north-south the
entire length of Wadena County. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 490
and 1,449 vehicle trips.
CSAH #25: 1.9 miles running north-south between the Hubbard County line and CSAH #18
at Huntersville. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 294 vehicle trips.
CSAH #26: 18.70 miles running north-south between Highway #10 near Aldrich and CSAH
#12 at Nimrod. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 316 and 480 vehicle
trips.
CSAH #30: 1.63 miles running south and east of Staples from CSAH No. 2 to 4th Street in
the City of Staples and 8.86 miles north-south from the City of Staples to CSAH #7. Average
daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was between 404 and 2,595 vehicle trips.
CSAH #53: .09 miles running north-south on Crooks Street between CSAH #17 and CSAH
#21 in Menahga. Average daily traffic ADT for year 2024 was 649 vehicle trips.

74

Minor Collectors:
There are 96.81 miles of minor collector routes on thirteen County State Aid Highways and
one county road. In general, these routes carry less than 200 ADT.
The table below shows all the miles of roads in the county according to their functional
classification.
Table 19 – Wadena County Highway Mileage by Functional Classification
Wadena County Highway Mileage by Functional Classification
Principal
Arterial

Minor Arterial

Major Collector

Minor Collector

Local

U.S. Trunk

45.188

-

-

-

-

MN Trunk

-

0.866

-

-

-

County State Aid

-

-

132.15

95.17

9.44

County

-

-

-

1.640

194.3

Township

-

-

-

0

371.57

Municipal Streets

-

-

-

-

63.116

State Forest

-

-

-

-

3.827

Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation, Roadway Data - Functional Classification
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadway/data/html/functional_class.html
Deficiencies: The preceding County State Aid Highway inventory shows approximately
54% of the Wadena County State Aid Highway system is deficient in design speed, cross
section, or structural capacity. This is down 29% from 1999 when the reported deficiencies
were at 76%. There are approximately:


4.1 miles (2%) deficiencies in all three categories;



70.2 miles (30%) are deficient in two categories;



1125 miles (53%) are NOT deficient in any of these categories.

Future County State Aid Highway projects will be programmed to continue to try to correct
deficiencies as surface conditions deteriorate and as construction funds become available.
Means of Transportation to Work: Of the 6,283 persons in the civilian labor force in
Wadena County the average length time it takes to travel to their employment is 22.5
minutes. This is very similar to the numbers generated in 1999 where the average travel
time to work was between 20 and 24 minutes. Although the means by which this work
force is traveling to their jobs has not changed, the numbers related to those means have
changed. The chart below indicates numbers reported by the US Census Bureau in 2010
and 2024.

75

Table 20 - Method of Transportation to Work
Number of
Persons

Number of
Persons

(2010)

(2024)

4,471

4,884

646

576

Public
Transportation

12

46

Walked

216

N/A

Other Means

69

N/A

Working at Home

417

526

Car, Truck, or
Van (Alone)
Car, Truck, or
Van (Carpooled)

Mean Travel Time to
Work
(Minutes)

22.5 (44.7%
N/A (58.2%
traveled 20
traveled 20
minutes or less)minutes or less)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community SurveyMeans of Transportation to work
by Selected Characteristics 2010 and 2024

76

Section 8: Facilities & Services
Wadena County, though small, provides a host of services necessary to support the resident
and business population within the County. Most of the information provided here was
received from the municipalities within the county and the school districts whose facilities
are housed within the boundaries of the County.
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS
The school facilities that serve Wadena County are provided by the Independent School
Districts (ISD):
Menahga Public School District #821
Facility Location: 216 Aspen Avenue
Menahga, MN 56464
Facility Contact Info: (218) 564-4141
www.menahga.k12.mn.us Superintendent: Ms. Mary Klamm Elementary Principal: Ms.
Ariana Wright High School Principal: Michelle Koch

77

Special Academic Programs
Menahga Public School promotes academic achievement through Project Lead the Way.
This is a pre-engineering program in grades 5th, 7th, and 8th, with 9th through 12th grades
elective. Grade 6 is slated to begin Project Lead the Way in 2014. They also offer a foreign
language program in partnership with Rosetta Stone. Students may choose from 26
different languages. A suite of high school and college online learning opportunities are
also provided for grades 10 through 12, and starting in 2013 grades 9 through 12 will
participate in an initiative to incorporate iPads into the curriculum.
Extra-curricular Activities
Menahga Public School systems offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. These
opportunities for students include:


Future Farmers of America (FFA)



Business Professionals of America (BPA)



Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)



Cross Country (paired with Sebeka)



Football (paired with Sebeka)



Girls Volleyball



Wrestling (paired with Sebeka



Girls Basketball



Boys Basketball



Hockey (paired with Park Rapids)



Knowledge Bowl



Student Council



National Honor Society



Band



Choir

Co-curricular:


Spelling Bee



History Day



One Act Play



FIRST Robotics Competition

78

Sebeka Public School District #820

Facility Location: 200 1st Street Northwest, Sebeka, MN 56477
Facility Contact Information Info: (218) 837-5101 or www.sebeka.k12.mn.us
Superintendent: Dave Kerkvliet
Principal: Amie Westberg
Dean of Students & Activities Director: Jon Lillquist

79

Special Academic Programs

80

Trojan Pathways Course List

Health and Human Services

Agriculture and Trades

Business and Fine Arts

World Foods I and II

Introduction to Agriculture

College Writing

Peer Tutoring

Horticulture & Landscape

Introduction to Film

Child Development

Agronomy

Media Literacy

War in Society

Animal Science

Communications Studies

Criminal Justice

Forestry & Natural Resources

Technical Writing

Genocide & the Holocaust

Wildlife Management

Agribusiness
Management

Contemporary Issues

Veterinary Science

Business Math

Anatomy

Large Mammals

College Intro to
Accounting

Forensic Science

Recreational Animals

Yearbook

Child Development

GIS/GPS

Graphic Design

MN History

Agribusiness Management

Sports Business

Psychology

Ag Leadership

Business Internship

Sociology

Agriculture Placement

Computer Applications

Anatomy

Small Gas Engines

American Cinema

Forensic Science

Mechanics

Welding Sculpture I & II

Human Biology

Welding

IT Graphics I & II

Experimental Design

Advanced Welding

Trojan Laser Works

College Writing

Welding Sculpture I & II

Senior Band

81

College Writing About Literature

Woods I

Senior Choir

College Child Literature & YA
Literature

Advanced Woods

College Rock & Pop Music

College Nature Writers

Construction Trades & Small
Construction

Exploring Art

Novel Studies

Engineering & Drafting

Ceramics

Dystopian Literature

Trojan Laser Works

Drawing

Mythology

Robotics

Painting

Communication Studies

IT Graphics I & II

Sculpture

Health 9

Home and Auto Repairs

Printmaking

Spanish I

Ecology

Photography

Spanish Speaking Cultures

Technical Writing

Independent Art

820online Option

82

83

Wadena-Deer Creek Public School District #2155-01
Facility Location: 600 Colfax Avenue Southwest, Wadena, MN 56482 Facility Contact
Info: (218) 632-2155 or www.wdc2155.k12.mn.us Superintendent: Mr. Lee Westrum
Kindergarten – 4 Principal: Mr. Louis Rutten
5-12 Principal: Mr. Tyler Church
Special Academic Programs:
Wadena-Deer Creek Public School promotes academic achievement through Project Lead
the Way (PLTW) in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This program
offers 36 credits of concurrent coursework, which is college level, within the school.
Extra-curricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities at Wadena-Deer Creek Schools include a wide variety of both
athletic and academic related activities such as:


Boosters



Science Club



Choir



Student Council



Yearbook



Marching Band



Drama



Spanish Club



Speech



Peer Helpers



Knowledge Bowl



CHAMP



Big Buddy



LEO’s Club (Lions)



Yellow Ribbon/SADD



Robotics



Girls Volleyball



Girls/Boys Tennis



Football
84



Girls/Boys Basketball



Wrestling



Danceline



Cheerleading



Baseball



Softball



Cross Country Running



Girls/Boys Track



Girls/Boys Golf



Girls/Boys Hockey



Weightlifting



Special Olympics



Cross-country Skiing (non- sport)



Youth Badminton (non-sport)



Project



Business Professionals of America



National Honor Society



Family Career & Community Leaders of America



Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Friendship/Friends for Rachel

85

Verndale Public School District #818

Facility Location: 411 Southwest Brown Street, Verndale, MN 56481 Facility Contact
Info: (218) 445-5184 or www.verndale.k12.mn.us Superintendent & K-4 Principal: Mr.
Paul Brownlow
5-12 Principal & Assessment Coordinator: Mr. Thomas Riitters
Extra-curricular Activities:


Football



Volleyball



Wrestling



Girls Basketball



Boys Basketball



Baseball



Softball



Track



Cheerleading



Summer Band



Marching Band



Color Guard



School Play



Speech



Annual Staff



SADD



Knowledge Bowl



FCCLA



Driver’s Training



National Honor Society



Student Council



Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Staples-Motley Public School District #2177
Although the Staples-Motley Public School’s buildings are not located within the
86

boundaries of Wadena County, the school district itself is a part of the area of the county
and is definitely considered as a service to residents within Wadena County whose children
attend school there.
Facility Locations:
Staples Elementary School
1025 4th Street NE, Staples, MN 56479
Facility Contact Information: (218) 894-2433 Phone (218) 894-1545 Fax
Principal: Mr. Ryan Koenigs
Staples-Motley Middle and High School
401 Centennial Drive, Staples, MN 56479
Facility Contact Information: (218) 894-2431 Phone www.isd2170.k12.mn.us
Principal: Ms. Debbie Ferdon
Superintendent: Mr. Shane Tappe
Special academic programs offered to students attending Staples-Motley schools are: ITV,
on-line classes, and College in the Schools
Extra-curricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities at Staples-Motley Schools include a wide variety of both athletic
and academic related activities such as:


Football



Volleyball



Boys Basketball



Girls Basketball



Wrestling



Baseball



Softball



Track & Field



Cross Country



Girls Tennis



Girls Swimming



Boy & Girls Golf
87



Knowledge Bowl



Speech



Orchestra



Drama



Choir



Band



Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Freshwater Education District 6004
Facility Location:
Office: 910 Ash Ave. NE, Wadena, MN 56482
Learning Centers located in Wadena County: 624 Jefferson St. North, Wadena, MN 56482
Menahga, MN 56466
Facility Contact Info: Wadena Office: (218) 631-3505 www.fed.K12.mn.us
Wadena Learning Center: (218) 631-2281
Menahga Learning Center: (218) 564-6115
Executive Director: Mr. Eric Weber
Special Academic Programs – Freshwater offers independent study in a quiet, supervised
environment to students at risk of not graduating.
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Central Lakes College – Staples Campus
Facility Location: 1830 Airport Road, Staples, MN 56477
Facility Contact Information: (218) 894-5100 or (800) 2476836 www.clcmn.edu
President: Dr. Kimberly Lynch (Interim)
Dean of of the Staples Campus and Grants: Erich Heppner
Central Lakes College’s Staples Campus offers hands-on career and technical programs in a
close-knit, supportive setting. Known for strong agriculture, heavy equipment and skilled
trade programs, Staples connects students to real-world leaning and local industry, helping
them build practical skills and launch meaningful careers. CLC also has a campus in
Brainerd.
Central Lakes College – West Campus at Staples, MN

88

Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M-State)
Facility Location: 405 SW Colfax, Wadena, MN 56482
Facility Contact Information: (218) 631-7821 www.minnesota.edu/wadena
President: Dr. Peggy Kennedy
Senior Dean of Students: Monty Johnson
M-State in Wadena has an enrollment of around 707 students on campus, with an
additional 258 students using the convenience of on-line courses offered through the
school. Class sizes are approximately 17 students and a student to teacher ratio of
approximately 17:1. They currently have around 35 high school students participating in a
post-secondary education option for the fall semester and 42 during the spring semester.
M-State in Wadena is affiliated with four other campuses located in Fergus Falls, Detroit
Lakes, and Moorhead, as well as their on-line campus. They offer a variety of sports and
assorted arts programs via their Fergus Falls Campus.
The Wadena campus offers 23 career programs and the University Transfer (Associate of
Arts) degree that allows students to complete the first two years of a four-year degree at MState. The college’s Electrical Line Worker program also offers a diploma program in the
northern Minnesota community of Baudette.
Additionally, the campus has a Nursing Club, Student Senate, and a chapter of SkillsUSA (a
national career preparation organization). Student life activities include organized ski trips,
sponsored student trips, musical performances on campus and community service
activities.
Scholarships are available through the Wadena Area College Foundation.

89

HEALTH CARE
Hospitals
Astera Health
421 11th St NW (Hospital)
415 Jefferson St N (Legacy Campus)
Wadena, MN 56482
asterahealth.org

General Medical Clinics
Astera Health – Wadena Clinic
421 11th St NW
Wadena, MN 56482
Twin Cities Orthopedics – Staples
49725 County Road 83
Staples, MN 56479
Essentia Health – Menahga Clinic
212 Aspen Ave NE
Menahga, MN 56464
Astera Health – Verndale Clinic
102 Farwell St
Verndale, MN 56481
ELDERLY CARE SERVICES
Nursing Homes
Fair Oaks Lodge
201 Shady Lane Drive
Wadena, MN 56482
www.fairoakslodge.org
Greenwood Connections
427 Main St NE
Menahga, MN 56474
www.greenwoodconnections.com

Lakewood Health Systems
49725 County Road 83
Staples, MN 56479
www.lakewoodhealthsystem.com

Lakewood Health Systems – Staples Clinic
49725 County Road 83
Staples, MN 56479
Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s
301 2nd Ave NW
Staples, MN 56479
Astera Health – Sebeka Clinic
106 Minnesota Ave
Sebeka, MN 56477

Lakewood Health System
401 Prairie Ave NE
Staples, MN 56479
www.lakewoodhealthsystems.com

90

Assisted Living and Hospice
Comfort Care Cottage
1232 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482
Fair Oaks Apartments
131 Shady Lane Drive
Wadena, MN 56482
Rose Haven Assisted Living
37 6th St SE
Menahga, MN 56464
Caring Hands Home Care, Inc.
113 Minnesota Ave W
Sebeka, MN 56477
Legacy Home Health & Hospice
201 Shady Lane Dr
Wadena, MN 56482
Comfort Care Cottage
1232 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482
Providence Villa
200 Minnesota Ave E
Sebeka, MN 56477

Little Bit of Country
813 Harmony Lane
Wadena, MN 56482
Woodside Manor (Greenwood Connections)
427 Main St NE
Menahga, MN 56474
Vitality Living of Sebeka
1005 Wells Ave SW
Sebeka, MN 56477
Lakewood Health System
Home Care & Hospice
401 Prairie Ave NE
Staples, MN 56479
The Meadows of Wadena – Senior Living
110 Hemlock Ave NW
Wadena, MN 56482
Vicie Home Health Care and Hospice
314 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482

91

Library
Wadena City Library –
210 First Street SW
Wadena, MN 56482
www.krls.org/wadena-city-library
Wadena City Library
The Wadena City Library has been in its new location at 210 First Street SW since 2023.
The original Wadena City Library was built in 1984 and located at 304 1st Street SW and
covers 4,000 square feet. Previously, there was a meeting room that held up to 25 people
within the library but a demand for more children’s area and the lack of use of the meeting
room eliminated that room and it was opened up to expand the children’s area of the
library. The total collection at the library is around 34,985 items which include: books,
videos, sound cassettes, CD’s, computer programs, toys, and magazines. The library has 11
computer terminals with internet capabilities, 3 terminals with access to their card catalog
and several search engines, and, through a contract with 3M, have added e-audio, e-reader
books, and much more. This is the only public library in Wadena County and in 2012 it had
a total checkout number of 5,205. As it is part of the Kitchigami Regional Library System,
whose headquarters are in Pine River, MN, the Wadena City Library had previously been
able to service the rest of the county through bi-weekly stops by the Book Mobile to
Nimrod, Sebeka, and Menahga. In 2012, the Book Mobile had 1517 checkouts in Nimrod,
976 checkouts in Sebeka, and 5,788 checkouts in Menahga.
The Regional Library
System has also begun servicing the county by the use of e-books and through book bins
situated throughout the county for physical books. These techniques are being explored as
options in lieu of the Book Mobile bi-weekly stops because funding for the library and its
operations has been reduced and beginning in 2014 the Book Mobile will no longer be
making stops out in the county.
Public Transit
The Friendly Rider 229 Harry Rich Drive, Wadena, MN 56482
(218) 631-5730
Wadena County provides public transit services through the Friendly Rider Transit.
Friendly Rider Transit began operation in 2003 with a fleet of three buses and a staff of five
and was initially managed by Wadena County Human Services. Now, it has its own facility,
8 busses, 16 staff and is operated as part of the Wadena County Highway Department. It
serves Wadena, Otter Tail, Todd and Morrison Counties. Within Wadena County, transit
services seven days a week in Wadena, all weekdays in Staples, Sebeka, Verndale and
Aldrich and Thursdays in Menahga. Annual ridership is around 50,000 persons – up from
12,000 in 2012 and 12,000 when it first began. Friendly Rider recognized its 1 millionth
rider in 2025 and is currently constructing a new building and adding new busses.
Fares for these services are presently:
92



$1.50 per ride for one-way trips of less than five miles



$3.00 per ride for one-way trips from 6-10 miles



$4.50 per ride for one-way trips over 10 miles

Booklets of 12 tickets are $15.00, a savings of $3.00 with monthly passes also available for
between $35 and $100 depending on the length of the trip. These prices are, of course
subject to change with each yearly budget.
Solid Waste & Recycling
Wadena County offers a wide variety of waste disposal and recycling opportunities through
its Solid Waste and Recycling Department. A transfer station, located at 10542 170th
Street, Wadena, was newly constructed and fully operational in October, 1999, and is now
operated by the County. The original purpose of the transfer station was to provide local
haulers with a site within the County in which to dispose of the waste collected by their
packer trucks, rather than transport it to another County's transfer station at a higher cost.
The waste is then hauled by semi-trailer loads to the Perham Resource Recovery Facility or
to a Waste Management owned sanitary landfill where it is properly disposed.
The Transfer Station also serves as the hub for the recycling program in the county.
Recyclables are collected at this site not only from residents but also from recycling
containers strategically placed around the county for collection of recyclables from rural
Wadena County. Presently, recyclables, except for cardboard, are co-mingled and taken to a
Waste Management Recycling facility in the twin cities.
Besides recycling, the Transfer Station offers Household Hazardous Waste collection,
recycling of electronics, receiving of scrap metal (not for payment), used oil collection, and
demolition landfill services. A complete listing of items accepted and fees attached to each
of these collections can be found under the Solid Waste Department at
www.co.wadena.mn.us .
Rural garbage collection services can be obtained in any part of Wadena County through
commercial haulers.
Law Enforcement and Fire Protection
Law Enforcement
The Wadena County Sheriff’s Department provides law enforcement services throughout
the county and extends services also to those cities which do not employ their own police
departments. The Sheriff’s Department and Jail is based at the Wadena County Courthouse
located at 415 Jefferson Street South, in Wadena.
Although the County Sheriff’s Department provides the hub for all law enforcement
services, the Cities of Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, and Wadena staff and budget for their
own Police Department. Police services are also budgeted and staffed by the City of Staples
for that portion of Staples located in Wadena County. The various Police Departments, the
93

State Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Department often assist each other and work together toward
the greater good of the county and the protection of its residents.
Fire Protection, Rescue, & EMS Ambulance Services
Fire protection is realized through established Volunteer Fire Departments located in each
of the four larger cities of Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, and Wadena, and also including the
City of Staples. Each department also has first response teams who respond and are usually
the first people on sight when an accident or medical call is made for help. Each volunteer
fire department covers the rural areas designated to them, providing outstanding fire and
rescue services throughout the county.
Like the local law enforcement, these fire departments often work together to battle blazes
and to provide rescue services whenever the need arises.
The majority of ambulance service is provided through Tri County Hospital EMS in Wadena
and Ambulance Service of Staples, also providing excellent triage and first response.
The map on the following page provides information depicting the different Emergency
Services zones and the providers for each zone.

94

95

Churches of Wadena County
Aldrich
First Congregational Church of Aldrich
264 Central Ave S

Menahga Area
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
113 Aspen Ave S
RELAYT Church
17 Main St W
Laestadian Lutheran Church of Menahga
25 Juniper Ave
Lakeside Community Church
18 1st St W
First English Lutheran Church (LCMC)
120 Balsam Ave NW
Bethany Lutheran Church (LCMC)
52943 140th St

Pinewood Assembly of God Church
37863 US-71
Redeemer Lutheran Church
15 12th St SE
Runeberg Church
First Apostolic Lutheran Church
10182 Hwy 49
Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church
222 Aspen Ave S

Nimrod Area
Nimrod Lutheran Church
23125 Nimrod Ave
Sebeka Area
Living Hope Family Church
100 Jefferson Ave S
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
401 2nd St SE
Zion Church

Grace Lutheran Church
500 Wells Ave NW
Friends in Christ Community Church
405 N Becker Ave
Blowers Chapel

Bethany Free Lutheran Church
21987 Co Rd 23

Staples Area
Staples Alliance Church

Trinity Lutheran Church
96

1512 8th St NE
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
310 4th St NE
Staples Assembly of God
914 3rd Ave
Church of Christ
27343 490th St
Staples Seventh-Day Adventist Church
421 Dakota Ave SE

1000 4th St NE
Faith Lutheran Church
430 12th St NE
First Congregational Church United
204 5th St NE
United Methodist Church
310 5th St NE
Thomastown Covenant Church
15940 251st Ave

97

Verndale Area

Verndale Family Life Church
402 Clark Dr
St. Frederick Catholic Church
20 NW Brown St
Central United Methodist Church
15384 Co Rd 26
St Frederick Catholic Church
20 Mason Ave W

Verndale Alliance Church
109 NW Brown St
Verndale United Methodist Church
213 Farwell St
Bethany Free Lutheran Church
21987 Co Rd 23
Oylen Alliance Church
27182 242nd Ave

Wadena
Assemblies of God
419 1st St NW
St. Ann Catholic Church
514 1st St SE
Southbrook Baptist Church
1842 2nd St SW
Immanuel Lutheran Church
403 2nd St SE
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
625 3rd St NW
Wadena Branch – The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints
220 Jefferson St N
Wadena Apostolic Lutheran Church
603 Jefferson St S
Wadena Seventh Day Adventist Church
14711 125th Ave
First Missionary Baptist
104 Cedar Ave NW

Epicenter Church
119 1st St SE
St. John Lutheran Church
710 Franklin
Wadena Alliance Church
1428 Jefferson St S
Joyful Spirit Methodist Church
61847 MN-29
United Church of Christ
110 Colfax Ave SW
St. Helens Episcopal Church
22 Dayton Ave SW
First Missionary Baptist Church
222 3rd Street NE
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
310 Main St

98

Other Available Services
Municipal Water and Sewer
The cities of Menahga, Sebeka, Verndale, Wadena, and that portion of the City of Staples
located in Wadena all provide sanitary sewer and water services to most of the extent of
their city limits. In the areas not linked to the city sanitary or water lines, private wells and
onsite septic systems may be permitted according to the County’s Sub-Surface Sewage
Treatment System (SSTS) Ordinances. The cities of Nimrod and Aldrich are served by
private wells and onsite septic systems.
Table 21: Wadena County Community Water Systems
Wadena County Community Water Systems
Water
System
Name

Population
Served

Primary
Water
Source

Storage
Capacity

Pumping
Capacity

Average
Demand

Peak
Demand

Water System
ID

MN1800001

Type

Menahga

Sebeka

1220

710

Ground

205,000

300

84,500

180,000

Water

gal

gal/min

gal/day

gal/day

Ground

50,000 gal

250

124,000

262,500

gal/min

gal/day

gal/day

250

41,614

87,500

gal/min

gal/day

gal/day

Water
Verndale

575

Ground

75,000 gal

Water
Staples

Wadena

3104 (314

Ground

850,000 gal 500 gal/min

in Wadena)

Water

4294

Ground

500,000

1,830

Water

gal

gal/min

253,000
gal/day

MN1800002

MN1800003

352,000
gal/day

MN1770011

665,740

1,627,200

MN1800004

gal/day

gal/day

Source: 2012 Wadena County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Waterworks
http://www.co.wadena.mn.us/county_directory/emergency_manage/PDFs/Hazard%20Pl
an%20Revision%2 0072307-Public.pdf
The cities of Wadena, Verndale, and Staples have all developed and adopted Well Head
Protection Plans in a proactive effort to minimize the vulnerability of their public water
supply wells. Well Head Protection Plans for the cities of Sebeka and Menahga are in the
beginning stages of planning and should be completed sometime in 2013-2014.

99

Table 22: Wadena County Storm and Waste Water
Wadena County Storm and Waste Water

Community
Aldrich

Storm
Supply

Sanitary

-

-

Sewer /
Discharge

Sewer
Discharge

Treatment
Type

-

-

Capacity

Average

Peak

-

-

-

Yes, Spirit Lake Yes, Yaeger Pond System 111,000
& Blueberry
Lake
gal/day
River

85,000

120,000

gal/day

gal/day

-

-

-

Pond

432,000

100,000

200,000

System

gal/day

gal/day

gal/day

Pond

83,500

42,542

System

gal/day

gal/day

62,158
gal/day

Menahga

Yes

Nimrod

-

-

-

Sebeka

Yes

Yes, Red Eye

Yes

River
Verndale

Staples

Yes

Yes

Yes, Rapid
Infiltration
Basins (RIBs

Yes

Yes, Hayden

Yes

Creek
Wadena

Yes

Yes, Union

-

Mechanical

680,000
gal/day

System
Yes

Creek

Mechanical 1,000,000
System

gal/day

281,000
gal/day

554,000
gal/day

500,000

750,000

gal/day

gal/day

Source: 2012 Wadena County Hazard Mitigation Plan, Waterworks
http://www.co.wadena.mn.us/county_directory/emergency_manage/PDFs/Hazard%20Pl
an%20Revision%20072307
-Public.pdf
Electric and Gas Services
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative, Itasca Mantrap Electric Cooperative, and Minnesota
Power and Light provide the electrical utilities that supply Wadena County with power for
its residents, business, and industry. Natural gas service for properties with access to it is
provided by Northern Minnesota Utilities. The City of Wadena is unique in that it provides
electrical services to city residents and business. They are a member of the Missouri River
Electric services, which is their exclusive provider.
Postal Services
Rural mail delivery is customary in Wadena County. Each city has a post office serving post
office box customers as well as the rural route deliveries for their areas. Nimrod is the only
city that no longer has a post office.

100

Banking & Finance
Each city is host to, at least, one bank and lending institution, with multiple institutions in
most of the cities. In addition, there are a number of finance and investment agencies
located throughout the cities in Wadena County.
Gas, Groceries, Restaurant, & Mercantile
From most areas of the county residents are within 20 miles or less of everyday needs such
as gas, groceries and basic mercantile items such as hardware, other household items, and
farm supplies. In addition, specialty shops and other privately owned service oriented
businesses are also conveniently located in the different towns within the county. A
number of eating establishments mark the County from Huntersville to Aldrich and every
town in between with a wide variety of menus and venues.
Wadena County is home to Senior Citizen organizations serving most areas of the county,
as well as many civic organizations in which residents may participate such as: Booster
Clubs, Lions Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Veterans of Foreign Wars clubs, Legion Club
organizations, Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Associations, and 4-H organizations scattered
around the County, to name a few.

101

SECTION 9: Parks and Recreation
COUNTY
Wadena County is well known for the beautiful Crow Wing River Canoe Trail. Its name has
its origin with the Chippewa Indians; they called it “Kagiwegwon”, or “Raven’s Wing”. The
river winds its way through the County from north to south, beginning at the Blueberry
Bridge northeast of Menahga and exiting the County at the very southeasterly corner just
west of the City of Staples. There are 14 campsites located along the trail and spaced at
convenient intervals to accommodate all levels of canoeing enthusiasts and tubers. There
are no dams or portages to obstruct the flow and no charging rapids to navigate, so travel is
very enjoyable at whatever pace you choose, and is generally uninterrupted so long as the
water stays at a normal level. The average current is about 3 miles per hour, however, this
may vary depending on wind direction and speed, as well as the level of the water. All but
one campground are “first come, first served” and are primitive, but offer some amenities
in that there are outhouses, hand-pumped water sources, fire rings, and picnic tables.
Campfire wood is supplied at the County operated campgrounds only. A quiet, picturesque,
family oriented setting is what you will find at each of these primitive but peaceful
campgrounds.
SHELL CITY CAMPGROUND
Once the location of a flourishing factory which made buttons from the shells of fresh water
clams, this campsite is the first in the long line of campgrounds along the Crow Wing River
in Wadena County. This campsite is also adjacent to many miles of horseback riding trails
in the Huntersville State Forest.
Shell City Campground is owned and operated by
the State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. From here it is approximately 6
miles to the next campground on the river.
TREE FARM LANDING CAMPGROUND
This campground was formerly part of the surrounding Potlatch Paper Company. In
October of 2007, the County did a land exchange with Potlatch Corporation to add 17 acres
to the campground for future campsite expansion, as well as to allow more area for
walking and hiking trails. The forested area at the Tree Farm Landing is managed by the
Department of Natural Resources – Forestry Division and sports a very picturesque view of
the river from above while the campsites are located on the flat next to the river with a
calm, generally shallow, and sandy swimming area and place to launch tubes and canoes.
Another attraction at the Tree Farm Landing is a memorial placed at the Tree Farm during
the summer of 2010, recognizing long-time supporter of the Crow Wing River Trail, John
Rife, Sr. for his contribution in getting the designation for the canoe trail. From here it is
approximately 3.5 miles to the next campground.
In 2023, the County began planning for and expanding the footprint of the park to include
camper-friendly primitive sites on the north end of the property high above the river. The 7
additional campsites were completed at the end of 2025 and include tables, fire rings,
102

potable water and an outhouse.
HUNTERSVILLE TOWNSHIP & BIG BEND CAMPGROUNDS
Huntersville Township campground is a small, privately owned campground accessible to
the public which is .75 miles upstream from the Big Bend Campground which is accessible
only from the river. Big Bend is a relatively small campground as well and is owned by the
State of Minnesota. From Big Bend it is 2.75 miles to the next campground.
HUNTERSVILLE FOREST CAMPGROUND
Located in the heart of the Huntersville State Forest, this campground is also along the
Crow Wing River and offers a great place to put in, and take out, canoes and tubes from the
river as it winds through the forest. This campground is owned and operated by the State
of Minnesota and also offers miles and miles of old logging trails for hiking.
ANDERSON’S CROSSING CAMPGROUND
Lying to the north of Nimrod, this campground was once an Indian crossing, that was later
named for a pioneer settler, and is the beginning of the Butterfield Rapids. Despite the
name, these rapids are a short series of rippling water posing little to no threat as it is
navigated by tubers and canoeists. Surrounded by over 100 acres of County-owned land,
this campsite not only allows access to the river, but also to a number of trails for walking
and hiking. It is 5 miles to the next available landing.
STIGMAN’S MOUND PARK
Located in the little town of Nimrod, Stigman’s Mound Park was originally established by
the Nimrod Grange organization, and is now owned by the County. It is named for Dick
Stigman, who was raised in Nimrod, and later went on to play professional baseball and
pitch for the Minnesota Twins. This little park does not offer overnight camping but hosts a
good sized shelter for family picnics and outdoor organizational meetings, and outhouses
are available. Canoes cannot be landed at this site, however they can be landed across the
river from this picnic area and access to the park gained by walking across the bridge. From
here it is 1 mile to the next available landing.
FRAME’S LANDING CAMPGROUND
Down river one mile from Nimrod is the 14 acre County campground named for one of
Nimrod’s first citizens. In the early 1940’s a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp was set
up in this location. This popular campground on the river is a terrific place for swimming
with its sandy bottom and gentle current. From here it is 6 miles to the next available
landing.

103

LITTLE WHITE DOG CAMPGROUND
Legend has it that this former Indian lookout point was used for Indian gatherings and
ceremonies that honored the Indian deities. Regardless of the legend, this landing on the
river will provide you with a beautiful and vast view of the river. This campground is
somewhat more remote. From this County-owned campground it is approximately 5.5
miles to the next available landing.
KNOB HILL CAMPGROUND
This unique County-owned campground has an upper and a lower level for camping. The
lower level allows a panoramic view of the river accessed by the gently descending rustic
stairway. The upper level, while providing access to the river via the stairway, is
surrounded by forest and really gives the effect of camping in the woods. A popular place
for tubers to get on the water, it is approximately 3 miles to the next available landing.
COTTINGHAM PARK CAMPGROUND
Cottingham is a very popular park for picnicking and swimming. It is part of a 56 acre
property owned by Wadena County with trails for walking. A through trail from
Cottingham Park to Bullard’s Bluff Park provides approximately 2.5 miles of nature
walking, horseback riding, ATV riding, and hiking. Cottingham is also unique in that it has
campsites available for accommodating horse enthusiasts. Located just to the south of
Wahoo Valley, this is also a popular spot for landing tubes and canoes. From here it is 5.5
miles to the next available landing.
BULLARD’S BLUFF CAMPGROUND
Although easily accessed by the river, Bullard’s Bluff Campground can be found at the end
of a mile long low maintenance road that winds through the woods and the wetlands.
Called Hog Haven in early Wadena County history, this area was known for the wild hogs
that inhabited it. This remote campground and park offers a view from above while easily
being able to land a canoe or take tubes off the water. From here it is 5 miles to the next
available landing.

OLD WADENA PARK CAMPGROUND
Between the mouths of the Leaf and the Partridge Rivers, you will find this history-filled
campsite. In 1783, the fur traders built the Crow Wing’s first trading post on the “little
round hill”, which means Wadena in the Chippewa language. A great battle was fought here
between the voyagers and the Sioux Indians over the prized hunting ground; and, while
history records say the voyagers won this battle, it was also noted that it was 9 years
before the traders returned to the Crow Wing River country. This is also the first townsite
for the City of Wadena, and also where the Red River Ox Cart trail crosses the Crow Wing
River. This is the only park in the County’s park system that may be reserved for a party. It
104

boasts a large open area for family reunions and weddings with a large pavilion and
smaller shelter with electricity that can be accessible when the park is reserved.There are
numerous trails for walking to enjoy and a foot bridge that crosses over the Leaf River to
access the little round hill site. Another interesting draw to the park is the Old Wadena
Society’s Bogwalk. Constructed of donated docking sections and secured by metal pilings
driven deep into the mire, this offers an interesting and educational opportunity to enjoy
the natural beauty of the wetland while walking through it. The Old Wadena Society’s
Rendezvous is hosted at Old Wadena Park the 2nd weekend in August annually. Despite
significant damage to the park in 2022 from a tornado that ran through the community,
Parks staff have worked diligently to ensure that the park remains a welcoming and
attractive place to recreate. From Old Wadena Park it is 1.5 miles downstream to the next
available landing.
MCGIVERN PARK CAMPGROUND
McGivern Park marks the end of the designated Crow Wing River Canoe Trail that winds its
way through Wadena County. This quaint little park with its mix of hardwoods and pine is
also the home of the Staples Sportsmen’s Club and Shooting Range. With its close proximity
to the City of Staples, McGivern Park is used often for picnicking and other small gatherings.
THE CROW WING WILDERNESS SADDLE AND SNOWMOBILE TRAIL
With 31 miles of developed trails for saddle horses lying along the Crow Wing River Canoe
Trail, this particular trail has become quite popular. Campsites at Shell City and the
Huntersville State Forest provide overnight accommodations for horse enthusiasts. The
trail doubles as a snowmobile trail in the wintertime with the added miles and miles of old
logging trails that pattern the state forest.
In addition to the Crow Wing Wilderness Saddle and Snowmobile Trail, Wadena County has
about 150 miles of additional snowmobile trails throughout its boundaries that are
mapped and marked. These trails are groomed and maintained by the Wadena County Trail
Breakers, Inc., snowmobile club.
Included in this section on the following pages are maps depicting the Crow Wing River
Canoe Trail, the Wadena County Snowmobile Trails, Off-Highway Vehicle and All-Terrain
Vehicle Trails in Huntersville State Forest, and Horseback Trails and State Forest Roads
through Huntersville State Forest.
Township & City Parks and Recreation in Wadena County
Blueberry Township
Blueberry Township located at 37493 US Highway 71, Menahga, offers 40 acres with two
walking trails: a one mile and a one quarter mile. This is also a hot spot for Wi-Fi.
Aldrich
Aldrich City Park, located at 348 Central Ave. S offers picnicking and a basketball court.
105

Menahga
Memorial Garden, located at 825 Aspen Ave. SW, has a pavilion surrounded by flower
beds, shrubs and trees which offers visitors a beautiful setting in which to relax. Campsites
and restrooms are available here as well.
Spirit Lake Public Access
Beautiful Spirit Lake with its white sugar sand beach is a favorite place in the summertime.
The swimming beach has lifeguards on duty and swimming lessons are available. A large Tshape fishing pier is available for public use and there is a public boat access with a
courtesy dock near the pier.
Menahga also offers tennis and basketball courts.
Nimrod
The Swimmin’ Hole, located on the south side of the bridge on St. Hwy. 227, offers
swimming access to the river as well as a small playground for children.
Nimrod is also home to Stigman Baseball Field and the Nimrod Gnats. Sebeka
Sebeka City Park, located on US Hwy 71 South, offers overnight camping sites with full
hook ups and showers. Shelters and seating are available in the park which also offers
horseshoe pits, Frisbee golf, and a playground. Seasonal rates and reservations are
available.
Town Square Park, located at 200 Minnesota Avenue W, though small, offers beautiful
flower gardens, some seating, and even a fountain.
Sebeka also has a public swimming pool that is popular during the months of June, July, and
August and is manned by a certified lifeguard at all times when it is open.
Verndale
McNair Park, located on 1st Ave S., offers a railroad theme with restrooms, playground
and picnic area.
Verndale is also home to Anderson Park Baseball Field with concessions and restrooms
available.
Wadena – Wadena County Portion of the City
Sunnybrook Park is located at 951 Sunnybrook Road and 210 Harry Rich Drive.
This beautiful park features fishing (age 0-16 & 65 and older) in Whiskey Creek, (stocked
with rainbow trout, crappies, and sunfish), picnic area, children's playground, semienclosed shelters, campground area with full hook-up and tent sites, two camping cabins,
showers, frisbee golf, volleyball area and a children's zoo, which includes buffalo, whitetail
deer, peacocks, and golden pheasants.
106

Northside Playground, located at 600 1st St. NW, offers a bicycle and skateboard track,
picnic tables, playground, basketball, ice rink and warming house.
Ehlen Park, located at 716 3rd St. SE, offers playground, basketball and softball field.
Southwest Athletic Park, located at 310 7th St. SW, offers a playground, picnic area,
shelters, tennis courts, softball fields, basketball and restrooms.
Burlington Northern Park, located at Aldrich Ave. SW, offers picnic area and restored
Historic Depot Visitor Center.
Tapley Park, located at 617 Lincoln Ave. SW, offers playground, shelter, restrooms,
basketball and soccer fields.
Southwest Complex, located at 1701 2nd St. SW, offers softball fields, horseshoes, shelter
with restrooms, sledding hill.
Leaf River Bike Trail - Take in nature's beauty and enjoy the abundant wildlife and birds
along the recreation trail that begins at Sunnybrook park and winds its way through a
wetland area with 3.5 miles of recently resurfaced blacktop (map is included at the end of
Section 9.
Staples – Wadena County Portion of the City
Wilson Park is located in the 100 block of Park Avenue.
Lakewood Park is located at the intersection of 4th Street and Prairie Avenue.
In addition to all the parks and trails offered in Wadena County, there are also three golf
courses located in Wadena County:
Whitetail Run Golf Course
Located at 13379 Leaf River Road, Wadena, MN, offering 18 holes, carts, clubhouse, and pro
shop.
Blueberry Pines Golf Course
Located at 39161 U.S. Highway 71, Menahga, MN, offering 18 holes, carts, pro shop, and
restaurant.
Vintage Golf Course
Located at 27923 McGivern Park Drive, Staples, MN, offering 18 holes, carts, and club
house.

107

108

Wadena County Snowmobile Trails
Maintained & Sponsored by the Wadena County Trailbreakers

109

110

111

112

SECTION 10: Goals & Objectives
If you look up the word “GOAL” in the dictionary, one definition will tell you that a goal is
“that toward which effort is directed, an aim or an end”. In setting goals with regard to the
future, both near and farther out, the citizens of Wadena County who were involved in the
public meetings used a realistic, common sense approach to their view of the future, their
“aim”, and the efforts that need to be made to ensure we are not only surviving as a county
into the future… but thriving! The set of goals outlined in Section 10 of the Wadena County
Comprehensive Plan 2013, for the most part, are attainable goals, and the objectives, or
efforts, sited to help reach those goals are realistic and practical in nature as well. Regular
review of these efforts with appropriate participants will keep key players, including
citizen groups, in a forward motion toward obtaining and/or sustaining each goal.
(NOTE: The following language is new language presented to the Planning Commission
with changes they requested during discussions marked in red. The original 2013 Goals
and Objectives are listed at the end (all crossed out) and intended to be replaced by what
follows here).
Natural Resources
Goal
Protect, conserve, and enhance Wadena County’s agricultural lands, forests, rivers, lakes,
wetlands, groundwater resources, and scenic rural landscapes while accommodating
responsible growth and development that benefits current and future generations.
Objectives
1. GIS Land Classification: Utilize GIS mapping datasets to identify and classify county
lands into critical preservation areas (sensitive natural/water resources),
productive agricultural and forestry tracts, and areas suitable for development
purposes.
2. Intergovernmental & Permitting Coordination: Engage with local, state, and
federal agencies to monitor land use, stay informed on environmental permits, and
provide proactive local input and advocacy for thorough and accountable regulatory
and conservation decisions.
3. Voluntary Stewardship Partnerships: Actively cooperate with private
landowners, agricultural producers, townships, and watershed districts to promote
voluntary activities like best management practices (BMPs), tree planting, forestry
stewardship, and erosion control.
4. Water Quality & Groundwater Monitoring: Protect the quality and quantity of
ground and surface waters through septic enforcement, livestock feedlot
regulations, well-sealing programs, and irrigation monitoring.
113

5. Wetland & Habitat Protection: Preserve and restore critical wetlands, shorelands,
and riparian corridors as key environmental and economic assets, in direct
coordination with the Wadena County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).
6. Waste Management: Ensure proper disposal of solid waste, municipal sludge, and
agricultural by-products utilizing the best available science and technology.
7. Emerging Pollutants: Actively monitor, plan for, and work with local, state and
federal partners to mitigate emerging threats to ground and surface waters and
human health— including PBT (Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic) chemicals
or substances such as PCBs, heavy metals, DDT, PBDEs, PFAS and microplastics—to
protect county water resources and public health.
Land Use
Goal
Maintain Wadena County's rural character, agricultural heritage and respect for property
rights while supporting responsible residential, commercial, and industrial growth that
meets current and future housing and economic development needs.
Objectives
1. Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Guidelines: Establish a Future Land Use Map to
guide zoning map amendments, ensuring protected areas are maintained largely in
their natural state, resource-dependent working lands remain productive and
protected from over-fragmentation, and areas suitable for responsible and efficient
development are identified for future rezoning as demand and landowner desires
dictate.
2. Agricultural Preservation & Right-to-Farm: Preserve productive agricultural
lands and working family farms as economic and cultural pillars, minimizing
fragmentation of land that would inhibit their continuation and incorporating
explicit 'Right-to-Farm' provisions in county zoning ordinances to resolve neighbor
conflicts.
3. Housing Variety: Continue to ensure that county zoning regulations accommodate
a wide range of traditional and emerging rural housing options that make rural
Wadena County an attractive place to live — including single-family homes, twofamily homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), tiny homes, and multi-generational
homes.
4. Orderly, Infrastructure-Adjacent Growth: Facilitate higher-density residential
growth in areas adjacent to existing cities and communities where public utility
infrastructure is available and public services can be provided effectively and
efficiently.

114

5. Strategic Siting for Commerce & Industry: Continue to accommodate appropriate
home-based businesses and small-scale startup businesses at rural locations while
directing more resource-intensive commercial and industrial developments that
may conflict with rural or residential settings to locate in appropriately zoned areas
near major transportation routes.
6. Shoreland Stewardship: Continue to enforce minimum statewide shoreland
management regulations along the County’s rivers and lakes and consider additional
standards where necessary to protect them as essential aspects of the County’s
wildlife habitat, heritage, culture and attractiveness to residents and visitors.
7. Fiscal Impact & Cost-of-Service Studies: Utilize fiscal impact analyses and cost-ofservice studies to guide land-use decisions, ensuring new development does not
create unsustainable long-term maintenance liabilities for roads, utilities, and
school transportation.
8. Conservation Subdivision Design: Where appropriate, encourage and
accommodate conservation design concepts, clustering, and agricultural zoning
districts to preserve open space, farmland, wildlife habitat, historic resources and
scenic rural vistas.
9. Intergovernmental Planning Coordination: Continue to coordinate land use
planning efforts with the County’s cities, townships, watershed organizations, and
neighboring counties while partnering with various regional and state partners
when appropriate.

Economic Development
Goal
Promote a diverse and resilient economy that leverages Wadena County's strategic
location, transportation infrastructure, workforce, agricultural heritage, natural resources,
and quality of life to promote entrepreneurship, support existing businesses and attract
new development while preserving the rural character and environmental assets that make
the County an attractive place to live, work, and invest.
Objectives
1. Marketing and Branding: Establish a cohesive countywide marketing and
branding effort to attract tourists, new residents and new businesses focused on
leveraging the County’s unique assets, including:
 its location at the crossroads of major state and federal highways,
 its opportunities for value-added manufacturing and processing,
 its many cultural events and historic resources, and
115

the many opportunities for recreation- and resource-based tourism such as river
paddling, motorsports, gravel biking, agri-tourism, dark-sky solitude
Workforce Development & Education: Partner with local employers, school
districts, and regional higher education institutions to expand vocational training,
support skilled and unskilled labor pipelines, and create high-skill, living-wage jobs.
Value-Added Agriculture & Value Chain Support: Encourage value-added
agricultural businesses, food processing, and distribution facilities that complement
and expand Wadena County's farming economy.
Coordinated Economic Development Effort: Collaborate with regional and city
economic development agencies to promote economic growth throughout the
County’s urban and rural areas. The County will explore mechanisms to provide
dedicated staff and resources to accelerate economic development that supports
and attracts entrepreneurs, businesses and industries appropriate for both rural
and urban locations and cultivates strategic synergies between rural and urban
business sectors.
Communications and Workforce Infrastructure: Continue to support initiatives
to expand essential high-speed internet access and eliminate cellular gaps along
with regional childcare services and transportation options to support the County’s
businesses and workforce.
Local Business Support & Financing: Promote and support the continuation and
expansion of existing in-county businesses while encouraging well-planned publicprivate financing partnerships to stimulate local job growth.
Scenic and Historic Wayfinding: Collaborate with local and state tourism
organizations, historical societies, and transportation agencies (such as MnDOT) to
design and implement a countywide wayfinding and signage strategy. This
coordinated network will build awareness and guide motorists traveling to or
through the area directly to our communities and historic landmarks to maximize
tourism activity and promotion of the County’s scenic and cultural resources.
Emerging “Mega-Project” Land Uses: Carefully prepare for, evaluate and regulate
any utility- or industrial-scale “mega-project” proposals – such as data centers, solar
and wind farms or large agricultural feedlots or gravel mining operations – to
ensure that their economic and tax-base benefits can be realized without imposing
unsustainable long-term costs on the County’s taxpayers or harm to the County’s
rural character.


2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Transportation
Goal
Ensure long-term public safety and economic vitalization by providing a well-constructed,
structurally sound transportation network with optimized traffic circulation patterns. The
116

County will coordinate design improvements to accommodate diverse transit needs—
minimizing congestion, protecting rural township roads from heavy-vehicle wear, and
fostering efficient, conflict-free travel for internal commuters and regional freight carriers
alike.
Objectives
1. System Maintenance & Uniform Standards: Maintain and upgrade the county's
road system to uniform standards, with the long-term goal of providing a grid-type
network of 9-ton capacity roads at reasonable intervals.
2. Long-Range Planning & Asset Management: Develop and maintain an ongoing
road improvement project list, coordinating county plans with federal, state,
municipal, and township agencies to match capacity with current and future traffic
volumes.
3. Sustainable Funding Sourcing: Actively monitor and research local transportation
funding source opportunities to build on the County’s ½ percent sales tax – such as
a wheelage tax – to build and sustain the local transportation network.
4. Highway Access Management Plan: Draft and implement a Highway Access Plan
to regulate spacing, access points, and safety interfaces on roadways experiencing
new residential or commercial development.
5. Multi-Modal Transportation System: Collaborate with local municipalities,
regional partners, and the State of Minnesota to build and maintain a multi-modal
transportation system that expands options beyond just personal vehicles for
efficiently moving residents between where they live, work, shop, and access
services.

Facilities & Services
Goal
Provide reliable, cost-effective, and strategically located public service facilities that
anticipate and meet the evolving nee