Brainerd, Minnesota

About Brainerd

Brainerd is a close-knit town in northern Minnesota counting 14,400 people who proudly call it home.

Officially, Brainerd is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 12.13 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,187 residents per square mile.

📰 Brainerd News Today

• Weather Drawing: A day at the lake Brainerd Dispatch · Aug 18
• Annamay E. (Pickar) Koering Obituary Aug 23, 2025 - Nelson-Doran Funeral Home Nelson-Doran Funeral Home · Aug 14
• Nahan, Mans, Mosbek lead Race 2 winners at Division 5 Brainerd doubleheader NHRA · Aug 14
• Reeling from middle schooler suicides, Brainerd school district aims to prevent more deaths MPR News · Aug 13
• Michael Dehen Obituary Jun 26, 2026 brenny.com · Jul 7

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Brainerd Unique

• The only place in America named Brainerd — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in northern Minnesota, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Minnesota — one of 915 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 14,400.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 9 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Brainerd

• Applebee's — american
• Caribou Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• Mickey's Subs — pizza
• Notch 8
• Pizza Hut — pizza
• American Legion Post 255
• El Potro Mexican Restaurant — mexican
• Perkins — american
• Sawmill Inn — regional
• The Barn — regional

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Crow Wing County Historical Society and Museum · Museum
• WonderTrek Children's Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Brainerd

• Northland Arboretum · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Bane Park reviews ★
• Berrywood Park reviews ★
• Buffalo Hills Park reviews ★
• Butterfly Garden and Rain Garden · Garden reviews ★
• G101 & Giving Garden · Garden reviews ★
• Gazebo Garden · Garden reviews ★
• Gregory Park reviews ★
• Gustafson Park reviews ★
• Jaycees Park reviews ★
• Kiwanis Park reviews ★
• Linn Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Brainerd

• BRAINERD SENIOR HIGH
• Brainerd Online School
• Discovery Woods
• GARFIELD ELEMENTARY
• HARRISON ELEMENTARY
• ISD 181 LEARNING CENTER
• LINCOLN EDUCATION CENTER
• LOWELL ELEMENTARY
• MIDDLE LEVEL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM
• RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Essentia Health St Joseph'S Medical Center ★★★ (3/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Brainerd

🏘️ Nearby Communities