North Branch, Minnesota

About North Branch

Set in the eastern part of Minnesota, North Branch is a close-knit town, home to 12,258 residents as of the latest Census estimates.

North Branch holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 37.32 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 328 residents per square mile.

📰 North Branch News Today

• Police chief sounds warning after charges allege Minnesota boy, 14, caused deadly crash while high Star Tribune · Aug 16
• Flock Camera program paused in North Branch, Minnesota - FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul · Aug 10
• Minnesota DNR issues safety advisory for a corridor of the North Branch Root River : Jun 9, 2026 | News release Minnesota DNR · Jun 9
• North Branch Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution IQAir · Jun 22
• Isanti-Chisago County Star August 13, 2026 e-edition - isanti-chisagocountystar.com isanti-chisagocountystar.com · Aug 13

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes North Branch Unique

• Positioned in eastern 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

• Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 12,258.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 10 miles.

📍 Neighborhoods in North Branch

Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.

🍽️ Where to Eat in North Branch

• Higher Grounds Café — coffee shop (café)
• Caribou Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• Denny's — american
• Dickey's Barbecue Pit — barbecue
• Don Julio Authentic Mexican Restaurante — mexican
• Merchant's Cafe (café)
• Pizza Pub — pizza
• Tomo Hibachi & Sushi

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in North Branch

• Wild River State Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Central Park reviews ★
• Checkerboard Park reviews ★
• Deer Trail Park reviews ★
• Harder Park reviews ★
• Janet Johnson Memorial Wildlife Management Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Johnson Park reviews ★
• Kost Dam Park reviews ★
• Northwood Park reviews ★
• River Walk Park reviews ★
• Sterling Barrens State Natural Area reviews ★
• Tower Park reviews ★

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

🏫 Schools in North Branch

• Chisago County Schools' Life Work C
• Distance Learning Academy Secondary
• Distance Learning Acadmy Elementary
• Norse Area Learning Center
• North Branch Area Education Center
• North Branch Area High School
• North Branch Area Middle School
• Phoenix Academy Charter School
• Sunrise River Elementary School

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

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of North Branch

🏘️ Nearby Communities