Brainerd Minnesota Map

About Brainerd, Minnesota

Brainerd is a locality in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. It has a population of 14,468. The population density is 460.7 people per km². Brainerd is located at 46.3580°N, 94.2008°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. ZIP code: 56401.

Brainerd sprawls across a landscape shaped by the patient carving of water and ice, where the Mississippi River, a broad, unhurried artery, defines the horizon and whispers secrets to the surrounding pine forests. It lies 55.1 miles north of St. Cloud, MN (from St. Cloud, MN: bearing 358°T), and is situated 4.2 miles east-north-east of Baxter. The terrain here, a gentle undulation of glacial till, supports a mosaic of woodlands and open fields, the air often carrying the clean, resinous scent of conifers that have stood sentinel for generations. Sunlight, when it breaks through the canopy, falls in luminous shafts, illuminating patches of moss-covered bark and the occasional flash of iridescent beetle wings, lending a quiet, almost sacred quality to the deep woods. The very air here feels crisp, especially during the long, luminous evenings of autumn, when the sky bleeds into hues of ochre and rose, a painterly farewell to the day. This place, Brainerd, owes its existence to the iron horse and the relentless westward push of settlement, growing from a railroad town into a hub for the region's timber and agricultural bounty. Early industry was forged in the clang of axes and the roar of sawmills, a testament to the vastness of the northern forests, and while those days have largely receded, the echoes of that industrious past still resonate. Today, Brainerd thrives on a diverse economy, with tourism playing a significant role, drawing visitors to its many lakes and the natural beauty of the nearby Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, a former mining district transformed into a wonderland of shimmering blue pits and miles of trails. The spirit of the place is one of pragmatic resilience, a quiet confidence that draws strength from its deep roots in the land and the enduring power of its waterways.

About This Brainerd Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Brainerd, Minnesota — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 46.358022, -94.200829. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Brainerd and Crow Wing County.

Detailed location data for Brainerd includes the ZIP code (56401), telephone area code (320), county seat of Crow Wing County (Brainerd), and school district assignment (Brainerd Public School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Brainerd is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.