Kerkhoven Minnesota Map

About Kerkhoven, Minnesota

Kerkhoven is a locality in Swift County, Minnesota, United States. It is a small community with a population of 805. The population density is 373.1 people per km². Kerkhoven is located at 45.1930°N, 95.3206°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Kerkhoven is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 56252.

Kerkhoven emerges from the expansive, flat horizon of the Minnesota prairie, defined by the relentless geometry of agricultural fields that stretch toward the sky. It lies 14.4 miles west-northwest of Willmar, MN (from Willmar, MN: bearing 290°T), and is situated 16.0 miles east-southeast of Benson. The landscape here is defined by a profound, open stillness, where the wind carries the scent of turned earth and the seasonal shift of dry grasses. To the west, the subtle depression of the Sand Lakebed hints at the ancient geology of the plains, while the proximity of Shakopee Creek provides a modest, meandering artery through the black soil. In the cooler months, the light takes on a sharp, crystalline quality that clarifies every fence line and silo, turning the vast expanse into a study of pale gold and deep, cooling gray.

Kerkhoven maintains a quiet resilience rooted in the deep-set traditions of the region’s early Scandinavian settlers, who saw potential in the fertile, heavy soil. The rhythm of daily life follows the seasonal demands of grain production and the steady hum of local commerce, which persists with a steady, unadorned purpose. Residents often look toward the nearby Swift County Waterfowl Production Area or the quiet waters of School Lake for the simple relief of open space, finding a sense of belonging in the solitude that the prairie provides. Life here is measured not by the velocity of change, but by the reliability of the harvest and the enduring, stoic character of those who remain to cultivate the land.

About This Kerkhoven Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Kerkhoven, Minnesota. Coordinates: 45.193016, -95.320577. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Kerkhoven includes the ZIP code (56252), telephone area code (320), county seat of Swift County (Benson), and school district assignment (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg).

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.