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Appleton

A township of 193 people in Swift County, Minnesota
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Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

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Around town

The places and views that make it Appleton

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Outdoors in Appleton

Parks & trails →
Conserved land7.5%1,533 of 20,358 acres
Trails24 mi0.7 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves2named on the map

Know a trail or park that’s missing? Anyone can add it to OpenStreetMap, and it shows up here on the next refresh.

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Appleton, Minn. Pomme de Terre river scene1908
From Appleton’s story

Appleton, Minn. Pomme de Terre river scene, 1908

Photo · Library of Congress

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Know Appleton

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Appleton

City in Minnesota, United States
1,392Population
2.1 sq miArea
1,007 ftElevation

Appleton is a city in Swift County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 1,392 at the 2020 census. The town is home to a vacant medium-security prison, the Prairie Correctional Facility, which is wholly owned and operated by Corrections Corporation of America. Appleton also includes a plant-protein factory operated by Eat Just, Inc. Elmer A. Benson, who served as a United States Senator and as governor of Minnesota, was born in Appleton on September 22, 1895. All of its twenty-odd streets, except Minnesota Street, are named for local veterans who died in combat.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code56208
Area code320
Living in Appleton

Housing in Appleton

$89K▲ 2.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Appleton home is worth about $89,000, up 2.9% in a year, 75% below the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Appleton

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Most working residents leave Appleton for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Appleton (25%), Morris (6%) and Madison (4%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Appleton
25%
Morris
6%
Madison
4%
Granite Falls
4%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Appleton →

Health in Appleton

C

Health Grade C

Healthier than 31% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 79% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·17worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Appleton Area HealthAppleton · 2.3 mi · ER · rural critical access
Community Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 48.5 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP code 56208 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Appleton →

Natural hazards in Appleton

29
Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 29% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌡️ Heat waves
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Appleton →

Climate in Appleton

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Appleton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

25° / 7°Winter
55° / 33°Spring
81° / 59°Summer
58° / 36°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Appleton →

Libraries near Appleton

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Nearest: Appleton Public LibraryAppleton · 2 miles · 44 hrs a week
Famous people from AppletonWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Appleton.Meet them →

Where Appleton is

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Locator map of Appleton
Wikimedia Commons · Map: Arkyan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Location map

Minnesota · MN · Swift CountyTown boundary on OpenStreetMap →

How things work in Appleton

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The porch light’s on

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You’re in Appleton, MNSwift CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01