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Appleton

A city of 1,393 people in Minnesota
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Around town

The places and views that make it Appleton

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Outdoors in Appleton

Parks & trails →
Conserved land0.6%8 of 1,245 acres
Trails1.5 mi0.8 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves06 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

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

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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

Safety in Appleton

A

Safety Grade A

Appleton reports less crime per resident than 94% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000
Appleton 0.7
Minnesota 2.3
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Appleton 0.7
Minnesota 14.3
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Appleton

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About one in 3 of Appleton’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Montevideo (5%), Morris (5%) and Hantho (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Montevideo
5%
Morris
5%
Hantho
5%
Willmar
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·18worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 13 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Appleton Area HealthAppleton · 0.6 mi · ER · rural critical access
Community Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 46.9 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Appleton · 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 →

Schools in Appleton

All Appleton schools →
B−

School Grade B-

The public schools Appleton’s kids attend trail 51% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictLac qui Parle Valley SchoolsSchools1

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.

Appleton’s library

Library details →
Appleton Public Library50 E Rooney Ave · part of Pioneerland Library System
E-books44 hrs a week
IMLS Public Libraries Survey · FY2024Appleton Public Library →
Famous people from AppletonWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Appleton.Meet them →

How things work in Appleton

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01