1995 · Edge of the Wilderness - Bicycling the Byway in · Wikimedia Commons
Bigfork’s story
Bigfork in pictures
18 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
BigforkMN
A town of 375. A regional job hub with 351 jobs.
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
375
residents
Median home value
$119K
Census ACS
Household income
$29K
median
Median age
62.5
years
Jobs based here
351
A job hub
What makes Bigfork stand out
The 3 things Bigfork does most differently from other towns.
351jobs here
Work
351 jobs
based in Bigfork, a regional job hub
27% of working residents work in town.
B+School Grade
Schools
Better than 67%
of MN districts
School Grade B+.
1995 · Edge of the Wilderness - Bicycling the …History
18 archive photos & papers
1 place on the National Register
18 archive photos, postcards and papers.
Small town
375 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Bigfork’s report card
Now in Bigfork
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Bigfork? Is a B+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Bigfork’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bigfork. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in four working residents works right in Bigfork
About one in 4 of Bigfork’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Effie (8%), Grand Rapids (8%) and Bigfork (7%). Half commute less than 21 miles.
27%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bigfork27%
Effie8%
Grand Rapids8%
Bigfork7%
Ardenhurst5%
21 mi
median commute distance
351
jobs based in Bigfork
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 86% of U.S. communities.
86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Schools
Bigfork’s public schools outperform 67% of Minnesota districts
The public schools Bigfork’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 67% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bigfork Elementary | PK–6 | 139 | C+ |
| Bigfork Secondary | 7–12 | 130 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Bigfork has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to -4°, and about 64 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
64″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter0–21°
Spring27–51°
Summer53–76°
Fall33–51°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Bigfork is
Bigfork beats the Minnesota average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
3 better16 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Bigfork | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.2% | 17.8% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.5% | 76.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 11.5% | 5.9% |
Bigfork Valley Hospital
0.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A job hub
Every workday, about 307 people come to Bigfork for work
Where Bigfork’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
351jobs based in Bigfork
27%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bigfork
City in Minnesota, United States
Bigfork is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 400 at the 2020 census. Scenic State Park is nearby. Minnesota State Highway 38 serves as a main route in the community. State Highways 1 and 6 are nearby.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 400
- Area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,309 ft
- ZIP code
- 56628
- Area code
- 218
More about Bigfork
Still missing for Bigfork:upcoming events