The Dawson Bank Museum is a museum operating inside of the former First National Bank Building in Dawson, Minnesota. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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3 on the National Register · #79 in MNHistoric places →

Know Dawson

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

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About Dawson

City in Minnesota, United States

1,466Population

1.4 sq miArea

1,047 ftElevation

Dawson is a city in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,466 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code56232

Area code320

Living in Dawson

Housing in Dawson

$183K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Dawson home is worth about $183,000, about the same as a year ago, 48% below the Minnesota typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Dawson

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About one in 3 of Dawson’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Montevideo (12%), Madison (5%) and Marshall (3%). Half commute less than 17 miles.

Montevideo

12%

Madison

Marshall

Riverside

29%Work in townlive and work in Dawson 17 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 739Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Dawson →

Health in Dawson

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 71% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 89% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

1better than MN·5worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▼ 7 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

81.1%More adults treating high blood pressureMN 76.1% · better 8%More adults with heart diseaseMN 5.9% · worse

Care nearby

Johnson Memorial HospitalDawson · 0.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Access Health - MarshallMarshall · 36.3 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 Dawson · CMS · HRSAHealth in Dawson →

Natural hazards in Dawson

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌡️ Heat waves

26Does Dawson flood?paid flood claims since 1992 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Dawson

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Dawson →

Climate in Dawson

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Dawson has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

26° / 8°Winter

55° / 34°Spring

81° / 59°Summer

58° / 36°Fall

How much snow does Dawson get?About 51 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 2, with the last in spring around May 3.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Dawson →

Schools in Dawson

All Dawson schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Dawson’s kids attend outperform 74% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictDawson-Boyd Public School DistrictSchools2

Stevens Elementary B+Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 297 students Dawson-Boyd Secondary B-High · Grades 7–12 · 269 students

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.