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Leaf River

A township of 473 people in Wadena County, Minnesota
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Outdoors in Leaf River

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Conserved land0.4%83 of 22,366 acres
Trails3.7 mi0.1 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves0named 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

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About Leaf River

Ghost town in Minnesota, United States

Leaf River, or Leafriver, is a ghost town in section 22 of Leaf River Township, Wadena County, Minnesota, United States. Today the town has a population around 50. There is a restaurant, a golf course, an old school house and a residential community.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Town numbers

Living in Leaf River

Work & commute in Leaf River

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Most working residents leave Leaf River for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Wadena (25%), Staples (11%) and New York Mills (7%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Wadena
25%
Staples
11%
New York Mills
7%
Motley
4%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Leaf River →

Health in Leaf River

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

Astera HealthWadena · 4.5 mi · ER · rural critical access
Community Health Service Inc. MoorheadMoorhead · 82.5 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 56482, 56477 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Leaf River →

Natural hazards in Leaf River

44
Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 44% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Leaf River →

Climate in Leaf River

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Leaf River has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to -1°, and about 51 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

22° / 3°Winter
52° / 30°Spring
78° / 56°Summer
54° / 35°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Leaf River →

Libraries near Leaf River

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Nearest: Wadena Public LibraryWadena · 4.7 miles · 38 hrs a week
Famous people from Leaf RiverWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Leaf River.Meet them →

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