Safety in Nelson
Nelson doesn’t have its own police figures in the FBI’s data. It’s most likely covered by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Below is what it reports, along with the nearest towns that have their own numbers.
Nelson is covered by the county
Nelson has no police department of its own in the FBI’s data. Calls here most likely go to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and its numbers cover the whole area it patrols, not just Nelson.
Crimes reported in the parts of Douglas County it patrols: the towns and villages without police of their own.
Property crimes (burglary, theft, stolen cars)
Violent crimes (assault, robbery, rape, murder)
These are counts, not rates. The FBI doesn’t publish how many people each agency covers, so we can’t turn them into a per-resident figure or a Safety Grade. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, offenses known to law enforcement by county and by state agency.
The closest towns that report their own numbers
None of the towns bordering Nelson has its own figures either, so here are the nearest towns with their own police departments in the FBI’s data. Tap one to see its safety page.
| Town | Grade | Distance | Violent | Property | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | B− | 5 mi | 1.9 | 6.2 | 2025 |
| Osakis | A | 6 mi | 0 | 3.4 | 2025 |
| Glenwood | A− | 16 mi | 1.1 | 2.3 | 2025 |
| Sauk Centre | B+ | 18 mi | 0.4 | 5.9 | 2025 |
| Parkers Prairie | — | 19 mi | 0 | 2.9 | 2025 |
| U.S. average | 3.3 | 15.5 | 2025 |
Reported crimes per 1,000 residents in each town’s latest year; * = a count, for towns under 1,000 people; — = not graded. Distances are straight-line. Nearby towns can be very different from Nelson: a small village and a city aren’t alike.
Know who to call, and what the weather can do
For emergencies, the nearest ER, and the storms and floods Nelson plans for.
Expected damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.
Natural hazards in Nelson →Phone numbers come from neighbors and the town’s own site (the Handbook). A number you add goes live once two neighbors confirm it.
Heads-up board
Neighbors looking out for each other in Nelson.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Please don’t name or describe individuals. In an emergency, call 911.
Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: offenses known to law enforcement by city, and state and national rates. Counts are crimes reported to police, not convictions. The Safety Grade is our own summary of that data, not an official rating. Natural hazards: FEMA National Risk Index and flood insurance claims. Hospitals: CMS Hospital General Information. This isn’t an official statement of public safety. In an emergency, call 911.