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Sterling

A township of 244 people in Blue Earth County, Minnesota
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Town hallWanted · be the firstMain streetWanted · be the firstThe libraryWanted · be the first Add a photoStart the Sterling album
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Now in Sterling

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Weather

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Around town

The places and views that make it Sterling

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The Sterling album

0 of 12 shotsNeighbors document Sterling together
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Outdoors in Sterling

Parks & trails →
Conserved land1.5%350 of 22,902 acres
Trails0.6 mi0 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves2named on the map
1Daly Park & Campground0.6 mi of trails · 46 acresDirections
2George & Elizabeth Lange Wildlife Management Area74 acresDirections

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 Sterling

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

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About Sterling

Township in Minnesota, United States
244Population
36 sq miArea
1,004 ftElevation

Sterling Township is a township in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 276 as of the 2000 census.

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

Town numbers

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Living in Sterling

Work & commute in Sterling

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Most working residents leave Sterling for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Mankato (28%), North Mankato (13%) and Mapleton (12%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Mankato
28%
North Mankato
13%
Mapleton
12%
South Bend
3%
1%Work in townlive and work in Sterling 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 35Jobs based herea commuter town
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Sterling →

Health in Sterling

Compared with Minnesota

7worse than MN

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 25 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close
BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.8%More adults with COPDMN 5.4% · worse 7.4%More adults with heart diseaseMN 5.9% · worse 26.9%More adults with arthritisMN 22.3% · worse

Care nearby

United Hospital DistrictBlue Earth · 18 mi · ER · rural critical access
Open Door Health CenterMankato · 19.3 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 56010, 56065 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Sterling →

Natural hazards in Sterling

39
Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 39% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌵 Drought
0Does Sterling flood?no paid flood claims on record2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to SterlingMapSterling vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Sterling →

Climate in Sterling

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Sterling has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 47 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

27° / 10°Winter
56° / 35°Spring
81° / 60°Summer
58° / 38°Fall
How much snow does Sterling get?About 47 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 10, with the last in spring around Apr 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Sterling →

Libraries near Sterling

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Nearest: Mapleton Public LibraryMapleton · 6.1 miles · 26 hrs a week
Famous people from SterlingWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Sterling.Meet them →

Where Sterling is

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Imported town boundary

Minnesota · MN · Blue Earth CountyTown boundary on OpenStreetMap →
Around town

Bordering towns

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MapletonShelbyLyraDelavanWinnebago City Sterling Mapleton Shelby Lyra Delavan Winnebago City
EMapleton WShelby NLyra SDelavan SWWinnebago City
Compare side by side:Sterling vs MapletonSterling vs ShelbySterling vs LyraSterling vs DelavanSterling vs Winnebago City

How things work in Sterling

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Town hall & decisionsTrash, recycling & yard wasteUtilities & servicesStreets, parking & getting aroundSafety & preparednessSchools & learningParks, sports & recreationHealth & emergency care
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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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