Ulen ( YOO-lən) is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, along the South Branch of the Wild Rice River. The population was 476 at the 2020 census. Near this small community, what may be an authentic Viking sword known as the Ulen sword was found in a field by Hans O. Hansen in 1911. The sword is currently on display in the Ulen Museum. Ulen and the area surrounding is mostly inhabited by later generation Norwegian-Americans. Ulen is the southern terminus of the Agassiz Recreational Trail, a 53-mile multi-use trail built on an abandoned railroad grade which has its northern terminus at Crookston, Minnesota.

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

Town numbers

ZIP code56585

Area code218

Living in Ulen

Work & commute in Ulen

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Ulen for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Fargo (36%), Moorhead (12%) and Hawley (11%). Half commute less than 29 miles.

Fargo, ND

36%

Moorhead

12%

Hawley

11%

West Fargo, ND

5%Work in townlive and work in Ulen 29 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 365Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Ulen →

Health in Ulen

Compared with Minnesota

4worse than MN

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 28 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.2%More adults with heart diseaseMN 5.9% · worse 10.3%More adults who have had cancerMN 8.5% · worse 25.5%More adults with arthritisMN 22.3% · worse

Care nearby

Essentia Health AdaAda · 19.9 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. MoorheadMoorhead · 26.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Ulen · CMS · HRSAHealth in Ulen →

Natural hazards in Ulen

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Ulen flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 25 declared for Clay County MapUlen vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Ulen

Full climate →

Ulen has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to -2°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

20° / 2°Winter

52° / 30°Spring

79° / 56°Summer

54° / 34°Fall

How much snow does Ulen get?About 41 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 27, with the last in spring around May 11.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.4° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Ulen

All Ulen schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Ulen’s kids attend outperform 71% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictULEN-HITTERDAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTSchools2

Ulen-Hitterdal Elementary BElementary · Grades K–6 · 144 students Ulen-Hitterdal Secondary B-High · Grades 7–12 · 158 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.