Des Lacs is a city in Ward County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 185 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Minot Metropolitan Statistical Area. Des Lacs was founded in 1888, named after the Riviere de Lacs (now Des Lacs River), from the French for "River [of] The Lakes."

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

Town numbers

ZIP code58733

Area code701

Living in Des Lacs

Work & commute in Des Lacs

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Des Lacs for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Minot (41%), Harrison (11%) and Bismarck (6%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Minot

41%

Harrison

11%

Bismarck

Mandan

0%Work in townlive and work in Des Lacs 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 3Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Des Lacs →

Health in Des Lacs

Compared with North Dakota

7better than ND·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits all close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.4%Fewer adults facing food insecurityND 10.7% · better 4.6%Fewer adults without reliable transportationND 6.5% · better 10.8%More adults who have had cancerND 8.2% · worse

Care nearby

Trinity HospitalsMinot · 12.8 mi · ER

Minot ClinicMinot · 11.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

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

Natural hazards in Des Lacs

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 21% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Des Lacs flood?no paid flood claims on record 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Des Lacs

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Des Lacs →

Climate in Des Lacs

Full climate →

Des Lacs has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 2°, and about 55 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

22° / 5°Winter

52° / 29°Spring

79° / 54°Summer

53° / 32°Fall

How much snow does Des Lacs get?About 55 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 27, with the last in spring around May 13.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Des Lacs

All Des Lacs schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Des Lacs’s kids attend outperform 83% of North Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictUNITED 7Schools1

Des Lacs-Burlington High School A-High · Grades 7–12 · 294 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 ND. Ratings are from neighbors.