Clearwater County is a county in Minnesota, United States, in the northwestern part of the state, roughly halfway between Bemidji and Fargo. It had a population of 8,524 at the 2020 census and covers 1,030 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 999 square miles (2,590 km2) is land, centred near 47°34′N 95°23′W.
Bagley is the county seat, and its postal code is 56621. The county has four incorporated cities, roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and lake landings, and is organized into 22 townships. It lies in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Clearwater County
Clearwater County is home to four incorporated cities — Bagley, Clearbrook, Gonvick and Shevlin — and about two dozen unincorporated communities, lake landings and platted places scattered through its forests and lake country. “Unincorp.” below marks a place with no city government of its own; population and ZIP are shown only where a figure could be confirmed.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagley | City · seat | 1,285 | 56621 |
| Clearbrook | City | 464 | 56634 |
| Gonvick | City | 263 | 56644 |
| Shevlin | City | — | — |
| Leonard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Alida | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Berner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Bear Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bonga Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bush Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coffee Pot Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ebro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elbow Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jack Pine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lake Itasca | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Minerva | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ponsford Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rice Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roy Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South End | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vern | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weme | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zerkel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| City Trailer Park Number One | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green Acres Trailer Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| O J Mathison MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stinar Whispering Pines MH Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
Lake Itasca sits partly in Clearwater County and partly in neighboring Hubbard and Becker counties — the small settlement of that name near the lake’s outlet is the county’s portion of the shared Itasca State Park area, not a separate town.
ZIP Codes
- 56621 — Bagley (also serves the county’s central townships)
- 56634 — Clearbrook (also serves the county’s southwest corner)
- 56644 — Gonvick (also serves the county’s south end)
Shevlin and Leonard, along with the lake landings and platted places listed above, are served by one of these three post offices or by post offices in neighboring counties; a confirmed ZIP for each could not be established for this page.
Geography
Clearwater County lies in the transition zone between Minnesota’s prairie country and its northern forests, and about 3 percent of its area is water. Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi River, sits along the county’s southern edge, and the county also holds parts of the Red Lake and White Earth Indian reservations. It borders Beltrami County to the northeast, Hubbard County to the southeast, Becker County to the south, Mahnomen County to the southwest, Polk County to the west and Pennington County to the northwest.
Demographics
Clearwater County had 8,524 residents at the 2020 census, a population density of roughly 8.5 people per square mile of land. Bagley (1,285) and Clearbrook (464) are its two largest communities. Minnesota’s statewide median household income is the Minnesota median of $85,086; Clearwater County, a rural forest-and-farm county without a metro-area labor market, typically runs below that figure, though no county-specific estimate could be confirmed for this page.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry and tourism anchor the local economy. Farms in the county’s southern townships grow small grains, hay and wild rice; timber and forest-products work supports the northern half. Itasca State Park, Minnesota’s oldest state park, draws visitors to the Mississippi headwaters year-round and is a significant seasonal employer and tax generator for the county. The Red Lake and White Earth reservations, which extend into the county, support tribal government and enterprise employment as well.
History
Clearwater County was organized on December 20, 1902, carved out of Beltrami and Becker counties, and takes its name from Clearwater Lake and the Clearwater River within its borders. Itasca State Park, established in 1891 to protect the Mississippi’s source, predates the county itself by more than a decade and remains its best-known landmark. The county’s Ojibwe communities, tied to the Red Lake and White Earth reservations, predate European settlement by centuries.
Getting There
U.S. Route 2 crosses the county through Bagley, and Minnesota Highways 92, 113, 200 and 223 connect its smaller towns.
- Bemidji — about 30 miles east
- Park Rapids — about 35 miles southeast
- Detroit Lakes — about 45 miles south
- Fargo, N.D. — about 100 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Bemidji Regional Airport, about 30 miles east of Bagley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clearwater County, Minnesota?
It sits in Minnesota’s northwestern lake country, about 30 miles west of Bemidji, and holds part of the Mississippi River’s source at Lake Itasca.
What is the population of Clearwater County?
8,524, as of the 2020 census.
How big is Clearwater County?
1,030 square miles (2,700 km2) in total, of which 999 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Clearwater County?
Bagley is the county seat.
How many towns are in Clearwater County?
Four incorporated cities — Bagley, Clearbrook, Gonvick and Shevlin — plus roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and lake landings.
What ZIP codes are in Clearwater County?
56621 (Bagley), 56634 (Clearbrook) and 56644 (Gonvick) are its confirmed ZIP codes.
Is Lake Itasca in Clearwater County?
Part of it is; Lake Itasca and the Mississippi headwaters sit near the shared boundary of Clearwater, Hubbard and Becker counties inside Itasca State Park.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.