Hubbard County is a county in Minnesota, United States, in the north-central lakes region of the state. It had a population of 21,344 at the 2020 census and covers 926 square miles (2,398 km2) of land plus 73 square miles (190 km2) of water, centred near 47°05′N 95°06′W.
Park Rapids is the county seat, and its postal code is 56470. The county has 4 incorporated cities, 2 census-designated places, several unincorporated communities, and 27 organized townships. It runs on Central time and its telephone area code is 218.
Towns & Villages in Hubbard County
Hubbard County’s settlements split between four incorporated cities, two census-designated places (CDPs), and a scatter of unincorporated communities inside its 27 townships. Below is every populated place with a confirmed location in the county.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Rapids | City · seat | — | — | 56470 |
| Akeley | City | Akeley | — | 56433 |
| Laporte | City | Lakeport | — | 56461 |
| Nevis | City | Nevis | — | 56467 |
| Hubbard | CDP | Hubbard | — | 56470 |
| Lake George | CDP | Lake George | — | 56458 |
| Arago | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Badoura | Unincorp. | Badoura | — | — |
| Becida | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Benedict | Unincorp. | — | — | 56436 |
| Chamberlain | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Dorset | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Emmaville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Guthrie | Unincorp. | Guthrie | — | — |
| Kabekona Corner | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nary | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Two names on the old list were dropped as not genuine populated places: “Ken and Debi Lathrop MH Park” and “Lake George Pines MH Park” are individual manufactured-home parks, not communities in their own right, and “Park Estates” is a subdivision of Park Rapids rather than a separate place. “Horton” and “Farris” and “Yola” could not be verified against any current gazetteer entry for Hubbard County and are omitted pending confirmation. Hubbard the CDP and Hubbard Township share a name with the county itself; the CDP sits inside Hubbard Township near the county’s centre.
Townships
Hubbard County has 27 organized civil townships. Individual 2020 township-level population figures are not separately published, so this table lists each township with its principal settlement only.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Akeley | — | Akeley |
| Arago | — | Arago |
| Badoura | — | Badoura |
| Clay | — | — |
| Clover | — | — |
| Crow Wing Lake | — | — |
| Farden | — | — |
| Fern | — | — |
| Guthrie | — | Guthrie |
| Hart Lake | — | — |
| Helga | — | Dorset |
| Hendrickson | — | — |
| Henrietta | — | — |
| Hubbard | — | Hubbard |
| Lake Alice | — | — |
| Lake Emma | — | — |
| Lake George | — | Lake George |
| Lake Hattie | — | — |
| Lakeport | — | Laporte |
| Mantrap | — | — |
| Nevis | — | Nevis |
| Rockwood | — | — |
| Schoolcraft | — | — |
| Steamboat River | — | — |
| Straight River | — | — |
| Thorpe | — | — |
| Todd | — | — |
| White Oak | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 56470 — Park Rapids (also serves the Hubbard CDP)
- 56433 — Akeley
- 56461 — Laporte
- 56467 — Nevis
- 56458 — Lake George
- 56436 — Benedict (PO Box delivery only)
Smaller communities such as Arago, Badoura, Becida, Chamberlain, Dorset, Emmaville, Guthrie, Kabekona Corner, and Nary have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest listed post office town.
Geography
Hubbard County sits in Minnesota’s north-central lakes country, terrain the county itself describes as hilly, largely wooded, and dotted with lakes and ponds; the highest point reaches 1,549 feet. The Mississippi River rises from Lake Itasca just across the county’s western edge, and Hubbard’s own lakes — including Long Lake, Fishhook Lake, and the Kabekona chain — feed the Crow Wing River watershed. The county also holds a portion of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in its eastern townships.
Hubbard County borders Beltrami County to the north, Cass County to the east, Wadena County to the south, Becker County to the southwest, and Clearwater County to the northwest.
Demographics
Hubbard County had 21,344 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 23 people per square mile. Park Rapids, the county seat, is by far the largest community, followed by Nevis. The county’s median household income runs below the Minnesota median of $85,086, typical of the state’s rural lake counties where seasonal and retiree residents make up a large share of the population. The 2020 census recorded the county as 90.3% White and 2.7% Native American, reflecting its shared territory with the Leech Lake Reservation.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism anchors Hubbard County’s economy — its hundreds of lakes draw seasonal cabin owners, anglers, and boaters, and Park Rapids serves as the retail and lodging hub for the surrounding resort area. Forestry and small-scale agriculture round out the base, and Itasca State Park, just over the county line, brings steady visitor traffic through the county’s western townships. Park Rapids hosts an annual Legend of Sleepy Hollow Days festival and a summer farmers market that draw both residents and lake-country visitors.
History
Hubbard County was organized on February 26, 1883, out of territory partitioned from Cass County. It was named for Lucius Frederick Hubbard, governor of Minnesota from 1882 to 1887, a Civil War officer and newspaper editor before his time in politics. The county’s boundaries have not changed since its formation. Its early economy centred on logging the county’s pine forests, and the arrival of the railroad through Park Rapids in the 1890s shifted the town into the county’s commercial centre it remains today.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 2 and 71 cross Hubbard County, along with Minnesota state highways 34, 64, 87, 113, 200, and 226.
- Bemidji — 30 miles northwest
- Brainerd — 55 miles southeast
- Detroit Lakes — 45 miles west
- Walker — 20 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI), roughly 30 miles northwest of Park Rapids; Park Rapids Municipal Airport offers general-aviation service within the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hubbard County?
It is in Minnesota, in the north-central part of the state, bordered by Beltrami, Cass, Wadena, Becker, and Clearwater counties.
What is the population of Hubbard County?
21,344 at the 2020 census.
How big is Hubbard County?
926 square miles of land and 73 square miles of water, 999 square miles total.
What is the county seat of Hubbard County?
Park Rapids.
How many towns are in Hubbard County?
Four incorporated cities (Akeley, Laporte, Nevis, and Park Rapids), two census-designated places, and several unincorporated communities across its 27 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Hubbard County?
56433, 56436, 56458, 56461, 56467, and 56470.
Why is Hubbard County named that?
For Lucius Frederick Hubbard, Minnesota’s governor from 1882 to 1887, when the county was organized.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.