Marshall County is a county in Minnesota, United States, on the Red River Valley plain along the North Dakota border, in the northwestern part of the state. It had a population of 9,040 at the 2020 census and covers 1,775 square miles (4,600 km2) of land plus 38 square miles (98 km2) of water, centred near 48°21′N 96°23′W.
Warren is the county seat, and its postal code is 56762. The county has 11 incorporated cities, 9 unincorporated communities, and 49 organized townships plus one unorganized territory (Mud Lake). It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Marshall County
Marshall County’s 11 incorporated cities are all small — none tops a few hundred residents — alongside a handful of unincorporated communities scattered across its townships. “CDP” marks a Census-Designated Place with no city government; “Unincorp.” marks a community with no municipal boundary at all.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | City · seat | Warrenton | — | 56762 |
| Argyle | City | McCrea | — | 56713 |
| Grygla | City | Rollis | — | 56727 |
| Middle River | City | Middle River | — | 56737 |
| Newfolden | City | New Folden | — | 56738 |
| Oslo | City | — | — | 56744 |
| Stephen | City | — | — | 56757 |
| Strandquist | City | — | — | 56758 |
| Viking | City | Viking | — | 56760 |
| Alvarado | City | — | — | 56710 |
| Holt | City | Holt | — | — |
| Big Woods | Unincorp. | Big Woods | — | — |
| Englund | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Espelie | Unincorp. | Espelie | — | — |
| Florian | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gatzke | Unincorp. | — | — | 56724 |
| Luna | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| March | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Radium | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rosewood | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Several trailer courts named in older records — East Acres, Grygla Trailer Court, Kollins Trailer Court, Lilac Ridge, Valley Court, and Wagon Wheel Trailer Court — are small manufactured-home parks rather than distinct census places and are not listed separately here.
Townships
Marshall County is organised into 49 civil townships plus the unorganized Mud Lake territory in its northeast corner. Verified 2020 township-level population figures are not published in the sources checked for this profile, so the table below lists the townships whose names correspond to one of the county’s incorporated cities or communities; the remaining organised townships (Agder, Alma, Augsburg, Bloomer, Boxville, Cedar, Como, Comstock, Donnelly, Eagle Point, East Park, East Valley, Eckvoll, Excel, Fork, Grand Plain, Huntly, Lincoln, Linsell, Marsh Grove, Moose River, Moylan, Nelson Park, New Maine, New Solum, Oak Park, Parker, Sinnott, Spruce Valley, Tamarac, Thief Lake, Valley, Vega, Veldt, Wanger, West Valley, Whiteford, and Wright) are rural and hold no incorporated place.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Warrenton | — | Warren |
| McCrea | — | Argyle |
| Middle River | — | Middle River |
| New Folden | — | Newfolden |
| Rollis | — | Grygla |
| Viking | — | Viking |
| Holt | — | Holt |
| Big Woods | — | Big Woods |
| Espelie | — | Espelie |
| Foldahl | — | Foldahl |
ZIP Codes
- 56762 — Warren (also serves Warrenton Township)
- 56713 — Argyle
- 56727 — Grygla
- 56737 — Middle River
- 56738 — Newfolden
- 56744 — Oslo
- 56757 — Stephen
- 56758 — Strandquist
- 56760 — Viking
- 56710 — Alvarado
- 56724 — Gatzke
Holt and the smaller unincorporated communities without their own post office draw mail through the nearest listed ZIP code above.
Geography
Marshall County lies on the flat lakebed plain of glacial Lake Agassiz in Minnesota’s northwest corner, crossed by the Middle River, the Snake River, and the Thief River, with the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area covering much of its northeastern townships. The county’s high point sits in the northeast near 48.53°N, 96.02°W. It borders Kittson County to the north, Roseau County to the northeast, Beltrami County to the east, Pennington County to the southeast, Polk County to the south, and, across the Red River in North Dakota, Grand Forks County to the southwest, Walsh County to the west, and Pembina County to the northwest.
Demographics
Marshall County’s population was 9,040 at the 2020 census, spread thinly across its 1,775 land square miles for a density of roughly 5 people per square mile. Warren and Argyle are the county’s two largest communities. Verified individual median household income figures for the county were not available in the sources checked for this profile; Minnesota’s statewide 2023 ACS median household income is $85,086, and rural Marshall County has historically run below the state figure, in line with other Red River Valley farm counties.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Marshall County’s economy — small grains, sugar beets, and soybeans on the flat, fertile Agassiz lakebed soil, alongside cattle ranching in the county’s eastern, less-tilled townships. Warren serves as the county’s retail, medical, and government hub. The Thief Lake and Agassiz-area wetlands draw hunters and birders each fall, and the county’s snowmobile and ATV trail network is a winter draw for the region.
History
The Minnesota legislature organized Marshall County on February 25, 1879, carving it from the southern half of what was then Kittson County. It is named for William Rainey Marshall, Minnesota’s governor from 1866 to 1870. Warren, platted the same year the county was organized, was named county seat and has held the role ever since.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 59 and 75 run north-south through the county, meeting Minnesota Highways 1, 32, 89, 219, 220, and 317, which connect its smaller towns.
- Grand Forks, ND — 45 miles southwest
- Thief River Falls — 30 miles southeast
- Roseau — 55 miles northeast
- Crookston — 45 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Grand Forks International Airport, in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Marshall County, Minnesota?
It is in the northwestern corner of Minnesota, on the North Dakota border along the Red River Valley.
What is the population of Marshall County?
9,040, at the 2020 census.
How big is Marshall County?
1,775 square miles (4,600 km2) of land plus 38 square miles (98 km2) of water.
What is the Marshall County seat?
Warren is the county seat.
How many towns are in Marshall County?
Eleven incorporated cities, plus nine unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Marshall County?
Eleven ZIP codes serve the county, from 56710 (Alvarado) to 56762 (Warren) — see the ZIP Codes section above for the full list.
Who is Marshall County named after?
William Rainey Marshall, Minnesota’s governor from 1866 to 1870.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.