Sherburne County is a county in Minnesota, United States, part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington metropolitan statistical area. It had a population of 97,183 at the 2020 census and covers 451 square miles (1,170 km2) — 433 square miles of land and 18 square miles of water — centred near 45°26′N 93°46′W.
Elk River is the county seat, and its postal code is 55330. The county has 8 incorporated cities (several shared with neighboring counties), 9 organized townships, and a handful of unincorporated communities. Sherburne County sits in the Central time zone (UTC−6, UTC−5 daylight time); its FIPS code is 27141.
Towns & Villages in Sherburne County
Most residents live in the county’s cities along the Mississippi and Elk rivers, with the northern and western townships still largely rural. The table below marks each place’s status — incorporated city, unincorporated community, or the county seat.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk River | City · seat | Various | 25,835 | 55330 |
| Big Lake | City | Big Lake Township | — | 55309 |
| Zimmerman | City | Livonia/Santiago | — | 55398 |
| Becker | City | Becker Township | — | 55308 |
| Clear Lake | City | Clear Lake Township | — | 55319 |
| Princeton | City (partial) | Blue Hill Township | — | 55371 |
| Saint Cloud | City (partial) | — | — | 56301 |
| Bailey | Unincorp. | Baldwin Township | — | — |
| Briggs Lake | Unincorp. | Palmer Township | — | — |
| Cable | Unincorp. | Palmer Township | — | — |
| Orrock | Unincorp. | Orrock Township | — | — |
| Salida | Unincorp. | Orrock Township | — | — |
| Santiago | Unincorp. | Santiago Township | — | — |
Princeton’s city limits mostly lie across the line in Mille Lacs County, and Saint Cloud’s reach only a small annexed sliver on Sherburne’s western edge — both are listed here because part of each city sits inside the county.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Becker Township | — | Becker (city, separately governed) |
| Big Lake Township | — | Big Lake (city, separately governed) |
| Haven Township | — | Rural, west of Elk River |
| Livonia Township | — | Zimmerman area (partial) |
| Santiago Township | — | Santiago, Zimmerman area (partial) |
| Orrock Township | — | Orrock, Salida |
| Palmer Township | — | Cable, Briggs Lake |
| Blue Hill Township | — | Rural, near Princeton |
| Clear Lake Township | — | Clear Lake (city, separately governed) |
ZIP Codes
- 55330 — Elk River
- 55309 — Big Lake
- 55398 — Zimmerman
- 55308 — Becker
- 55319 — Clear Lake
- 55371 — Princeton (also serves the Sherburne side of the city)
Smaller unincorporated places such as Bailey, Cable, Orrock, Salida and Santiago share their township’s rural-route ZIP rather than carrying one of their own.
Geography
Sherburne County lies in central Minnesota on rolling, partly wooded terrain sprinkled with lakes, ponds and low depressions — a landscape shaped by glacial outwash. The Mississippi River forms the county’s southern border, and the Rum River crosses the eastern townships before joining it near Anoka. Sherfield State Forest and the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge cover a wide band of oak savanna and wetland in the county’s eastern half.
Sherburne County borders Mille Lacs County to the north, Isanti County to the northeast, Anoka County to the east, Hennepin County to the southeast, Wright County to the southwest, Stearns County to the west, and Benton County to the northwest.
Demographics
The county’s population was 97,183 at the 2020 census, up from roughly 88,000 a decade earlier — making it one of the faster-growing counties in the Twin Cities exurbs. Elk River and Big Lake are the two largest communities, together holding well over a third of the county’s residents. Median household income in Sherburne County runs above the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting its position as a commuter county for the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro. Population density is roughly 224 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Sherburne County’s economy mixes commuter employment in the Twin Cities with local manufacturing, retail and agriculture in its western townships. Xcel Energy’s Sherco (Sherburne County Generating Station) near Becker has long been one of the county’s largest employers and a major source of local tax revenue as it transitions toward renewable generation. Elk River anchors most of the county’s retail and services, and the Elk River Area School District and Big Lake School District are among the county’s larger employers. The county fair, held in Elk River each summer, remains the county’s biggest annual gathering.
History
Sherburne County was organized on February 25, 1856, carved from Benton County, and named for Moses Sherburne, a Massachusetts-born attorney who served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Territory’s supreme court. Early settlement clustered along the Mississippi and Elk rivers, with logging and milling driving the 19th-century economy around Elk River and Big Lake. The county’s population stayed largely rural and agricultural through most of the 20th century before rapid suburban growth, tied to Twin Cities commuting, reshaped Becker, Big Lake and Zimmerman from the 1990s onward.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 10 and Minnesota Highway 169 are the county’s main travel corridors, both running through Elk River toward the Twin Cities.
- Minneapolis — 35 miles southeast
- St. Cloud — 20 miles northwest
- Anoka — 15 miles southeast
- Princeton — 15 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, about 40 miles southeast of Elk River.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sherburne County?
It is in east-central Minnesota, along the Mississippi River northwest of the Twin Cities, part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington metropolitan area.
What is the population of Sherburne County?
97,183 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Sherburne County?
451 square miles (1,170 km2), including 18 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Sherburne County?
Elk River, the county’s largest city.
How many towns are in Sherburne County?
Eight incorporated cities (two shared with neighboring counties), nine townships, and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Sherburne County?
Main ZIPs include 55330 (Elk River), 55309 (Big Lake), 55398 (Zimmerman), 55308 (Becker) and 55319 (Clear Lake).
What is Sherburne County’s biggest employer?
Xcel Energy’s Sherco power plant near Becker is among the largest single employers and taxpayers in the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.