Wadena County is a county in Minnesota, United States, on the transition belt between prairie and northern forest in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 14,065 at the 2020 census and covers 543 square miles (1,410 km2) of land and water, centred near 46°35′N 94°58′W.
Wadena is the county seat, and its postal code is 56482. The county has 6 incorporated cities, 3 unincorporated communities and 15 townships. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Wadena County
Wadena County has 6 incorporated cities and 3 unincorporated communities. Wadena is the county seat; the others range from small farm-service cities to crossroads hamlets. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadena | City · seat | Wadena | — | 56482 |
| Staples | City | Leaf River | — | 56479 |
| Verndale | City | Wing River | — | 56481 |
| Sebeka | City | Blueberry | — | 56477 |
| Menahga | City | — | — | 56464 |
| Aldrich | City | Aldrich | — | 56434 |
| Bluegrass | Unincorp. | — | — | 56482 |
| Huntersville | Unincorp. | Huntersville | — | 56482 |
| Oylen | Unincorp. | — | — | 56482 |
Two of the county’s cities straddle a border: Staples sits mostly in Todd County, with a small extension into Wadena County, and Wadena itself has a small portion across the line in Otter Tail County. Both are listed here under their historic county-seat/anchor status.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Wadena | — | Wadena (city, separately incorporated) |
| Blueberry | — | Sebeka (city, separately incorporated) |
| Wing River | — | Verndale (city, separately incorporated) |
| Leaf River | — | Staples (city, separately incorporated) |
| Huntersville | — | Huntersville |
| Aldrich | — | Aldrich (city, separately incorporated) |
| Rockwood | — | rural |
| Shell River | — | rural |
| Red Eye | — | rural |
| North Germany | — | rural |
| Thomastown | — | rural |
| Orton | — | rural |
| Lyons | — | rural |
| Meadow | — | rural |
| Bullard | — | rural |
ZIP Codes
- 56482 — Wadena (also serves Bluegrass, Huntersville and Oylen)
- 56479 — Staples
- 56481 — Verndale
- 56477 — Sebeka
- 56464 — Menahga
- 56434 — Aldrich
The unincorporated communities of Bluegrass, Huntersville and Oylen have no post office of their own and are served by the Wadena ZIP.
Geography
Wadena County lies on the boundary between Minnesota’s central hardwood forest and the prairie belt to the west, giving it a mix of farmland, hay meadows and hardwood-conifer woodlots. Savanna soils, transitional between prairie and forest, are more common here than in most of the state. The Leaf River, Redeye River, Wing River and Crow Wing River all cross the county, and Long Lake and several smaller glacial lakes sit in its northeastern townships. Elevation is gently rolling, shaped by the retreat of the last continental glaciers.
The county borders Hubbard County to the north, Cass County to the east, Todd County to the south, Otter Tail County to the southwest, and Becker County to the northwest.
Demographics
Wadena County had 14,065 residents at the 2020 census. Wadena, the county seat, is by far the largest community, followed by Menahga. Median household income in the county runs below the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting the area’s farm- and forest-product economic base. Population density works out to roughly 26 people per square mile of land, typical of rural west-central Minnesota.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry and food processing anchor the local economy, alongside health care and retail trade centred on Wadena. The county was historically a dairying region: Sebeka once had one of Minnesota’s largest creameries, and cheese factories operated across several townships through the mid-20th century. Wadena today serves as the regional trade and medical hub for the county and parts of its neighbors, with Tri-County Health Care based there.
History
Wadena County was created by the Minnesota Legislature on June 11, 1858, and formally organized on February 21, 1873. It takes its name from a trading post named for Chief Wadena, a 19th-century Ojibwe leader. Settlement in the Wadena townsite began around 1871, and the town had a post office by 1873. The county was rebuilt after a devastating F4 tornado struck Wadena on June 17, 2010, destroying much of the town’s business district and a school.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 10 and 71 cross at Wadena, the county’s main highway junction, with Minnesota State Highways 29 and 87 also serving the county.
- Staples — 16 miles southeast of Wadena
- Menahga — 22 miles north of Wadena
- Detroit Lakes — 35 miles northwest of Wadena
- Brainerd — 45 miles east of Wadena
The nearest commercial airport is Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, about 45 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Wadena County?
It is in west-central Minnesota, on U.S. Highways 10 and 71 about 45 miles west of Brainerd.
What is the population of Wadena County?
14,065 at the 2020 census.
How big is Wadena County?
543 square miles (1,410 km2), including 7.0 square miles of water.
What is the Wadena County seat?
Wadena is the county seat.
How many towns are in Wadena County?
Six incorporated cities — Wadena, Staples, Verndale, Sebeka, Menahga and Aldrich — plus three unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Wadena County?
56482 (Wadena), 56479 (Staples), 56481 (Verndale), 56477 (Sebeka), 56464 (Menahga) and 56434 (Aldrich).
Why is Wadena County named that?
It takes its name from a trading post named for Chief Wadena, an Ojibwe leader of the 19th century.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.