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Knife River, MN
Census-designated place in Lake County, Minnesota. ZIP codes: 55609.
Population
131
Land area
0.7sq mi
People per sq mi
197
ZIP codes
1
Knife River and its ZIP codes
Knife River at a glance
- Knife River is about 2.7 times as dense as Minnesota as a whole.
Local data for Knife River, MN
Counts from official public data
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lake County. PPP loans are for Knife River.
Unemployment rate
4.3%
Aug 2026, +0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,708
4,000 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$60,682
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$99M
FY 2026, $9,075 per person
Environment and hazard risk
Knife River, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
606
Countywide, mostly heavy snow
Flood insurance policies
8
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
75° / 7°F
31.7 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Knife River, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.4%
U.S. 33.3% +1.1 pts
Diabetes
10.6%
U.S. 12.1% -1.5 pts
Smoking
14.4%
U.S. 12.8% +1.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.1%
U.S. 11.1% -5.0 pts
ZIP codes in Knife River
1 in or overlapping Knife River. Population shown
Cities near Knife River
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Two HarborsCity | 7.2 mi | 3.3 |
| Rice LakeCity | 16 mi | 32.7 |
| DuluthCity | 21 mi | 71.7 |
| Port Wing, WICensus-designated place | 23 mi | 1.2 |
| Superior, WICity | 23 mi | 36.6 |
| HermantownCity | 24 mi | 34.4 |
| ProctorCity | 26 mi | 3.4 |
| Superior, WIVillage | 26 mi | 1.2 |
| Poplar, WIVillage | 26 mi | 11.9 |
| Herbster, WICensus-designated place | 27 mi | 5.6 |
| Oliver, WIVillage | 29 mi | 2.1 |
| Brule, WICensus-designated place | 29 mi | 2.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Knife River, MN in?
- Knife River is in Lake County, Minnesota.
- What ZIP codes are in Knife River, MN?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Knife River include 55609.
- What is the population of Knife River, MN?
- About 131 people live in Knife River, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Knife River?
- Nearby places include Two Harbors (7.2 mi), Rice Lake (16 mi), Duluth (21 mi), Port Wing, WI (23 mi), Superior, WI (23 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023