Editing Brainerd, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Brainerd
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = NP Shops 5.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Northern Pacific Railroad Shops Historic District
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Brainerdlogo.jpg
| seal_size          = 120px
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
| image_map          = Crow Wing County Minnesota Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Brainerd Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within Crow Wing County
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Minnesota#USA
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_label      = Brainerd
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Minnesota##Location within the United States
| pushpin_label_position = left
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Minnesota]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota|Crow Wing]]
<!-- Government ----------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Lilly Carr<ref name="MayorsPage">{{cite web|title=StaffDirectory|url=https://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/directory.aspx?EID=38|publisher=The City of Brainerd|accessdate=December 13, 2023}}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1870
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = March 6, 1873<ref name="HistoryNotes">{{cite web|title=History Notes|url=https://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/365/History-Notes|publisher=The City of Brainerd|accessdate=December 21, 2022}}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 33.21
| area_land_km2      = 31.42
| area_water_km2     = 1.79
| area_total_sq_mi   = 12.82
| area_land_sq_mi    = 12.13
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.69
| area_water_percent = 5.78
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
<!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 14580
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
| population_total   = 14395
| population_density_km2 = 458.20
| population_density_sq_mi = 1186.73
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|Central]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| coordinates        = {{coord|46|21|29|N|94|12|03|W|region:US-MN|display=it}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1217
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 56401
| area_code          = [[Area code 218|218]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 27-07300
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2394238<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394238}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/|Official website}}
}}

'''Brainerd''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|eɪ|n|ər|d}} {{respell|BRAY|nərd}}) is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota]], United States. Its population was 14,395 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile?g=1600000US2707300 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 21, 2022}}</ref><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> Brainerd straddles the [[Mississippi River]] several miles upstream from its [[confluence]] with the [[Crow Wing River]], having been founded as a site for a railroad crossing above the confluence. Brainerd is the principal city of the [[Brainerd, Minnesota micropolitan area|Brainerd Micropolitan Area]], a [[United States micropolitan area|micropolitan area]] covering [[Cass County, Minnesota|Cass]] and [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota|Crow Wing]] counties and with a combined population of 96,189 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The city is well known for being the partial setting of the 1996 film ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]''.<ref name="Dispatch"/>

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2020}}
[[File: Brainerd Water Tower.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Brainerd Water Tower]] is shown on the city's seal]]

The area that is now Brainerd was formerly [[Ojibwe]] territory. Brainerd was first seen by European settlers on Christmas Day in 1805, when [[Zebulon Pike]] stopped there while searching for the [[Source (river or stream)|headwaters]] of the [[Mississippi River]]. Crow Wing Village, a fur and logging community near [[Fort Ripley, Minnesota|Fort Ripley]], brought settlers to the area in the mid-19th century.

In those early years, the relationship between the settlers and the Native Americans was fraught. The most famous example of this tenuous relationship was the "Blueberry War" of 1872. Two Ojibwe were accused of murdering a missing girl. After they were arrested and jailed, a mob overpowered the sheriff's officers, dragged the suspects from the jail and lynched them.  Shortly after these events, a group of Ojibwe approached the town, and troops from Fort Ripley were called in to prevent what residents assumed was a reprisal attack for the lynchings. As it turned out, the Ojibwe only wanted to sell [[blueberry|blueberries]] and the settlers avoided a bloody misunderstanding. The guilt of the two Ojibwe was never proven.

Brainerd was the idea of [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific]] railroad president [[John Gregory Smith]], who in 1870 named the [[township (United States)|township]] after his wife, [[Anne Eliza Smith (Brainerd)|Anne Eliza Brainerd Smith]], and father-in-law, [[Lawrence Brainerd]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ci.brainerd.mn.us/365/History-Notes | title=History Notes &#124; Brainerd, MN }}</ref> The company built a bridge over the Mississippi seven miles north of Crow Wing Village and used the Brainerd station as a machine and car shop, prompting many to move north and abandon Crow Wing. Brainerd was organized as a [[city]] on March 6, 1873.<ref>{{cite book | last= Upham | first= Warren | title= Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ShcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA156 | year= 1920 | publisher= Minnesota Historical Society | page= 156}}</ref>

On January 11, 1876, the state legislature revoked Brainerd's charter for six years, in reaction to the election of local handyman Thomas Lanihan as mayor instead of Judge C.B. Sleeper. Brainerd functioned as a township in the interim.

In 1881, the railroad, and with it the town, expanded. Lumber and paper, as well as agriculture in general, were important early industries, but for many decades Brainerd remained a railroad town: in the 1920s roughly 90% of Brainerd residents were dependent on the railroad. Participation in the [[Great Railroad Strike of 1922|nationwide railroad strike]] on July 1, 1922, left most Brainerd residents unemployed and embittered many of those involved.

On October 27, 1933, the First National Bank of Brainerd became briefly famous when it was held up by [[Baby Face Nelson]] and his gang.

Over the years, increased efficiency and the better positioning of the more centralized [[Livingston, Montana|Livingston]], [[Montana]], shops led to a decline in the importance of a railroad station that once employed over 1,000 and serviced [[locomotive]]s for the whole Northern Pacific line. The [[BNSF Railway]] (successor to the Northern Pacific) continues to employ approximately 70 people in Brainerd at a maintenance-of-way equipment shop that repairs and maintains track and equipment. The former Northern Pacific railway station has been converted to breweries, coffee shops, and event centers available to rent for special occasions.

The Northwest Paper Company built Brainerd's first [[paper mill]] in 1903 and with the steady increase in [[tourism]] since the early 20th century the paper and service industries have become Brainerd's primary employers. The town's coating mill was sold by [[Potlatch Corporation|Potlatch]] to Missota Paper in 2003 and then by Missota Paper to Wausau Paper in 2004. It is now used as a small industrial center called Brainerd Industrial Center (BIC).

Due to the many lakes in the area, Brainerd is a popular summertime destination for those owning cabins in the area, better known as the Brainerd Lakes. Brainerd itself is now heavily developed into commercial and residential areas and has seen an uptick in development in recent years.

==Geography==
Brainerd is just north of Minnesota's geographical center, in a relatively hilly [[terminal moraine]] area created by the Superior Lobe of the Labradorian ice sheet. The town occupies land on both sides of the [[Mississippi River]], though its older parts are almost all to the east.

Though the city itself has relatively few lakes, there are over 460 lakes within {{convert|25|mi|km}} of Brainerd, mostly to the north. For this reason, [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota|Crow Wing County]] and parts of the adjoining counties are often collectively called the Brainerd Lakes Area despite most of the lakes existing closer to Nisswa.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|12.66|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|11.91|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 13, 2012 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

Brainerd has been assigned [[ZIP code]] 56401 by the [[United States Postal Service|USPS]].

===Climate===
Brainerd has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb'') with vast seasonal differences. Summers are warm, and occasionally hot, with high humidity, whereas winters are often severely cold.

{{Weather box
|location = Brainerd, Minnesota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1899–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 56
|Feb record high F = 60
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 75
|Dec record high F = 61
|year record high F = 106

|Jan avg record high F = 41.7
|Feb avg record high F = 45.1
|Mar avg record high F = 60.9
|Apr avg record high F = 76.3
|May avg record high F = 86.6
|Jun avg record high F = 90.6
|Jul avg record high F = 91.2
|Aug avg record high F = 89.7
|Sep avg record high F = 85.9
|Oct avg record high F = 77.6
|Nov avg record high F = 58.9
|Dec avg record high F = 43.0
|year avg record high F = 93.5

|Jan high F = 19.6
|Feb high F = 25.4
|Mar high F = 38.4
|Apr high F = 53.0
|May high F = 66.6
|Jun high F = 75.8
|Jul high F = 80.1
|Aug high F = 78.4
|Sep high F = 69.9
|Oct high F = 55.2
|Nov high F = 38.3
|Dec high F = 24.8
|year high F = 52.1 
|Jan mean F = 8.8
|Feb mean F = 13.2
|Mar mean F = 26.6
|Apr mean F = 40.9
|May mean F = 54.7
|Jun mean F = 64.6
|Jul mean F = 68.9
|Aug mean F = 66.7
|Sep mean F = 58.1
|Oct mean F = 44.5
|Nov mean F = 29.6
|Dec mean F = 16.1
|year mean F = 41.1
|Jan low F = -2.0
|Feb low F = 0.9
|Mar low F = 14.8
|Apr low F = 28.8
|May low F = 42.8
|Jun low F = 53.3
|Jul low F = 57.8
|Aug low F = 55.0
|Sep low F = 46.2
|Oct low F = 33.8
|Nov low F = 20.8
|Dec low F = 7.4
|year low F = 30.0

|Jan avg record low F = -27.0
|Feb avg record low F = -21.4
|Mar avg record low F = -10.5
|Apr avg record low F = 15.1
|May avg record low F = 29.2
|Jun avg record low F = 40.2
|Jul avg record low F = 46.4
|Aug avg record low F = 43.9
|Sep avg record low F = 31.0
|Oct avg record low F = 19.9
|Nov avg record low F = 2.3
|Dec avg record low F = -18.2
|year avg record low F = -29.8

|Jan record low F = -48
|Feb record low F = −54
|Mar record low F = −35
|Apr record low F = -12
|May record low F = 16
|Jun record low F = 30
|Jul record low F = 36
|Aug record low F = 29
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = 4
|Nov record low F = −24
|Dec record low F = −43
|year record low F = −54
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.80
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.78
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.47
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.54
|May precipitation inch = 3.93
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.64
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.37
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.59
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.00
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.98
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.49
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.04
|year precipitation inch = 30.63
|Jan snow inch = 10.0
|Feb snow inch = 8.3
|Mar snow inch = 9.2
|Apr snow inch = 4.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.7
|Nov snow inch = 5.7
|Dec snow inch = 10.0
|year snow inch = 48.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.5
|Feb precipitation days = 6.3
|Mar precipitation days = 7.1
|Apr precipitation days = 9.2
|May precipitation days = 12.5
|Jun precipitation days = 13.0
|Jul precipitation days = 11.6
|Aug precipitation days = 10.1
|Sep precipitation days = 10.4
|Oct precipitation days = 9.9
|Nov precipitation days = 7.1
|Dec precipitation days = 8.5
|year precipitation days = 113.2
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.1
|Feb snow days = 5.0
|Mar snow days = 3.5
|Apr snow days = 1.7
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.6
|Nov snow days = 3.2
|Dec snow days = 6.7
|year snow days = 26.8
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dlh
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 23, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00210939&format=pdf
| title = Station: Brainerd, MN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 23, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Superfund site and environmental damage===
The [[Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter)]] [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] [[Superfund]] site is on the boundary between Brainerd and Baxter. The site served as a [[Burlington Northern Railroad]] tie treatment plant from 1907 to 1985. During that time, [[wastewater]] generated from the wood-treating process was sent to two shallow, unlined ponds. This created a toxic sludge that contaminated both the underlying soils and the [[groundwater]] with [[creosote]] and [[polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons]] (PAHs).<ref>[http://www.epa.gov/region5/superfund/npl/minnesota/MND000686196.html "Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter) Fact Sheet"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205201337/http://www.epa.gov/region5/superfund/npl/minnesota/MND000686196.html |date=December 5, 2012}}, ''EPA'', July 13, 2012</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1865
|1890= 5703
|1900= 7524
|1910= 8526
|1920= 9591
|1930= 10221
|1940= 12071
|1950= 12087
|1960= 12898
|1970= 11667
|1980= 11489
|1990= 12353
|2000= 13178
|2010= 13590
|2020= 14395
|estyear=2022
|estimate=14580
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 14, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 14, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2020,<ref name="2020-census-2707300">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Brainerd city, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2707300&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 17, 2022}}</ref> the population was 14,395. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,186.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 6,473 housing units at an average density of {{convert|533.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.6% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 6.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.5% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 13,590 people, 5,851 households, and 3,069 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1141.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 6,390 housing units at an average density of {{convert|536.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 5,851 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.5% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 32.2 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 20.5% were from 45 to 64, and 15.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 13,178 people, 5,623 households and 3,036 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,652.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,847 housing units at an average density of {{convert|733.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.71% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.29% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.86% of the population. 31.4% were of [[Germans|German]], 28.1% were [[Finnish people|Finnish]], 17.7% [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]], 7.1% [[Swedish people|Swedish]], 6.8% [[Irish people|Irish]], and 6.1% United States or American ancestry.

There were 5,623 households, of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.94.

Age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The [[median household income]] was $26,901, and the median family income was $35,212. Males had a median income of $27,677 versus $21,217 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,744. About 11.8% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
The Brainerd Lakes Area has a classical music festival during the summers called Lakes Area Music Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://lakesareamusic.org/ |title= Lakes Area Music Festival |work= Lakes Area Music Festival Website |access-date= April 23, 2020}}</ref> According to its website, the festival's mission is to connect the nation's best performers and audiences through excellent classical music and inspiring education. There are educational programs for children in the area with musicians from across the world and high-caliber concerts that are free to the public. The Lakes Area Music Festival, through its Outreach initiative, brings classical music into areas that normally do not get concerts.  Among these are public libraries, women's shelters, retirement homes, and correctional facilities. The program is supported by many local and national organizations, as well as people in the community.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://lakesareamusic.org/support/sponsors/ |title= Lakes Area Music Festival |work= Lakes Area Music Festival Sponsors|access-date= April 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Outreach |url=https://lakesareamusic.org/outreach/ |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Lakes Area Music Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Brainerd Public Schools]] is the local school district. [[Brainerd High School (Minnesota)|Brainerd High School]] is the local high school, and the district also hosts an alternative high school, and online classes.

Alternative schools in Brainerd include Discovery Woods Charter School (K-6) and St Francis Catholic School (K-8, run by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Duluth]]).

[[Central Lakes College]] is a local community and technical college offering associates degrees and technical certificates.  It is part of the [[Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system|Minnesota State Colleges]] system.

==Media==
Radio stations and television channels in the Brainerd Lakes area:

===Radio===
{| class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="5"|'''[[AM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|1270||[[WWWI (AM)|WWWI]]||Talk 100||[[Talk radio|News/Talk]]||R & J Broadcasting, Inc.
|-
|1340||[[KVBR]]||Brainerd Business Radio||[[Talk radio|News/Talk]]||rowspan=2|[[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|1380||[[KLIZ (AM)|KLIZ]]||1380 The Fan||[[Sports radio|Sports]]
|}

{| class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="5"|'''[[FM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|88.3||[[KBPN]]||MPR News||[[NPR]]||Minnesota Public Radio
|-
|88.7||[[CSN International|K204ES]]<br /><small>([[CSN International|KAWZ]] Translator)</small>||CSN International||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||CSN International
|-
|89.3||[[LifeTalk Radio|KOPJ]]||LifeTalk Radio||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||Seventh-day Adventist Church
|-
|89.9||[[KAXE|K210DR]]<br /><small>([[KAXE]] Translator)</small>||Northern Community Radio||[[Public radio]]||Northern Community Radio
|-
|90.7||[[KBPR]]||Classical MPR||[[European classical music|Classical]]||Minnesota Public Radio
|-
|93.3||[[KBLB]]||B93.3||[[Country music|Country]]||[[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|95.9||[[WWWI-FM|WWWI]]||Cash 95.9||[[Country music|Country]]/[[Adult Standard]]||rowspan=4|R & J Broadcasting, Inc.
|-
|96.3||[[WWWI (AM)|W242DB]]<br /><small>([[WWWI (AM)|WWWI-AM]] Translator)</small>||rowspan=2|Talk 100||rowspan=2|[[Talk radio|News/Talk]]
|-
|100.1||[[KLKS (FM)|KLKS]]
|-
|101.5||[[KFGI]]||Skeeter 101-5||[[Adult Hits]]
|-
|102.7||[[KTIG]]||The Word||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||[[Minnesota Christian Broadcasters]]
|-
|103.5||[[KUAL-FM|KUAL]]| Cool 103.5 |The Lakes Greatest Hits||[[Oldies]]/[[Classic Hits]]||[[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|104.3||[[WZFJ]]||The Pulse||[[Contemporary Christian music|Christian]]||[[Minnesota Christian Broadcasters]]
|-
|106.7||[[WJJY-FM|WJJY]]||Today's Best Variety ||[[Adult contemporary music|Adult contemporary]]||rowspan=2|[[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|107.5||[[KLIZ-FM|KLIZ]]||The Power Loon||[[Classic rock]]
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
!style="background:#ccccff;" |Channel
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Callsign
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Affiliation
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Branding
!style="background:#ccccff;" colspan="2" |Subchannels
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Owner
|-
!style="background:#ffcccc;" | (Virtual)
!style="background:#ffcccc;" | Channel
!style="background:#ffcccc" | Programming
|-
| 16.1
| [[KSTP-TV|K16BQ]]<br /><small>([[KSTP-TV|KSAX]] Translator)</small>
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| ''5 Eyewitness News''
| 16.2<br />16.3
| style="text-align:left" | 45TV<br />[[MeTV]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
| 26.1
| [[KMSP-TV|K20NH-D]]<br /><small>([[KMSP-TV|KMSP]] Translator)</small>
| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]
| ''FOX 9''
| 26.2<br />26.3
| style="text-align:left" | FOX9+<br />[[Movies!]]
| style="text-align:left" | Fox Television Stations, Inc.
|-
| 22.1
| [[Lakeland PBS|KAWB]]
| [[PBS]]
| ''Lakeland PBS''
| 22.2<br />22.3<br />22.4<br />22.5<br />22.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[First Nations Experience]]<br>[[PBS Kids]]<br>[[Create (TV network)|Create]]<br>PBS Encore<br>[[Minnesota Channel]]
| style="text-align:left" | Northern Minnesota Public Television, Inc.
|-
|}

==Infrastructure==
===Major highways===
The following routes are in the Brainerd area:
* [[File:MN-18.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 18]]
* [[File:MN-25.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 25]]
* [[File:MN-210.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 210]]
* [[File:MN-371.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 371]]

===Airport===
[[Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport]] serves the area with commercial airline service on [[Delta Connection]] and three [[cargo airline]]s.

==Notable people==
<!-- Note: Notability, and connection to the town, should be supported with a reliable source.-->
* [[Solomon Flagg Alderman]] (1861–1928), Minnesota state senator and lawyer<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10873 Minnesota Legislatorrs: Past & Present-Solomon Flaff Alderman]</ref>
* [[John Carlton Atherton]] (1900–1952), artist
* [[Roger Awsumb]] (1928–2002), TV and radio show host
* [[Win Borden]] (1943–2014), Minnesota state senator<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=10070 |title= Borden, Winston W. "Win"|work= state.mn.us |access-date= October 29, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Bullet Joe Bush]] (1892–1974), member of the [[New York Yankees]]' first World Series championship team in 1923
* [[Franklin E. Ebner]], Minnesota state senator and lawyer<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12665 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present=Franklin E. Ebner]</ref>
* [[Ronald Everson]] (born 1930), member of the  [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] in the 1960s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12751|title = Everson, Ronald A. "Ron" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present}}</ref>
* [[Joe Haeg]] (born 1993), professional football player
* [[Frank B. Johnson (politician)|Frank B. Johnson]] (1894–1949), mayor of Brainerd and Minnesota state representative<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=12346 |title= Johnson, Frank B. |work= state.mn.us |access-date= October 29, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Brock Larson]] (born 1977), MMA fighter
* [[Charles Marohn]] (born 1973), author and founder of [[Strong Towns]]
* [[Rick Nolan]] (1943-2024), U.S. Representative
* [[Todd Revenig]], professional baseball player
* [[Hilding Alfred Swanson]] (1885–1964), Minnesota state legislator and lawyer<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15008 Minnesota Lehislators: Past & Present-Hilding Alfred Swanson]</ref>
* [[Dale Walz]] (1964–2024), Minnesota state representative and police officer<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10694 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Dale Walz]</ref>
<!-- Note: Notability, and connection to the town, should be supported with a reliable source.-->

==In popular culture==
The 1996 film ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]'' was set partly in Brainerd.<ref name="Dispatch">{{Cite web|date=March 16, 2006|title=For Pete's sake, 'Fargo' is overrated|url=https://www.brainerddispatch.com/3504770-petes-sake-fargo-overrated|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Brainerd Dispatch|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
*[[Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter)]]
*[[List of Superfund sites in Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Brainerd, Minnesota}}
{{EB1911 poster|Brainerd}}
*[http://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/ City of Brainerd, MN – Official Website]
*[http://brainerdhistory.com/ Brainerd History site]
*[http://www.explorebrainerdlakes.com/ Explore Brainerd Lakes.com – Visitor Information and official Chamber website]
*[https://www.brainerd.com/ Brainerd.com - The Official Brainerd Lakes Area Tourism Information Website]

{{Crow Wing County, Minnesota}}
{{Brainerd micropolitan area}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brainerd, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Crow Wing County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Minnesota populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:County seats in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:Brainerd, Minnesota micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Minnesota]]