Big Bend is a township in Chippewa County, Minnesota, home to about 223 people across 36 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56262, 56265 and 56295.
Homes sold for a median of $86 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 0 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Milan; part is in Big Bend
Mostly Montevideo; part is in Big Bend
Mostly Watson; part is in Big Bend
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Big Bend. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Big Bend’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)127 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Watertown Regional Airport (ATY)66 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN124 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL464 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Big Bend; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Big Bend had 252 residents in the 2020 census, down 2% since 2000.
It’s the 1758th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Chippewa County grew from 12,499 residents in 1900 to 12,598 in 2020.
Chippewa County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 85°F in summer, and winter lows average 4°F. About 27.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 51 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Milan 1nw, MN weather station (7 miles away).
4,524 jobs at 372 businesses in Chippewa County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
74 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Big Bend’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 17 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 7 |
| Dentists | 7 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 17 |
| Mental health providers | 11 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 5 |
| Optometrists | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 8 |
| Pharmacies | 3 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Libraries
Museums
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Montevideo Public School District, Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop, MN River Valley Education District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawks Nest Early Childhood CenterMontevideo | Pre-K | 34 | Public | 9.8 mi |
| Ramsey ElementaryMontevideo | K–2 | 260 | Public | 8.8 mi |
| SWWC ELC - MontevideoMontevideo | K–12 | 30 | Special Education | 9.9 mi |
| Sanford Elementary SchoolMontevideo | 1–4 | 277 | Public | 10.0 mi |
| Montevideo MiddleMontevideo | 5–8 | 393 | Public | 10.4 mi |
| MN River Valley ALC-SeatbasedMontevideo | 7–12 | 70 | Alternative Education | 9.6 mi |
| Mn River Valley Alc-SummerMontevideo | 7–10 | — | Alternative Education | 9.6 mi |
| MN River Valley Ed-Online LearningMontevideo | 9–12 | — | Public | 9.6 mi |
| Montevideo Senior HighMontevideo | 9–12 | 408 | Public | 10.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Montevideo, Sparta, Milan, Rosewood, Camp Release, Watson, Leenthrop, Havelock, Mandt, Kragero, Tunsberg, Stony Run, Lac qui Parle, Baxter Township, Grace, West Bank and Edison.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.