Nelson Township is a township in Watonwan County, Minnesota, home to about 255 people across 36 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 56081.
Homes sold for a median of $106 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Population2557 per sq mi
Median home value$300,000Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$106Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Nelson Township. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Nelson Township guide is on the way
We’re writing up Nelson Township’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do
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Around Nelson Township
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)93 miles away
Closer regional airport
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)86 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN95 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL381 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Nelson Township; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Who represents Nelson Township
U.S. Representative · Minnesota’s 1st DistrictBrad Finstad (R)
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Population over time
Nelson Township had 237 residents in the 2020 census, down 23% since 2000.
It’s the 1620th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Watonwan County grew from 11,496 residents in 1900 to 11,253 in 2020.
Watonwan County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Weather by month
Average highs peak around 83°F in summer, and winter lows average 5°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 50 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, St James Wwtp, MN weather station (about a mile away).
Jobs in Watonwan County
3,793 jobs at 280 businesses in Watonwan County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
40 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Nelson Township.
Nearest hospitals
Mayo Clinic Health System St.. JamesCritical access hospital · emergency room · St. JamesUnder a mile
Madelia HealthCritical access hospital · emergency room · Madelia11.4 miles
Sleepy Eye Medical CenterCritical access hospital · emergency room · Sleepy Eye22.2 miles
Providers with an office here
Primary care doctors
6
Specialist doctors
2
Dentists
3
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
10
Mental health providers
5
Physical and occupational therapists
6
Optometrists
4
Chiropractors
4
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.
Places in and around Nelson Township
Parks (5 nearby)
Memorial Park · 13 acres1.0 mi
Southside Park · 2 acres0.5 mi
Malmrose Park · 2 acres0.2 mi
Deer Park · 1 acres0.6 mi
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Lewis Family Drug1.2 mi
Libraries (1 nearby)
Watonwan County Library0.5 mi
Museums (1 nearby)
Round House Railroad Club1.3 mi
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Public schools here are run by St. James Public School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(4)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Armstrong SchoolSaint James
Pre-K
65
Public
0.6 mi
St. James Early ChildhoodSaint James
Pre-K
10
Special Education
0.6 mi
St. James Northside ElementarySaint James
K–5
502
Public
0.3 mi
St. James Middle/High SchoolSaint James
6–12
566
Public
0.3 mi
Private schools(1)
School
Grades
Students
Affiliation
Distance
St Pauls Lutheran SchoolSaint James
Pre-K–8
47
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
0.4 mi
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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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.