Prairie Lake is a township in St. Louis County, Minnesota, home to about 51 people across 36 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 55736 and 55798.
Homes sold for a median of $257 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Population511 per sq mi
Median home value$195,800Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$257Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Part is in Prairie Lake, part in Lakeview and Beseman
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Prairie Lake. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Prairie Lake guide is on the way
We’re writing up Prairie Lake’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 Prairie Lake
Distances
Nearest major airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)134 miles away
Closer regional airport
Duluth International Airport (DLH)36 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Minneapolis, MN129 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Chicago, IL431 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Prairie Lake; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Who represents Prairie Lake
U.S. Representative · Minnesota’s 8th DistrictPete Stauber (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
Prairie Lake had 45 residents in the 2020 census, down 12% since 2000.
It’s the 2568th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
St. Louis County grew from 82,932 residents in 1900 to 200,231 in 2020.
St. Louis 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 76°F in summer, and winter lows average -3°F. About 31.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 59 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Wright 3 E, MN weather station (9 miles away).
Jobs in St. Louis County
84,223 jobs at 5,360 businesses in St. Louis County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
11 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Prairie Lake’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Community Memorial HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · Cloquet23.9 miles
Essentia Health Moose LakeCritical access hospital · emergency room · Moose Lake27.2 miles
Grand Itasca Clinic and HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Grand Rapids40.0 miles
Providers with an office here
Primary care doctors
1
Specialist doctors
1
Dentists
5
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
3
Physical and occupational therapists
1
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.
Schools in Prairie Lake
Public schools here are run by Floodwood Public School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
Public schools(2)
School
Grades
Students
Type
Distance
Floodwood ElementaryFloodwood
Pre-K–6
88
Public
8.1 mi
Floodwood SecondaryFloodwood
7–12
80
Public
8.1 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 Floodwood City, Floodwood Township, Lakeview, Beseman, Cedar Valley, Halden, Van Buren, North Carlton UT, Potshot Lake UT, Fine Lakes, Wright City, Arrowhead, Toivola, Haugen, Elmer Township (St. Louis County), Wawina, Ness and Eagle.
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.