Basic Information

• Area
  • City: 8.4 sq mi (21.9 km2)
  • Land: 8.0 sq mi (20.6 km2)
  • Water: 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2) 5.57%
• Elevation: 1,217 ft (371 m)
• Population (2020): 14,395
• Zip Code: 56401
• Area Code: 218

City Facts

• The city was organized on March 6, 1873.
• Brainerd is located on the historic Mississippi River and lies 1,226 feet above sea level.
• Brainerd is the largest city located in Crow Wing County.
• Brainerd has a current population of 14,395 citizens (2020 census).
• Brainerd has had 40 mayors since the town was established and is governed by a home rule charter.
• Brainerd has a strong Council / weak mayor form of government. It is headed by a City Administrator and supported by a variety of department heads and supervisors.
• Brainerd is in a geographical area, home to 492 lakes and 61 miles of the Mississippi River.
• Brainerd history has been recorded in a book entitled, “Brainerd,” by Carl Zapffe.
• If you traveled through the center of the Earth from Brainerd, you would emerge in the Indian Ocean, a little east of the New Amsterdam and St. Paul islands.

For more information, see our Wikipedia article entry, and City Data.