The 10 Minnesota Cities With The Largest Native American Population For 2023


We used data and science to determine the cities in Minnesota with the largest Native American population.

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Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in Minnesota with the largest Native American population.

There are three major races in America that come to most of our minds right away:

  1. White
  2. Hispanic
  3. African American

But those are only the major races, there's a whole bunch of other races people are interested in knowing about.

And today, we are going to look at the percent of the population in Minnesota that are Native American.

Native Americans are not a major portion of the current American Population, but they are still very important.

There are now over 2 million people who identify as Native American living in America, making up .65% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Native American population in Minnesota is 46,371 - at 0.8% of the total population of Minnesota.

So, what how does the Native American population stratify across Minnesota? Which cities and towns in Minnesota have seen the greatest increase in their Native American population?

The 10 Cities In Minnesota With The Largest Native American Population For 2023

  1. Bemidji
  2. Cloquet
  3. East Grand Forks
  4. Virginia
  5. Waseca
  6. Detroit Lakes
  7. International Falls
  8. Grand Rapids
  9. Redwood Falls
  10. Morris

Which city in Minnesota had the largest Native American population?

Bemidji took the number one over all spot for the largest Native American population in Minnesota for 2023. 8.83% of Bemidji identify as Native American.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.

To see where Minnesota ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.

And if you already knew these places were Native American, check out the best places to live in Minnesota or the most diverse places in Minnesota.

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

Cities In Minnesota With The Largest Native American Population For 2023

Bemidji, MN

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 15,114
% Native American: 8.83%
# Of Native American Residents: 1,334
Percent Change Since 2010: 4.06%
More on Bemidji: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Cloquet, MN

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 12,563
% Native American: 7.4%
# Of Native American Residents: 930
Percent Change Since 2010: -21.65%
More on Cloquet: Real Estate | Data | Photos

East Grand Forks, MN

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 9,140
% Native American: 3.24%
# Of Native American Residents: 296
Percent Change Since 2010: 55.79%
More on East Grand Forks: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Virginia, MN

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 8,444
% Native American: 3.16%
# Of Native American Residents: 267
Percent Change Since 2010: -40.53%
More on Virginia: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Waseca, MN

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 9,237
% Native American: 2.39%
# Of Native American Residents: 221
Percent Change Since 2010: inf%
More on Waseca: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Detroit Lakes, MN

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 9,717
% Native American: 2.13%
# Of Native American Residents: 207
Percent Change Since 2010: -18.82%
More on Detroit Lakes: Real Estate | Data | Photos

International Falls, MN

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,859
% Native American: 2.0%
# Of Native American Residents: 117
Percent Change Since 2010: -27.78%
More on International Falls: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Grand Rapids, MN

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 11,056
% Native American: 1.66%
# Of Native American Residents: 183
Percent Change Since 2010: 24.49%
More on Grand Rapids: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Redwood Falls, MN

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 5,099
% Native American: 1.63%
# Of Native American Residents: 83
Percent Change Since 2010: 6.41%
More on Redwood Falls: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Morris, MN

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 5,190
% Native American: 1.6%
# Of Native American Residents: 83
Percent Change Since 2010: -35.16%
More on Morris: Real Estate | Data | Photos

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Minnesota With The Largest Native American Population For 2023

We still believe in the accuracy of data -- especially from the census. So that's where we went to get the breakdown of race across Minnesota.

That lead us to the Census's most recently available data, the 2017-2021 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone.

We limited our analysis to places with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 139 cities.

We then calculated the percent of residents that are American Indian and Alaska Native. The percentages ranked from 8.83% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percent of American Indian and Alaska Native population with a higher score being more American Indian and Alaska Native than a lower score. Bemidji took the distinction of being the most American Indian and Alaska Native, while Wyoming was the least Native American city.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Minnesota ranked by population of American Indian and Alaska Native residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Native American Populations Across Minnesota

If you're looking for a breakdown of Native American populations across Minnesota according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

If you're curious enough, here are the least Native American places in Minnesota:

  1. Wyoming
  2. Otsego
  3. Orono

For more Minnesota reading, check out:

What Are The Most Native American Places In Minnesota?

Rank City % Native American Population
1 Bemidji 8.83% 15,114
2 Cloquet 7.4% 12,563
3 East Grand Forks 3.24% 9,140
4 Virginia 3.16% 8,444
5 Waseca 2.39% 9,237
6 Detroit Lakes 2.13% 9,717
7 International Falls 2.0% 5,859
8 Grand Rapids 1.66% 11,056
9 Redwood Falls 1.63% 5,099
10 Morris 1.6% 5,190
11 Duluth 1.57% 86,711
12 Red Wing 1.52% 16,596
13 Moorhead 1.4% 44,129
14 Thief River Falls 1.27% 8,791
15 Montevideo 1.25% 5,360
16 Fridley 1.25% 29,422
17 Brainerd 1.23% 14,053
18 Minnetrista 1.14% 8,215
19 Minneapolis 1.04% 425,091
20 New Prague 0.89% 8,060
21 Hermantown 0.88% 10,128
22 Hastings 0.86% 22,063
23 Prior Lake 0.68% 27,242
24 Golden Valley 0.62% 22,247
25 St. Paul 0.59% 309,751
26 Shakopee 0.56% 43,396
27 Willmar 0.56% 20,823
28 Corcoran 0.55% 6,317
29 Crookston 0.53% 7,509
30 St. Anthony 0.52% 9,145
31 Blaine 0.52% 68,999
32 Anoka 0.52% 17,749
33 Farmington 0.49% 23,253
34 Monticello 0.47% 14,235
35 Spring Lake Park 0.46% 6,920
36 Baxter 0.46% 8,544
37 St. Peter 0.45% 11,699
38 Coon Rapids 0.43% 63,269
39 New Hope 0.43% 21,683
40 Faribault 0.42% 24,310
41 East Bethel 0.41% 11,818
42 Hibbing 0.41% 16,224
43 St. Cloud 0.4% 68,430
44 Lino Lakes 0.39% 21,180
45 Brooklyn Center 0.39% 33,298
46 Mounds View 0.39% 13,187
47 St. Louis Park 0.39% 49,539
48 Maplewood 0.37% 41,673
49 West St. Paul 0.37% 20,476
50 Chaska 0.35% 27,461
51 Bloomington 0.34% 89,436
52 Shoreview 0.33% 26,871
53 Shorewood 0.32% 7,779
54 Cambridge 0.32% 9,454
55 Fergus Falls 0.31% 13,969
56 Andover 0.31% 32,471
57 Winona 0.31% 26,199
58 South St. Paul 0.31% 20,637
59 New Brighton 0.3% 23,293
60 Maple Grove 0.28% 69,900
61 North Branch 0.26% 10,742
62 Robbinsdale 0.25% 14,522
63 Roseville 0.25% 36,119
64 Plymouth 0.24% 80,034
65 Columbia Heights 0.24% 21,612
66 Oakdale 0.24% 28,019
67 Mound 0.22% 9,365
68 Forest Lake 0.22% 20,366
69 Richfield 0.22% 36,899
70 Belle Plaine 0.22% 7,293
71 Edina 0.19% 53,059
72 Ham Lake 0.19% 16,389
73 Stillwater 0.18% 19,243
74 Lakeville 0.18% 69,026
75 Marshall 0.17% 13,728
76 Buffalo 0.16% 16,121
77 New Ulm 0.16% 14,052
78 Champlin 0.15% 23,877
79 Hopkins 0.15% 18,861
80 Crystal 0.15% 23,143
81 Savage 0.15% 32,092
82 Hutchinson 0.14% 14,504
83 Burnsville 0.13% 63,926
84 Rochester 0.13% 119,732
85 Northfield 0.13% 20,374
86 Austin 0.13% 26,030
87 Mankato 0.13% 43,938
88 Inver Grove Heights 0.12% 35,539
89 St. Paul Park 0.11% 5,490
90 Worthington 0.11% 13,782
91 Eagan 0.11% 68,205
92 Alexandria 0.11% 14,030
93 North St. Paul 0.1% 12,395
94 Apple Valley 0.1% 55,237
95 Elk River 0.1% 25,467
96 Albert Lea 0.09% 18,433
97 Minnetonka 0.09% 53,809
98 Mendota Heights 0.08% 11,681
99 Stewartville 0.08% 6,620
100 Mahtomedi 0.07% 8,041

How Is The Area In ?

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.