Why visit Baxter
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 14 parks and trails, 19 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Washington Street Bridge, Lakes 12 Theatre, Brainerd Public Library and Brainerd Water Tower.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average -2°F, and about 48 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Baxter
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Baxter
Baxter is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 8,612 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Baxter, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Washington Street Bridge
Bridge · 3.2 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks8
Brainerd Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic building in Brainerd, Minnesota, United States
416 South 5th Street, Brainerd
Mo-Th 09:00-19:30; Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
Brainerd Water Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Water tower in Brainerd, United States of America
Crow Wing County Courthouse and Jail
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Courthouse in Brainerd, United States of America
Franklin Junior High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Brainerd, Minnesota, United States
Northern Pacific Railroad Shops Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Historic district in Minnesota, United States
Parker Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
NRHP-listed, in Crow Wing County
Parks, trails and playgrounds14
Bane Park
Park · 3.8 mi
Park in Brainerd, Crow Wing County, United States of America
2 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes19
Caribou Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.9 mi
524 West Washington Street
Mo-Fr 05:30-19:00; Sa 06:00-19:00; Su 06:00-19:00
Ippin Ramen
Restaurant · Ramen, Sushi · 1.9 mi
7788 Fairview Road North, Baxter
Mo,We,Th 11:00-21:00; Tu off; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:30-21:00
Poncho & Lefty's
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.7 mi
14151 Edgewood Drive North, Baxter
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
Mickey's Subs
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.6 mi
417 South 5th Street, Brainerd
Mo-Fr 09:00-20:00; Sa 10:00-20:00
El Potro Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.7 mi
320 South 7th Street
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
7 more on the map.
History
Baxter owes its existence partly to the 1920s operation of a (since closed) large tie-treating plant, owned by Northern Pacific Railroad. Farming was also an important early industry.
Baxter was incorporated on May 25, 1939. The town is named after Luther Baxter, an attorney for the railroad who served in the Minnesota Legislature and as a colonel in the Civil War.
Tourism and various service industries have become Baxter's biggest employers, and numerous housing subdivisions have been developed in the wooded area west of Minnesota Highway 371, which passes through the town. Owing to the amount of unused land in the area, commercial development along the highway itself has also increased in recent years, though it has tended to conform to the pattern of urban sprawl.
From the History section of Baxter, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Baxter Brainerd Area
Motel and hotel · 2.0 mi
14466 Dellwood Drive North, Baxter, MN 56425, Baxter
Arrowwood Lodge At Brainerd Lakes
Motel and hotel · 2.6 mi
6967 Lake Forest Rd, Baxter
Comfort Suites Rapid River Lodge
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
7376 Woida Road, Baxter
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Brainerd-Baxter
Motel and hotel · 2.8 mi
15739 Audubon Way, Baxter
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping12
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Healthcare4
Map of Baxter
96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20°F | -2°F | 0.8 in | 10.0 in |
| Feb | 25°F | 1°F | 0.8 in | 8.3 in |
| Mar | 38°F | 15°F | 1.5 in | 9.2 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 29°F | 2.5 in | 4.3 in |
| May | 67°F | 43°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 58°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 55°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 46°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 55°F | 34°F | 3.0 in | 0.7 in |
| Nov | 38°F | 21°F | 1.5 in | 5.7 in |
| Dec | 25°F | 7°F | 1.0 in | 10.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Brainerd (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Crow Wing County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-08-09: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-07-06: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2002-06-01: Mn - By-Pass Fire - 05/31/2002 (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Brainerd 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- East Gull Lake 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Pillager 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Nisswa 11 mi north, about 18 min by car
- Lake Shore 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
- Pequot Lakes 17 mi north, about 27 min by car
- Aitkin 30 mi northeast, about 48 min by car
- Sartell 50 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Albany 51 mi south, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Sauk Rapids 52 mi south, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Brainerd Carnegie Library 2016, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Crow Wing Co. Courthouse, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parker Bldg 2, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Northern Pacific Railroad Shops Historic District, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Franklin Junior High School, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MN-210 Bridge 2a, Todd Murray, CC BY-SA 3.0
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