Townapedia
Crosby Depot
Crosby Depot · McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ironton City Hall-3
Ironton City Hall-3 · Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deerwood Auditorium
Deerwood Auditorium · Todd Murray, CC BY-SA 3.0
Spina Hotel
Spina Hotel · McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Milford Mine Memorial Park
Milford Mine Memorial Park · McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ironton Sintering Plant Complex 02
Ironton Sintering Plant Complex 02 · McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0

Crosby, Minnesota

Crosby is a city of 2,218 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.

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Population2,218 -19.3% since 2019
Elevation1,260 ft 384 m
Land area3.0 sq mi
ZIP code56441
Nearest airportBrainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD) 11 mi

Why visit Crosby

Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 4 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Ironton City Hall and Crosby station.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 0°F.

About Crosby

Crosby is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,360 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. Crosby is adjacent to its twin city of Ironton, in the Cuyuna Iron Range.

From the Wikipedia article Crosby, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

John H. Pribyl Pavillion

Cinema and theater · 1.1 mi

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Museums and landmarks9

Ironton City Hall

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi

Fire station in Ironton, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Crosby station

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi

Former Soo Line depot in Minnesota, USA

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Deerwood Auditorium

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi

Community center in Deerwood, Minnesota, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Milford Mine

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi

Building in Minnesota, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Spina Hotel

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi

Hotel in Ironton, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Cuyuna Iron Range Municipally-Owned Elevated Metal Water Tanks

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ironton Sintering Plant Complex

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Croft Mine

Monument and historic site

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Soo Line Depot Museum

Museum · 0.7 mi

101 1st Street, Crosby

Open in Google Maps · +1 218 546 6178

Parks, trails and playgrounds2

Crosby Memorial Park

Park · 1.1 mi

Park setting. Swing set, great playground equipment, beach, boat launch, ball fields, picnic area.

3rd Avenue Southwest, Crosby

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George F Crosby Park

Park · 0.8 mi

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Restaurants and cafes4

Red Raven Bike Cafe

Restaurant · Coffee Shop, Tea, Alcohol, Beer, Dessert, Panini, Soup · 1.0 mi

2 3rd Avenue Northwest, Crosby

Tu closed, Mo,We-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 09:00-16:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-218-833-2788

Rafferty's

Restaurant · Pizza · 0.9 mi

Open in Google Maps · +1-218-545-5000

Cuyuna Brewing;Cuyuna Brewing Company

Bar and pub · 0.8 mi

1 East Main Street, Crosby

Open in Google Maps

Subway

Fast food · Sandwich · 0.9 mi

210 West Main Street, Crosby

09:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 218-546-7301

History

Crosby was built for the sole purpose of mining. It was named for George H. Crosby, a businessman in the mining industry.

Crosby was the location of Minnesota's worst mining disaster, the Milford Mine disaster. On February 5, 1924, a new tunnel was blasted too close to nearby Foley Lake, and water rushed in, killing 41 miners.

In the 1932 local elections, Karl Emil Nygard was elected president of Crosby's Village Council, making it the first city in the United States to have a Communist mayor. 27-year-old Nygard won by a vote of 529 - 359, with goals to raise money for families on welfare, declare a moratorium on government debts to local banks, and guarantee water and electricity services to all citizens.

Once Nygard was elected in 1933, he and village workers rallied for the First National Bank of Crosby to release $23,000 in village funds which it was withholding, which it did, allowing the government to feed unemployed citizens. In January 1933, Nygard also organized an "Unemployed Council," who subsequently demanded relief stipends, free city water and lights, freedom to purchase food from any store, and the abolition of the "Relief Administration" where citizens had to ask the council for financial assistance. The council agreed to all demands except the last. Nygard's and council members' salaries were reduced, as were those of the Crosby police force.

From the History section of Crosby, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay4

Shopping2

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Gas and EV charging1

Schools, colleges and libraries5

Healthcare1

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Map of Crosby

29 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

0°20°40°60°80°January: 0.5 in of rainFebruary: 0.4 in of rainMarch: 1.0 in of rainApril: 1.6 in of rainMay: 3.3 in of rainJune: 4.0 in of rainJuly: 4.3 in of rainAugust: 3.1 in of rainSeptember: 2.6 in of rainOctober: 2.4 in of rainNovember: 0.9 in of rainDecember: 0.6 in of rainJanuary: 21°FFebruary: 27°FMarch: 40°FApril: 54°FMay: 68°FJune: 77°FJuly: 82°FAugust: 79°FSeptember: 70°FOctober: 56°FNovember: 40°FDecember: 26°FJanuary: 0°FFebruary: 4°FMarch: 18°FApril: 30°FMay: 43°FJune: 53°FJuly: 58°FAugust: 55°FSeptember: 47°FOctober: 35°FNovember: 22°FDecember: 8°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan21°F0°F0.5 in
Feb27°F4°F0.4 in
Mar40°F18°F1.0 in
Apr54°F30°F1.6 in
May68°F43°F3.3 in
Jun77°F53°F4.0 in
Jul82°F58°F4.3 in
Aug79°F55°F3.1 in
Sep70°F47°F2.6 in
Oct56°F35°F2.4 in
Nov40°F22°F0.9 in
Dec26°F8°F0.6 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Brainerd Crow Wing Co Ap (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$41,554median household income
$185,600median home value
$849median monthly rent
52.3median age
16.8%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
54.2%of homes are owner-occupied
22.1 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1818%18 to 3412%35 to 6436%65 and over33%

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, 11 miles away.

  • Ironton 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
  • Deerwood 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
  • Aitkin 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
  • Brainerd 15 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
  • Breezy Point 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
  • Crosslake 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
  • Nisswa 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
  • Baxter 19 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
  • Cohasset 53 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Grand Rapids 55 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.