Fosston, Minnesota
Fosston is a city of 1,374 people in Polk County, Minnesota, founded in 1889.
Why visit Fosston
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 3 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Fosston Theatre.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 78°F; January lows average -5°F.
Weather in Fosston
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Fosston
Fosston is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the Greater Grand Forks region. The population was 1,434 at the time of the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Fosston, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks2
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes3
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History
In 1876, the first white settlers came to the Fosston area, arriving in covered wagons, bringing with them a few cattle, oxen, horses and mules. Charles Adair was the first to file a claim on the land, with nine others soon following. Fosston is in sections 3 and 4 of Rosebud Township, and was named after Louis Foss, an immigrant from the Nyttingnes, a village in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The townsite was organized by W. J. Hilligoss, who selected and purchased it in 1884, had it surveyed, platted a four-block area, and built a hotel. Hilligoss died in 1941. The town was named Fosston when Foss moved his store and opened a post office there. The village was incorporated on August 22, 1895. The incorporation papers of Fosston were recorded on June 8, 1889, by the Register of Deeds in Crookston. Fosston was a busy depot on the Great Northern Railway line.
From the History section of Fosston, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Healthcare1
Map of Fosston
20 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16°F | -5°F | 0.5 in |
| Feb | 21°F | -2°F | 0.5 in |
| Mar | 35°F | 13°F | 0.9 in |
| Apr | 51°F | 28°F | 1.8 in |
| May | 66°F | 41°F | 3.0 in |
| Jun | 74°F | 52°F | 4.6 in |
| Jul | 78°F | 55°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 77°F | 52°F | 3.5 in |
| Sep | 69°F | 44°F | 3.0 in |
| Oct | 53°F | 32°F | 2.2 in |
| Nov | 36°F | 18°F | 1.6 in |
| Dec | 22°F | 4°F | 0.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fosston 1 E Hcn (2 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
Polk County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2022-07-13: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-12: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2018-09-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-05-10: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 39 miles away.
- McIntosh 7 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- Erskine 13 mi northwest, about 22 min by car
- Bagley 17 mi east, about 27 min by car
- Clearbrook 17 mi northeast, about 27 min by car
- Oklee 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Mahnomen 21 mi southwest, about 34 min by car
- Naytahwaush 22 mi south, about 36 min by car
- Bemidji 41 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Crookston 42 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Detroit Lakes 54 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
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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
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 767. Norw. Church Fosston Minn. (19489732204), Nasjonalbiblioteket from Norway, No restrictions
- Moen Schoolhouse, District 138, Heritage Preservation Department - MNHS, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rapisarda Log Cabin-East Polk Heritage Center, Heritage Preservation Department - MNHS, CC BY-SA 2.0
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