Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
Pelican Rapids is a city of 2,586 people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, founded in 1872.
Why visit Pelican Rapids
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 4 parks and trails, 2 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include O.A.E. Blyberg House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average -1°F, and about 50 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Pelican Rapids
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Pelican Rapids
Pelican Rapids is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,577 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Pelican Rapids, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks1
O.A.E. Blyberg House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Minnesota, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes2
DQ Grill & Chill
Fast food · Ice Cream, Burger · 0.9 mi
1121 South Broadway, Pelican Rapids
Mo-Su 11:00-20:00
Where to stay2
History
Pelican Rapids was platted in 1872, and named for the rapids on the Pelican River. A post office has been in operation at Pelican Rapids since 1872. Pelican Rapids was incorporated in 1882.
From the History section of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Map of Pelican Rapids
16 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18°F | -1°F | 0.8 in | 11.4 in |
| Feb | 23°F | 3°F | 0.6 in | 7.7 in |
| Mar | 36°F | 17°F | 1.1 in | 7.2 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 31°F | 2.1 in | 4.1 in |
| May | 67°F | 45°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 56°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 58°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 49°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 55°F | 35°F | 2.3 in | 1.6 in |
| Nov | 38°F | 21°F | 0.9 in | 6.9 in |
| Dec | 24°F | 7°F | 0.9 in | 10.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rothsay (11 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
Otter Tail County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-05-10: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2010-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Tornado)
- 2009-04-09: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sky Crew Services LLC (KFFM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 20 miles away.
- Barnesville 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Fergus Falls 20 mi south, about 32 min by car
- Detroit Lakes 20 mi northeast, about 32 min by car
- Frazee 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Hawley 24 mi northwest, about 39 min by car
- Breckenridge 32 mi southwest, about 51 min by car
- Dilworth 36 mi northwest, about 58 min by car
- Moorhead 37 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Fargo 41 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- West Fargo 44 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 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
- Pelican rapids mn, LakeLida at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Pelican River - Pelican Rapids, Minnesota (37770073411), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Welcome to Pelican Rapids - Lefse is Here, Minnesota (37511473570), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pelican Pete, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota from above, Skvader, CC0
- Pelican Pete, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota side view, Skvader, CC0
- OAE Blyberg Home, Elizabeth A. Armour, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.