Townapedia
GN Depot Princeton 3
GN Depot Princeton 3 · Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0

Princeton, Minnesota

Princeton is a city of 5,274 people in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota.

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Population5,274 +12.0% since 2019
Elevation981 ft 299 m
Land area5.1 sq mi
ZIP code55371
Nearest airportSaint Cloud Regional Airport (STC) 23 mi

Why visit Princeton

Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 4 parks and trails, 7 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.

Highlights include Princeton station and Rainbow Park.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 4°F, and about 49 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Princeton

Princeton is a city in Mille Lacs and Sherburne counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, at the junction of the Rum River and its West Branch. It is 50 miles (80 km) north of Minneapolis and 30 miles (48 km) east of St. Cloud, at the intersection of Highways 169 and 95. The population was 4,819 at the 2020 census and an estimated 5,311 in 2022. A majority of its residents live in Mille Lacs County.

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

Museums and landmarks1

Princeton station

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Former train station in Minnesota, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Parks, trails and playgrounds4

Rainbow Park

Park · 1.2 mi

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +1-763-389-2040

Mark Park

Park

Open in Google Maps

River side Park

Park · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes7

Sunken Ship Brewing Co

Bar and pub · 1.0 mi

32273 124th Street, Princeton

We-Su

Open in Google Maps · +1-763-220-5181

Pizza Hut

Restaurant · Pizza · 0.7 mi

807 South Rum River Drive, Princeton

Open in Google Maps · +1 763-389-3600

Adelita's Taqueria

Fast food · Mexican · 0.5 mi

301 S Rum River Dr., Princeton

Mo-Sa 11:00-20:00; Su 11:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 763-389-9950

Culver's

Fast food · Burger · 0.5 mi

200 19th Avenue North, Princeton

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 763-220-5123

Dairy Queen

Fast food · Ice Cream, Burger · 0.5 mi

207 South Rum River Drive, Princeton

Mo-Su 10:30-21:30

Open in Google Maps · +1 763-389-2080

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 0.8 mi

Open in Google Maps

Taco John's

Fast food · Mexican · 1.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

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Where to stay2

AmericInn

Motel and hotel · 0.9 mi

910 South Rum River Drive, Princeton

Open in Google Maps

Riverside City Park Campground

Campground · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps · +1-763-389-2040

History

In the winter of 1855 Samuel Ross, Jame W. Gillian, Dorilus Morrison, John S. Prince and Richard Chute platted the town of Princeton. The plat was officially recorded on April 19, 1856.

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

Churches and places of worship1

Shopping4

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Gas and EV charging6

Schools, colleges and libraries11

Healthcare1

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Map of Princeton

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

Climate by month

0°20°40°60°80°January: 0.8 in of rainFebruary: 0.9 in of rainMarch: 1.7 in of rainApril: 2.8 in of rainMay: 3.9 in of rainJune: 4.2 in of rainJuly: 4.0 in of rainAugust: 4.1 in of rainSeptember: 2.9 in of rainOctober: 2.7 in of rainNovember: 1.6 in of rainDecember: 1.1 in of rainJanuary: 22°FFebruary: 27°FMarch: 40°FApril: 56°FMay: 69°FJune: 77°FJuly: 81°FAugust: 79°FSeptember: 72°FOctober: 57°FNovember: 40°FDecember: 27°FJanuary: 4°FFebruary: 8°FMarch: 21°FApril: 33°FMay: 45°FJune: 55°FJuly: 59°FAugust: 57°FSeptember: 49°FOctober: 36°FNovember: 24°FDecember: 11°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan22°F4°F0.8 in9.8 in
Feb27°F8°F0.9 in9.5 in
Mar40°F21°F1.7 in8.7 in
Apr56°F33°F2.8 in3.5 in
May69°F45°F3.9 in0.1 in
Jun77°F55°F4.2 in0.0 in
Jul81°F59°F4.0 in0.0 in
Aug79°F57°F4.1 in0.0 in
Sep72°F49°F2.9 in0.0 in
Oct57°F36°F2.7 in0.8 in
Nov40°F24°F1.6 in6.5 in
Dec27°F11°F1.1 in10.5 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Santiago 3 E (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$62,219median household income
$218,700median home value
$991median monthly rent
39.4median age
13.6%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
62.1%of homes are owner-occupied
25.8 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1819%18 to 3428%35 to 6429%65 and over24%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Mille Lacs County has had 6 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.

  • 2023-07-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2011-07-28: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
  • 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
  • 2001-05-16: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Flood)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 23 miles away.

  • Milaca 13 mi north, about 22 min by car
  • Elk River 16 mi south, about 26 min by car
  • Big Lake 17 mi southwest, about 28 min by car
  • Nowthen 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
  • Foley 17 mi northwest, about 27 min by car
  • Cambridge 18 mi east, about 28 min by car
  • Isanti 18 mi east, about 28 min by car
  • Becker 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
  • Oak Grove 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
  • Otsego 21 mi south, about 34 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.