Townapedia
Willmar Auditorium
Willmar Auditorium · McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kandiyohi County Attorney's Office in Willmar, Minnesota (35425992575)
Kandiyohi County Attorney's Office in Willmar, Minnesota (35425992575) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kandiyohi County Attorney - Willmar, Minnesota (35386559896)
Kandiyohi County Attorney - Willmar, Minnesota (35386559896) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kandiyohi County Courthouse, Willmar, MN-02
Kandiyohi County Courthouse, Willmar, MN-02 · Myotus, CC BY 4.0
Building, Willmar, MN
Building, Willmar, MN · Myotus, CC BY 4.0
Kandiyohi County Courthouse, Willmar, Minnesota (35426121335)
Kandiyohi County Courthouse, Willmar, Minnesota (35426121335) · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0

Willmar, Minnesota

Willmar is a city of 21,378 people in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

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Population21,378 +8.5% since 2019
CountyKandiyohi County
Elevation1,142 ft 348 m
Land area14.2 sq mi
ZIP code56201
Nearest airportWillmar Municipal -John L Rice Field (ILL) 4 mi

Why visit Willmar

Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 29 parks and trails, 38 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Golden Ticket Kandi 6, Endreson Cabin, Schwanke's Museum and Bill Taunton Stadium.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 3°F, and about 46 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Willmar

Willmar is a city in, and the county seat of, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 21,015 at the 2020 census.

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

Things to do1

Golden Ticket Kandi 6

Cinema and theater · 1.3 mi

1605 1st Street South, Willmar

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Museums and landmarks23

Endreson CabinCC BY-SA 4.0

Endreson Cabin

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi

Historic house in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States

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Schwanke's Museum

Museum · 1.9 mi

3310 1st Street South, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-231-0564

Kandiyohi County Historical Society Museum

Museum · 1.2 mi

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Willmar State Hospital Administration Building

Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi

Built in 1912

1700 Technology Drive Northeast, Willmar

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Willmar State Hospital Building

Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi

1604 Bio Tech Avenue NE, Willmar

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #1

Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi

Receiving Hospital, built in 1950

1701 Technology Drive Northeast, Willmar

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #10

Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi

Cottage built in 1927, featuring: Beauty Parlor

1713 16th Street Northeast, Willmar

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #11

Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi

Cottage built in 1929, featuring: Craft Shop for Women

1717 16th Street Northeast, Willmar

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #12

Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi

Cottage built in 1929

1804

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #13

Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi

Cottage built in 1930

1808

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #14

Monument and historic site · 2.5 mi

Cottage built in 1931, featuring: General Medicine, Surgery, Lab, X-Ray

1721 Technology Drive Northeast, Willmar

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Willmar State Hospital Cottage #15

Monument and historic site · 2.5 mi

Cottage built in 1933, featuring: Glacial Ridge Training Center for developmentally disabled

1801

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11 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds29

Bill Taunton Stadium

Sports field and stadium · 1.1 mi

1401 22nd Street SW, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-222-2010

Valley Golf Course

Golf course · 2.1 mi

1900 Becker Avenue SE, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-235-6790

Bjorsell Park

Park · 1.0 mi

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Lincoln Park

Playground · 1.3 mi

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Miller Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Ramblewood Park

Playground · 1.0 mi

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Bergquist Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Bria's Playground

Playground

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Eagle Creek Golf Club

Golf course · 2.7 mi

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East Willmar Park

Park · 1.8 mi

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Garfield Park

Park · 0.4 mi

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Gesch Park

Park · 1.6 mi

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17 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes38

LuLu Beans

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.9 mi

1020 1st Street South, Willmar

Mo-Fr 06:30-19:00; Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 07:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-214-9633

Pizza Ranch

Restaurant · Pizza · 2.0 mi

1612 Lakeland Drive Southeast, willmar

Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 10:30-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-222-3663

The Goodness Coffee House

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.8 mi

812 1st Street South, Willmar

Mo-Fr 06:30-17:00; Sa 08:00-14:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 320-403-5025

Applebee's

Diner · American · 2.0 mi

2901 1st Street South, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-214-8816

Dunn Bros. Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.9 mi

2800 1st Street South, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-235-8495

Giovanni's

Restaurant · Pizza · 2.0 mi

1312 Lakeland Drive Southeast, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-235-5555

Grizzly's Grill N' Saloon

Restaurant · Pasta, Burger, Chicken, Wrap, Ribs, Steak, Sandwich · 1.6 mi

2207 1st Street South, Willmar

Open in Google Maps · +1-320-231-0840

Taqueria El Guerrito

Restaurant · Mexican · 1.4 mi

1605 1st Street South

We-Su 10:00-18:30

Open in Google Maps · +13202955026

Caribou Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.7 mi

2319 1st Street South, Willmar

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El Tapatio

Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi

1111 1st Street South, Willmar

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Green Mill

Restaurant · Pizza · 2.2 mi

2100 E. Highway 12, Willmar

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McMillan's Family Restaurant

Restaurant · 1.8 mi

06:00-02:00

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26 more on the map.

History

Agricultural expansion and Willmar's establishment as a division point on the Great Northern Railway determined its growth. The first settlers arrived during the 1850s, attracted to the fertile land and abundant timber and game. The Dakota War of 1862 left the township abandoned for several years. The advent of the railroad in Kandiyohi County in 1869 brought new settlers. Many were of Swedish and Norwegian origin; residents of Scandinavian heritage are still a majority. In 1870, Leon (Chadwick) Willmar, a Belgian acting as an agent for the European bondholder of the Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad, bought the title to Section 1 of Willmar Township. Willmar was established as the county seat in 1871 and was incorporated as a village in 1874 and as a city in 1901.

Willmar was the site of a bank robbery by the Machine Gun Kelly gang on July 15, 1930. They robbed the Bank of Willmar (later Otto Bremer Trust) of about $70,000 (equivalent to $1,349,000 in 2025) and wounded three people.

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

Where to stay7

Churches and places of worship8

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Shopping10

Gas and EV charging9

Schools, colleges and libraries22

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Healthcare7

Map of Willmar

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

Climate by month

0°20°40°60°80°January: 0.7 in of rainFebruary: 0.7 in of rainMarch: 1.4 in of rainApril: 2.6 in of rainMay: 3.3 in of rainJune: 4.8 in of rainJuly: 4.0 in of rainAugust: 3.9 in of rainSeptember: 2.6 in of rainOctober: 2.4 in of rainNovember: 1.4 in of rainDecember: 0.8 in of rainJanuary: 20°FFebruary: 26°FMarch: 38°FApril: 54°FMay: 68°FJune: 78°FJuly: 82°FAugust: 79°FSeptember: 72°FOctober: 57°FNovember: 40°FDecember: 26°FJanuary: 3°FFebruary: 6°FMarch: 20°FApril: 34°FMay: 47°FJune: 58°FJuly: 62°FAugust: 59°FSeptember: 50°FOctober: 36°FNovember: 24°FDecember: 10°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan20°F3°F0.7 in9.2 in
Feb26°F6°F0.7 in7.8 in
Mar38°F20°F1.4 in6.9 in
Apr54°F34°F2.6 in3.8 in
May68°F47°F3.3 in0.0 in
Jun78°F58°F4.8 in0.0 in
Jul82°F62°F4.0 in0.0 in
Aug79°F59°F3.9 in0.0 in
Sep72°F50°F2.6 in0.0 in
Oct57°F36°F2.4 in0.5 in
Nov40°F24°F1.4 in7.8 in
Dec26°F10°F0.8 in10.1 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Willmar Wwtp (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$62,280median household income
$198,400median home value
$910median monthly rent
35.5median age
25.3%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
59.4%of homes are owner-occupied
12.6 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1826%18 to 3424%35 to 6432%65 and over19%

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

Disaster history

Kandiyohi County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2022-08-09: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2022-07-08: 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)
  • 2011-07-28: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Willmar Municipal -John L Rice Field (ILL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.

  • Pennock 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
  • Kandiyohi 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
  • Spicer 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
  • Raymond 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
  • New London 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
  • Hutchinson 37 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • St. Cloud 51 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Sartell 53 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Alexandria 54 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
  • Sauk Rapids 55 mi northeast, 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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Photo credits

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