There is one unique ZIP code in Forbes, Minnesota and it is 55738. Area code: 218.
1
ZIP codes
119.80
sq mi land
1.73
sq mi water
218
area code
Forbes, MN ZIP code map
About Forbes, MN
Forbes, Minnesota is a small unincorporated community located in Saint Louis County in the northeastern region of the state, carrying ZIP code 55738. Nestled within the vast Iron Range landscape of northern Minnesota, Forbes reflects the rugged, resource-rich character that defines much of this corner of the state. Despite its modest size, Forbes is part of a broader region steeped in mining heritage, natural beauty, and a tight-knit sense of community identity.
Location & geography
Forbes is situated in Saint Louis County, the largest county by area in Minnesota and one of the largest in the contiguous United States, placing Forbes in the heart of the northeastern Minnesota wilderness. Nearby communities include Chisholm, Hibbing, Virginia, and Eveleth, all of which lie within a reasonable driving distance and serve as regional hubs for shopping, healthcare, and employment. The community encompasses 119.80 square miles of land and 1.73 square miles of water, reflecting the region's characteristic blend of boreal forest, wetlands, and the many lakes and streams that dot the Iron Range landscape.
Community & economy
Forbes embodies the quiet, self-reliant character common to rural Iron Range communities, where neighbors often know one another and outdoor life plays a central role in daily routines. The regional economy has historically been driven by iron ore mining, logging, and related industries, with many residents commuting to larger nearby Iron Range cities for work and services. Daily life in and around Forbes is closely tied to the natural environment, with hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and other outdoor pursuits forming an important part of the local culture throughout the year.
Transportation
The Forbes area is served by U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 73, major routes that connect Iron Range communities and provide access to regional centers such as Hibbing and Virginia. The Hibbing-Chisholm area, home to the Range Regional Airport (HIB), serves as the nearest commercial air travel option for residents of Forbes, offering connections to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Personal vehicle travel is the primary mode of transportation in this rural community, as public transit options are limited in the sparsely populated northeastern Minnesota region.
History
The Forbes area developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside the broader Iron Range boom, when the discovery of vast iron ore deposits in northeastern Minnesota attracted settlers, laborers, and industry to Saint Louis County. Like many Iron Range communities, Forbes was shaped by the growth of open-pit and underground mining operations that transformed the landscape and fueled the regional economy for generations. The community's history is intertwined with the immigrant working-class culture that took root across the Iron Range, as workers from Finland, Slovenia, Italy, and other countries came to the region seeking opportunity in the mines and forests.
Did you know?
One striking aspect of Forbes is the sheer scale of its land area — at 119.80 square miles, the community's footprint rivals that of some mid-sized American cities, yet it remains a sparsely populated rural enclave surrounded by forests and wetlands. This contrast between vast territorial size and small human population makes Forbes a compelling example of the wide-open, untamed character that defines much of northeastern Minnesota's Iron Range country.
