Fort Ripley ZIP Codes — Crow Wing County, MN

There is one unique ZIP code in Fort Ripley, Minnesota and it is 56449. Area code: 320.
1
ZIP codes
89.67
sq mi land
2.48
sq mi water
320
area code
Fort Ripley, MN ZIP code map

About Fort Ripley, MN

Fort Ripley is a small community located in Crow Wing County in central Minnesota, carrying a name that echoes its military heritage from the nineteenth century. Served by a single ZIP code, 56449, this quiet township offers residents a relaxed, rural lifestyle surrounded by the natural beauty of Minnesota's lake country. Though modest in population, Fort Ripley holds a meaningful place in the region's history and continues to attract visitors drawn to the outdoors and the legacy of the area.

Location & geography

Fort Ripley is situated in central Minnesota along the Mississippi River corridor, roughly five miles north of Brainerd and just south of Little Falls in Morrison County. The community covers 89.67 square miles of land and an additional 2.48 square miles of water, reflecting the lake-rich and river-laced landscape typical of this part of the state. The terrain is characterized by mixed forest, wetlands, and the winding Mississippi River, which forms a natural boundary and contributes significantly to the area's scenic character.

Community & economy

Fort Ripley has the feel of a tight-knit rural community where outdoor recreation, agriculture, and a connection to the land define everyday life. Residents often commute to nearby Brainerd or Little Falls for employment, shopping, and services, while enjoying the peace and space that small-town Minnesota living provides. The area around Camp Ripley, one of the largest National Guard training facilities in the United States, also plays a meaningful role in shaping the local identity and economy.

Transportation

Fort Ripley is conveniently accessible via Minnesota State Highway 371, a major north-south corridor connecting Brainerd to the south and Little Falls to the north, making regional travel straightforward for residents. U.S. Highway 10 also runs nearby, further linking the community to the broader central Minnesota road network. The nearest commercial airport is Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, located just a few miles south in Brainerd, offering regional flights for travelers in the area.

History

The Fort Ripley area takes its name from the historic military fort established in 1849 along the Mississippi River, which was built to maintain peace between settlers and the Ojibwe people of central Minnesota. The fort served as an important U.S. Army outpost during the mid-nineteenth century before being decommissioned, and its legacy lived on through the establishment of Camp Ripley on adjacent lands. Camp Ripley, which became a major Minnesota National Guard installation in the twentieth century, has remained one of the most enduring institutions connected to the community's identity.

Did you know?

One of the more surprising facts about Fort Ripley is that Camp Ripley, located within the community, encompasses over 53,000 acres, making it one of the largest National Guard training centers in the entire United States. This means that a significant portion of this small Minnesota township is dedicated to military training operations that serve Guard units from across the country.

ZIP codes for Fort Ripley, MN (1)
ZIP code City County Map
56449 Fort Ripley Crow Wing View map

Demographics & statistics

1,955
Population
40.3
Median age
$78,125
Median household income
$33,382
Per capita income
$253,600
Median home value
$1,067
Median monthly rent
94.9%
Home ownership
7.5%
Poverty rate
3.4%
Unemployment
829
Housing units
18.6%
Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female
71
Under 5
55
93
5–9
72
75
10–14
58
64
15–19
49
49
20–24
38
121
25–34
93
150
35–44
115
128
45–54
99
63
55–59
49
99
60–64
76
118
65–74
90
53
75–84
41
20
85+
16
← Male
Female →

Age summary

GroupCount%
Under 1849725.4%
18 and over1,45874.6%
65 and over33817.3%
Median age40.3 years

Race & ethnicity

White 85.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.8%
Other race 4.5%
Two or more races 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Asian 0.2%
GroupCount%
White1,77685.5%
Hispanic or Latino1215.8%
Other race934.5%
Two or more races743.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native70.3%
Asian50.2%

Household income

Under $10k 3.3%
$10k–$15k 2.8%
$15k–$25k 10.7%
$25k–$35k 9.2%
$35k–$50k 9.2%
$50k–$75k 12.4%
$75k–$100k 13.9%
$100k–$150k 24.5%
$150k–$200k 8.5%
$200k+ 5.4%
Range% of households
Under $10k3.3%
$10k–$15k2.8%
$15k–$25k10.7%
$25k–$35k9.2%
$35k–$50k9.2%
$50k–$75k12.4%
$75k–$100k13.9%
$100k–$150k24.5%
$150k–$200k8.5%
$200k+5.4%
Median income$78,125

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 2.9%
$50k–$100k 3.5%
$100k–$150k 12.6%
$150k–$200k 11.5%
$200k–$300k 37.4%
$300k–$500k 24.4%
$500k–$1M 6.7%
$1M+ 1.0%

Housing overview

MetricValue
Median home value$253,600
Median rent / month$1,067
Owner occupied94.9%
Renter occupied5.1%
Vacant16.2%
Single-family detached91.6%
Large apartment buildings0.0%
Mobile homes7.9%
Median rooms6.2
Avg household size (owned)2.59

Year built

Era%
2020 or later0.5%
2010–201911.7%
2000–200925.9%
1990–199913.9%
1980–198912.6%
1970–197914.1%
1960–19695.3%
1950–19594.6%
1940–19492.8%
1939 or earlier8.8%

Bedrooms

Size% of units
No bedroom (studio)3.3%
1 bedroom6.6%
2 bedrooms16.5%
3 bedrooms47.9%
4 bedrooms17.6%
5+ bedrooms8.1%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles% of households
No vehicle0.6%
1 vehicle16.3%
2 vehicles35.5%
3 or more47.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type%
Utility gas0.3%
Electricity18.5%
Propane / LP gas53.6%
Fuel oil7.7%
Wood17.9%
No fuel used0.3%

Households & families

Household typeCount%
Married-couple family46263.6%
Cohabiting couple486.6%
Male householder, no spouse15521.3%
Female householder, no spouse618.4%
Households with children under 1820227.8%
Households with seniors (65+)23932.9%
Average household size2.69

Marital status

StatusMaleFemale
Never married28.6%21.2%
Married58.2%69.2%
Separated0.8%0.0%
Widowed3.7%5.5%
Divorced8.7%4.1%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.4%
Some HS, no diploma 6.6%
HS graduate 31.4%
Some college, no degree 23.4%
Associate's degree 17.6%
Bachelor's degree 11.4%
Graduate / professional 7.2%
Metric%
HS diploma or higher91.0%
Bachelor's or higher18.6%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

TypeCount%
Nursery / preschool194.2%
Kindergarten429.2%
Elementary school24353.3%
High school9320.4%
College / grad school5912.9%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 24.7%
Construction 11.8%
Retail trade 10.5%
Manufacturing 8.9%
Agriculture & mining 8.8%
Arts, food & hospitality 6.8%
Other services 6.5%
Transportation & utilities 5.5%
Public administration 5.2%
Finance & real estate 4.9%
Professional & management 4.1%
Wholesale trade 1.8%
Information 0.5%

Occupation

Category%
Management, business & arts34.8%
Service17.5%
Sales & office16.6%
Natural resources & construction20.6%
Production & transportation10.5%

Employment type

Type%
Private sector78.8%
Government12.3%
Self-employed8.4%
Unpaid family workers0.5%

Commute

Method%
Drive alone77.2%
Carpool14.6%
Public transit0.1%
Walk1.4%
Other means0.3%
Avg commute (minutes)31.0

Poverty

All people 7.5%
Under 18 years 4.1%
18 and over 8.6%
Married-couple families 6.7%
Female-led households 50.0%

Income support

Source% of households
Social Security38.4%
Retirement income26.4%
Supplemental Security3.3%
Cash public assistance1.2%
Food stamps / SNAP3.4%

Health indicators

Condition%
High blood pressure29.9%
High cholesterol29.3%
Heart disease6.1%
Stroke2.8%
Asthma8.5%
Arthritis24.1%
Kidney disease2.7%
Pulmonary disease5.4%
Cancer7.0%
Behavior / access%
Binge drinking21.2%
No physical activity19.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep28.3%
Fair or poor health11.0%
Poor mental health12.6%
Poor physical health9.1%
No health insurance9.9%
Visited doctor (checkup)71.8%
Visited dentist67.1%
Cholesterol screening90.2%
Teeth loss10.1%

Veterans & disability

VeteransCount%
Civilian veterans1248.6%
Disability%
Any disability8.5%
Under 181.0%
18–64 years7.4%
65 and over23.1%

Health insurance coverage

Type%
Private insurance73.9%
Public insurance35.8%
Uninsured under 195.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

LanguageCount%
English only1,82993.6%
Spanish362.0%
Other Indo-European351.9%
Asian & Pacific Islander10.1%
Other languages00.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

OriginCount%
Native born (US)1,90997.6%
Born in same state1,89596.9%
Born in different state1,67185.5%
Foreign born140.7%
Naturalized citizen462.4%
Not a US citizen12.2%

Ancestry

AncestryCount%
Polish27614.1%
Italian1839.4%
Arab874.5%
French703.6%
AncestryCount%
German552.8%
Dutch371.9%
English80.4%
Irish70.4%

Technology access

Metric% of households
Computer access37.1%
Internet access91.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions
What ZIP codes does Fort Ripley, MN have?
Fort Ripley, MN has one ZIP code: 56449. Each ZIP code serves a distinct delivery area within the city and surrounding region.
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