Fort Ripley ZIP Code List — Crow Wing County, MN

There is one unique ZIP code in Fort Ripley, Minnesota and it is 56449. Area code: 320.

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

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

121

25–34

150

35–44

115

128

45–54

55–59

60–64

118

65–74

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	497	25.4%
18 and over	1,458	74.6%
65 and over	338	17.3%
Median age	40.3 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%

Group	Count	%
White	1,776	85.5%
Hispanic or Latino	121	5.8%
Other race	93	4.5%
Two or more races	74	3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	7	0.3%
Asian	5	0.2%

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 $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%
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

Metric	Value
Median home value	$253,600
Median rent / month	$1,067
Owner occupied	94.9%
Renter occupied	5.1%
Vacant	16.2%
Single-family detached	91.6%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	7.9%
Median rooms	6.2
Avg household size (owned)	2.59

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.5%
2010–2019	11.7%
2000–2009	25.9%
1990–1999	13.9%
1980–1989	12.6%
1970–1979	14.1%
1960–1969	5.3%
1950–1959	4.6%
1940–1949	2.8%
1939 or earlier	8.8%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	3.3%
1 bedroom	6.6%
2 bedrooms	16.5%
3 bedrooms	47.9%
4 bedrooms	17.6%
5+ bedrooms	8.1%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	0.6%
1 vehicle	16.3%
2 vehicles	35.5%
3 or more	47.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	0.3%
Electricity	18.5%
Propane / LP gas	53.6%
Fuel oil	7.7%
Wood	17.9%
No fuel used	0.3%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	462	63.6%
Cohabiting couple	48	6.6%
Male householder, no spouse	155	21.3%
Female householder, no spouse	61	8.4%
Households with children under 18	202	27.8%
Households with seniors (65+)	239	32.9%
Average household size	2.69

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	28.6%	21.2%
Married	58.2%	69.2%
Separated	0.8%	0.0%
Widowed	3.7%	5.5%
Divorced	8.7%	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 higher	91.0%
Bachelor's or higher	18.6%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	19	4.2%
Kindergarten	42	9.2%
Elementary school	243	53.3%
High school	93	20.4%
College / grad school	59	12.9%

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 & arts	34.8%
Service	17.5%
Sales & office	16.6%
Natural resources & construction	20.6%
Production & transportation	10.5%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	78.8%
Government	12.3%
Self-employed	8.4%
Unpaid family workers	0.5%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	77.2%
Carpool	14.6%
Public transit	0.1%
Walk	1.4%
Other means	0.3%
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 Security	38.4%
Retirement income	26.4%
Supplemental Security	3.3%
Cash public assistance	1.2%
Food stamps / SNAP	3.4%

Health indicators

Condition	%
High blood pressure	29.9%
High cholesterol	29.3%
Heart disease	6.1%
Stroke	2.8%
Asthma	8.5%
Arthritis	24.1%
Kidney disease	2.7%
Pulmonary disease	5.4%
Cancer	7.0%

Behavior / access	%
Binge drinking	21.2%
No physical activity	19.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	28.3%
Fair or poor health	11.0%
Poor mental health	12.6%
Poor physical health	9.1%
No health insurance	9.9%
Visited doctor (checkup)	71.8%
Visited dentist	67.1%
Cholesterol screening	90.2%
Teeth loss	10.1%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	124	8.6%

Disability	%
Any disability	8.5%
Under 18	1.0%
18–64 years	7.4%
65 and over	23.1%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	73.9%
Public insurance	35.8%
Uninsured under 19	5.2%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	1,829	93.6%
Spanish	36	2.0%
Other Indo-European	35	1.9%
Asian & Pacific Islander	1	0.1%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	1,909	97.6%
Born in same state	1,895	96.9%
Born in different state	1,671	85.5%
Foreign born	14	0.7%
Naturalized citizen	46	2.4%
Not a US citizen	1	2.2%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	276	14.1%
Italian	183	9.4%
Arab	87	4.5%
French	70	3.6%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	55	2.8%
Dutch	37	1.9%
English	8	0.4%
Irish	7	0.4%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	37.1%
Internet access	91.6%

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the ZIP code for Fort Ripley, MN?

Fort Ripley, MN has one ZIP code: 56449.

What is the main ZIP code for Fort Ripley, MN?

The primary ZIP code for Fort Ripley, MN is 56449. The city uses area code 320 for phone service.

What county is Fort Ripley, MN in?

Fort Ripley is located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.

How many ZIP codes are in Fort Ripley, MN?

Fort Ripley, MN has 1 ZIP code.

What is the ZIP code for Fort Ripley's downtown area and main business district?

Fort Ripley's downtown area is located in ZIP code 56449, which serves as the primary commercial and administrative center for this Crow Wing County community.

What ZIP code should I use when mailing items to Fort Ripley's historic military installation area?

All mail addressed to Fort Ripley, including the historic fort grounds and surrounding residential areas, should use ZIP code 56449.