Minnesota

Wadena

14,065
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Wadena

Wadena, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 6. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,065.

Its recorded population peaked at 14,192 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 1 percent.

On the ground today, 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,065
201013,843
200013,713
199013,154
198014,192
197012,412
196012,199
195012,806
194012,772
193010,990
192010,699
19108,652
19007,921
18904,053
18802,080
18706
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Wadena

National Register of Historic Places listings in Wadena, Minnesota.

Northern Pacific Passenger Depot
Wadena
Reaume's Trading Post
Wadena
Wadena Fire and City Hall
Wadena
Blueberry Lake Village Site
Menahga
Commercial Hotel
Wadena
Old Wadena Historic District
Staples

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Everything a full report reveals about Wadena County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Wadena County, Minnesota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Wadena

When does Wadena first appear in the US census?
Wadena, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 6.
What is the population of Wadena?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wadena had a recorded population of 14,065.
When did Wadena's population peak?
Wadena's recorded population peaked at 14,192 in 1980.
How many historic places are in Wadena?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wadena, Minnesota.
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