Communities

Willmar

The county seat and largest town in Kandiyohi County, Willmar is a regional center for business, healthcare, technology and shopping. Willmar is also the fastest growing multicultural city outside the metro area. Seven public schools, a Christian school, DREAM Technical Academy and a community/technical college offer educational opportunities for our youth. Ridgewater College hosts many continuing education programs from Minnesota universities that enable adults to further their education while they work. Malls, quaint downtown shops, a growing number of big box stores and many kinds of dining opportunities make Willmar an interesting city to visit and in which to live.

For relaxation, you can visit one of the 35 neighborhood parks, including a skate park for inline skaters and skateboarders. Another park hosts the fabulous Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center which offers fun for young and old all summer. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy watching a Stingers baseball game (member of the Northwoods League consisting of elite college baseball players), walking local trails or lounging on the beach at Robbins Island, Willmar’s largest park. It is a 55-acre island located between Willmar and Foot Lakes. The island hosts seven shelters available for reservation, a soccer field, disc golf course, swimming beach, shore fishing, public boat access and the Destination Playground, the largest fully accessible playground in a five-state area and the third largest fully accessible playground in the U.S.

During the last week of June each year, the city of Willmar grows by almost 20,000 persons. Visitors come to celebrate Willmar Fests, a four-day festival. The city comes alive with parades, a water ski show, a concert, block party, golf and running events, international festivities and fireworks. In September, the arts community hosts the Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee! festival. Locals look forward to summer and the downtown Becker Market featuring local and multicultural products. Throughout the summer, free concerts are given by the Prairie Winds Concert Band, which performs at Rice Park, and Rockin’ Robbins, which is held at Robbins Island. Year-round, the Barn Theatre performs six productions to a packed house. Schwanke’s Museum, a privately-owned museum, is a collection of 300 classic tractors, cars and trucks that bring us back to the era when agriculture was coming of age in Minnesota and the horse was being supplanted by the tractor.

In June 2005, Willmar was designated an All America City and e-commerce certified by the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Government
City Office:

333 Sixth Street SW
P.O. Box 755
Willmar, MN 56201
320.235.4913

willmarsign

Photo by Dennis Benson

willmarstingers

Photo by Dennis Benson

Community Links
Demographics

2023 Population: 21,149
2010 Population: 19,610
Number of Households: 7,775
Persons per Household: 2.56
Labor Force: 9,507
Median Household Income: $53,961

Distance from Airports

Minneapolis/St. Paul: 84 miles
St. Cloud Regional: 60 miles
Willmar Municipal: 1 mile

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