Staples
Connected by History.
Built for What’s Next.
Staples is a growing central Minnesota community with deep roots in rail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and local entrepreneurship. Located at the junction of U.S. Highway 10 and Minnesota Highway 210, Staples combines strong regional connections with the relationships, recreation, and quality of life of a close-knit community.
Welcome to Staples
A Regional Community With
Room to Grow.
Staples has grown from its early roots in lumber and rail transportation into a regional center for healthcare, education, manufacturing, business, and community services.
Major employers, locally owned businesses, Central Lakes College, Lakewood Health System, transportation connections, and continued investment in downtown and housing all contribute to a community focused on both its heritage and its future.
Staples, Minnesota
Get to know Staples.
Explore the people, households, and workforce that shape Staples. These community statistics provide a starting point for business planning, local investment, and economic development.
Our community
People call it home.
Population, age, and household estimates offer a foundation for understanding Staples’ residents and community needs.
Population
Estimated residents · Census ACS
Median age
Years · Census ACS
Households
Occupied households · Census ACS
Explore population by age
Estimated Staples residents in each age group, from young children to older adults.
| Category | Estimated count |
|---|---|
| Under 5 | 210 |
| 5–9 | 164 |
| 10–14 | 121 |
| 15–19 | 107 |
| 20–24 | 94 |
| 25–29 | 146 |
| 30–34 | 155 |
| 35–39 | 101 |
| 40–44 | 90 |
| 45–49 | 72 |
| 50–54 | 72 |
| 55–59 | 84 |
| 60–64 | 186 |
| 65–69 | 160 |
| 70–74 | 116 |
| 75–79 | 154 |
| 80–84 | 77 |
| 85+ | 160 |
Survey estimates; chart margins of error are not shown.
Household snapshot
Housing & income.
Explore household earnings, income per person, and the estimated value of owner-occupied homes in Staples.
Median household income
Annual household income · Census ACS
Per capita income
Annual income per person · Census ACS
Median home value
Owner-occupied homes · Census ACS
Explore homeownership & renting
Estimated owner-occupied and renter-occupied homes. Vacant housing units are not included.
| Category | Estimated count |
|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 630 |
| Renter occupied | 372 |
Survey estimates; chart margins of error are not shown.
People & opportunity
Workforce & education.
Explore Staples’ resident labor force and the educational attainment of its adult population.
Civilian labor force · ages 16+
Five-year estimate · Census ACS
The civilian labor force includes employed residents and residents classified as unemployed. This measure is based on where people live, including those who commute outside Staples for work. It is not a count of jobs located within the city.
Explore educational attainment
Highest level of education completed by Staples residents age 25 and older. This includes adults both inside and outside the labor force.
| Category | Estimated count |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | 133 |
| High school / GED | 633 |
| Some college, no degree | 340 |
| Associate’s degree | 118 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 182 |
| Graduate / professional degree | 167 |
Survey estimates; chart margins of error are not shown.
A Look Back
Built Along the Rails.
Staples grew from the lumber industry and the arrival of the railroad, becoming an important transportation center whose influence can still be seen throughout the community today.
Lumber Brings the First Growth
Early settlement in the area was closely connected to the Dower and Staples families and their lumber operations. The developing settlement became known as Staples Mills.
The Railroad Changes Everything
A new Northern Pacific rail route helps establish Staples as a division point, leading to expansion of the rail yard and major growth in the local economy.
The Batcher Block Opens
The Batcher Block Opera House opens downtown, becoming an important cultural and gathering place for Staples and the surrounding area.
A Community Still Connected
Staples continues to build on its transportation heritage while growing as a center for healthcare, education, business, industry, recreation, and regional services.
Community Highlights
History, Opportunity, and Community in One Place.
Staples brings together transportation, education, healthcare, outdoor recreation, and a downtown shaped by more than a century of community life.
Railroad Heritage
Staples grew as a Northern Pacific railroad community and remains connected to passenger rail today through Amtrak’s Empire Builder.
Healthcare & Education
Lakewood Health System, Staples-Motley Schools, and Central Lakes College make Staples an important center for healthcare, learning, training, and employment in the region.
Arts & Recreation
Dower Lake, the Legacy Trail, community events, and the historic Batcher Block Opera House add recreation, culture, and gathering spaces to everyday life in Staples.
Life in Staples
Small-Town Living With Regional Connections.
Staples offers the familiarity of a close-knit community with access to healthcare, education, local businesses, recreation, arts, and transportation that serve people from across the surrounding region.
Dower Lake Recreation Area, the Legacy Trail, local parks, downtown events, schools, healthcare services, and community organizations all contribute to a place where residents can stay connected to both the outdoors and one another.
Explore Staples
Find Your Connection to the Community.
Whether you are looking to live, work, study, grow a business, invest, or explore opportunities in Staples, TCDC can help connect you with local contacts, properties, resources, and partners.
City Information
Mayor
Ron Murray
City clerk
Tara Greer
City administrator
Jerel Nelson
City office phone
City office email
City hall address
Office hours
8:00 to 4:30 Mon.-Fri. (except holidays)