Brainerd LAKES population is much larger than people realize
The population of the Brainerd Lakes Area varies significantly between the year-round resident count and the peak tourist season.
Based on recent estimates:
• The year-round population is estimated to be around 70,000 people.
• The Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area, which typically includes Crow Wing and Cass counties and encompasses the Brainerd Lakes Area, had an estimated population of approximately 99,222 as of July 2022.
• During the summer tourism season, the population can swell to more than 200,000 people.
The city of Brainerd itself, which is the anchor city, had a population of 14,395 in the 2020 census.
