Minnesota

State Office of Rural Health

Minnesota Department of Health - Office of Rural Health and Primary Care

Phone: 651.201.3838
Email: health.orhpc@state.mn.us

Serves as the State Office of Rural Health (SORH) in Minnesota and promotes access to quality healthcare for all Minnesota residents. Works with policymakers, providers, and rural and underserved urban communities. Collects and analyzes statewide data on licensed healthcare providers; provides grant support to increase access to healthcare workforce programs; and builds and sustains healthcare facilities, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Designates and supports the trauma system in Minnesota.
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Minnesota Nonmetro Population

5,695,292

Estimated population

1,262,264 (22.2%)

People living in nonmetro areas

Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-year estimate

Minnesota Rural Healthcare Facilities

76

Critical Access Hospitals

1

Rural Emergency Hospitals

106

Rural Health Clinics

18

Federally Qualified Health Centers*

25

Short Term/PPS Hospitals*

*Sites according to data.HRSA.gov (July 2024), showing only locations outside of U.S. Census Bureau Urban Areas with a population of 50,000 or more

Selected Social Determinants of Health for Rural Minnesota

4.3% of Minnesota residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2022). According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per capita income for Minnesotans in 2021 was $66,280, with the rural per capita income at $55,824. The ERS reports, based on 2021 ACS data, that the poverty rate in rural Minnesota is 10.7%, compared with 8.9% in urban areas of the state. 7.7% of the rural population has not completed high school, while 6.1% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma according to 2017-2021 ACS data reported by ERS. The unemployment rate in rural Minnesota is at 3.1% while in urban Minnesota it is at 2.6% (USDA-ERS, 2022).