community

There are more than 450 lakes, 400 holes of golf, several hotels and resorts, miles of paved and unpaved hiking and biking trails within a 30-minute drive of Brainerd. There are distinct neighborhoods, a thriving downtown, dozens of parks, a variety of housing options, and a spirit of redevelopment and entrepreneurship in Brainerd.

The arts and culture scene are thriving in Brainerd. There are several community and non-profit organizations providing opportunities for theatre, choir and orchestra music, visual arts, art studios and installations, and more.

Brainerd built a new performing arts center in 2022, the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, attached to the Brainerd High School and it is the location of concerts, theater performances and more, in cooperation with several arts organizations including the Central Lakes College Performing Arts Community.

There are multiple education opportunities in Brainerd including Independent School District 181 which encompasses the cities of Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, and students in the unorganized territories of Crow Wing County.

There are six elementary schools with grades K-4, one middle school
(Forestview Middle School) with grades 5-8, and one high school with grades 9-12.

In addition, there are two parochial schools for grades K-8 at St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School and Lake Region Christian School; there are two Montessori elementary schools at Discovery Woods and Zion?; and there are regional charter schools offering online curriculum. Brainerd is also home to a community college, Central Lakes College, offering various transfer curriculum and technical programs.

There are three major healthcare systems in the Brainerd area community with hospitals and clinics. In addition, there are several specialty service clinics in the community as well.

Essentia Health maintains a growing system of highly skilled providers and high-tech facilities to serve people throughout the region. Visitors also can be assured that they are never far from medical resources if needed. Essentia’services cover the full range of care, from pediatrics and obstetrics to heart, cancer, orthopedics, sports medicine, behavioral health and women’s health.

The hospital offers 24-hour emergency services, intensive care, in-patient and outpatient surgery, and the clinic offers primary, specialty and walk-in care.

As a regional center for health care and the county seat of Crow Wing County County, Brainerd also offers sophisticated dental care, extensive mental health and family advocacy services, blood and medical supplies, and a range of residential facilities for seniors across the spectrum from independent living to nursing care.

The neighboring community of Baxter is home to many clinics affiliated with other health care systems including CentraCare, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Lakewood Health System and Riverwood Healthcare Center. There is also the Brainerd Surgery Center and Minnesota Center for Orthopedics and Twin Cities Orthopedics clinics.