City · Minnesota
Federal Dam, Minnesota
Federal Dam, city, in Cass County, Minnesota. Federal Dam had 116 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.7% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 113; the 2020 Census counted 123 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 142 (±44). GEOID 2720798.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
116
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 123 · ACS 2020-2024: 142 ±44
Median household income
$38,393
±$18,375 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$123,100
±$45,435 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$992
±$564 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Federal Dam and what county is it in?
Federal Dam is a city in Cass County, Minnesota. It covers 2.2 square miles of land, 56 residents per square mile in 2020.
Federal Dam is in the Brainerd, MN micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Federal Dam, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 116 people lived in Federal Dam on July 1, 2025, up 2.7% since 2020, in line with Minnesota (+2.2%). The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for Federal Dam, 113, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 123: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 142 (±44).
| Measure | Federal Dam | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 142 ±44 | 30,992 | no clear change |
| Households | 69 ±23 | 12,874 | +28 |
| Average household size | 2.06 ±0.41 | 2.38 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 126 ±33 | 24,470 | no clear change |
Federal Dam's population since 2000
From 101 in 2000 to 116 in 2025: up 14.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Federal Dam as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Federal Dam?
The median resident of Federal Dam is 40.5 years old; 27.5% are under 18 and 31.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 54.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 24.6%.
| Measure | Federal Dam | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 ±25.1 | 49.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.5% ±13.2 pts | 20.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 31.0% ±11.5 pts | 27.5% | – |
| Male | 44.4% ±9.0 pts | 51.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±14.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 54.9% ±15.3 pts | 80.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±14.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±14.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 20.4% ±12.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±14.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 24.6% ±19.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±14.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±1.7 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5% ±2.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 18.4% ±10.3 pts | 9.5% | – |
| With a disability | 19.7% ±9.0 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.8% ±3.1 pts | 6.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.0% ±8.0 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.0% ±6.9 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.0% ±2.7 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.3% ±5.6 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Federal Dam earn?
Half of Federal Dam's 69 households earn less than $38,393 a year (±$18,375), against $68,874 in Cass County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $71,534 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $33,141 after inflation. 10.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Federal Dam | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $38,393 ±$18,375 | $68,874 | −$33,141 |
| Mean household income | $49,849 ±$12,899 | $90,608 | – |
| Per capita income | $26,247 ±$4,996 | $38,449 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.6% ±5.8 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±39.5 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 44.9% ±14.6 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.8% ±5.4 pts | 94.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.1% ±8.4 pts | 89.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Federal Dam?
Owners occupy 75.4% of Federal Dam's occupied homes and renters 24.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $123,100 by its owner (±$45,435). The median renter pays $992 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Federal Dam | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $123,100 ±$45,435 | $288,300 | – |
| Median gross rent | $992 ±$564 | $863 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 58.8% ±42.6 pts | 30.2% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,096 ±$110 | $1,535 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.4% ±15.2 pts | 86.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 24.6% ±15.2 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Housing units | 126 ±33 | 24,470 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±33.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±59.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.0% ±11.9 pts | 85.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 15.9% ±11.7 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6% ±2.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.7% ±8.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.1% ±7.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 15.9% ±12.2 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Federal Dam building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Federal Dam in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Federal Dam work and get to work?
63.6% of Federal Dam's workers drive alone.
| Measure | Federal Dam | Cass County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.8% ±12.0 pts | 55.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% ±4.4 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 63.6% ±20.1 pts | 73.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.0% ±37.1 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±37.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 9.1% ±7.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.6% ±12.0 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.6 min ±28.3 | 25.2 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Federal Dam?
No census tract lies mostly in Federal Dam; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9601Cass County | 2,144 | $59,327 |
| Tract 9602Cass County | 2,494 | $64,801 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Federal Dam) · Census block assignment files
How does Federal Dam compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Federal Dam is the 17,869th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 739th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Federal Dam is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 739th | 855 |
Federal Dam's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Federal Dam with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Federal Dam?
26 of the 57 figures for Federal Dam on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Federal Dam are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Federal Dam.