The Town Files

Pennington County, Minnesota

13,791 people. The median home is worth $195,500 (typical Minnesota town: $301,800) and the median household earns $77,325.

Towns in Pennington County

Towns in Pennington County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Thief River Falls8,749$175,400$71,14437.8

People and housing

Pennington CountyTypical Minnesota town
Median home value$195,500$301,800
Median rent$862$991
Median household income$77,325$87,375
Median age39.642.7
Bachelor's degree or higher21.0%26.2%
Below the poverty line10.5%6.9%

Jobs and pay

9,793 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,946 a year.

Largest industries in Pennington CountyRetail995 jobs · $28,215Manufacturing933 jobs · $61,786Hotels & restaurants514 jobs · $17,771Other services247 jobs · $20,818Transportation & warehousing215 jobs · $65,497Construction163 jobs · $61,305
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Pennington County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 399 storm events in Pennington County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Pennington County by type since 1996Hail88Drought17Blizzard35High Wind10Heavy Snow25Flash Flood10Frost/Freeze9Funnel Cloud8Winter Storm48Cold/Wind Chill16
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Pennington County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 13, 2022FloodDR-4659: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
April 7, 2020BiologicalDR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3453: Covid-19
June 12, 2019FloodDR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
April 19, 2010FloodDR-1900: Flooding
April 9, 2009Severe StormDR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).