Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in ZIP code 56540, Fertile, MN

• Gutters in ZIP code 56540

  Polk County averages 23.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is about 623 gallons of water for the gutters to carry.

• Roofing in ZIP code 56540

  8 of the 18 hail events on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56540 from 2016 through March 31, 2026 had hail 1.5 inches or larger. The National Weather Service counts hail of 1 inch or larger as severe.

• Siding in ZIP code 56540

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56540 from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 81 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in ZIP code 56540

  72% of homes in ZIP code 56540 were built before 1980. A home built before 1980 was built before the energy codes in force today were written.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025); American Community Survey 2023, 5-year; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

ZIP code 56540 is filed here under Fertile, in Polk County, Minnesota; its center is about 128 miles northwest of our Brainerd office. ZIP code 56540 also extends into Norman County. Our address file holds 1,082 address points in ZIP code 56540. Of the cities and towns on our pages, ZIP code 56540 covers only Fertile.

Source: Census ZIP Code Tabulation Area, county and place boundaries (a ZIP code can also take in land outside any city or town).

ZIP code 56540 has 829 housing units, and 85% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Mobile homes make up 5% of the housing units.

The median home in ZIP code 56540 was built in 1962. 72% of homes in ZIP code 56540 were built before 1980, and 13% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1939 or earlier, with 276 homes.

85% of occupied homes in ZIP code 56540 are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in ZIP code 56540 is valued at $185,600. Among occupied homes in ZIP code 56540, 17% heat with utility gas, 24% with electricity, 39% with bottled or tank gas, 15% with fuel oil and 4% with wood.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040), for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56540.

The nearest other ZIP codes we serve, measured center to center, are 56545 in Gary (11 miles south), 56736 in Mentor (12 miles north), 56535 in Erskine (14 miles northeast), 56510 in Ada (17 miles southwest), 56716 in Crookston (19 miles northwest) and 56556 in McIntosh (20 miles northeast). The table sets ZIP code 56540 beside the 8 ZIP codes nearest to it, using the same Census figures for each.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year, by ZIP Code Tabulation Area; distances are straight lines between ZIP code centers.

The NOAA Storm Events Database records 18 hail events, 11 thunderstorm-wind events and 5 tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56540 from 2016 through March 31, 2026 for hail and through September 22, 2025 for thunderstorm wind and tornadoes. The largest hail on record there in that period was 2.5 inches on August 28, 2016, near Fertile. 8 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of ZIP code 56540 was 63 mph wind on July 8, 2019, 1.1 miles away near Fertile. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56540 was on June 28, 2024: 1.75 in hail near Gary. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56540 was on June 21, 2025, near Fertile. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56540 in that period was 81 mph. The busiest year was 2018, with 9 events in all.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

This page is filed under Fertile, which is in Polk County; the ratings below are that county's. Polk County scores 81.6 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 19th of 87 Minnesota counties. Polk County scores 65.4 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 41st of 87 Minnesota counties. Polk County scores 92.1 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 8th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Polk County is for winter weather, at 92.1 of 100.

Polk County averages 23.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Polk County is 39.4°F.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, 2026 release; rank among the state's counties computed from the scores; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

Our Brainerd office is at 217 S 7th St, Brainerd, MN 56401, about 128 miles from the center of ZIP code 56540. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (218) 833-2997.

• Brainerd office: address, hours and map