loom.town
Moorhead, Minnesota
City overview · Current

Moorhead

Minnesota · A living picture of the city and the people who call it home.

Based on recorded year-built dates for residential sites.

46,533Estimated residents · 2025
18,508Households · 2020–2024
2.28People per household
22.27Square miles of land
$72,761Median household income
41.6%Bachelor’s degree or higher
16.1%Residents living in poverty
17.8 minAverage commute
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2020–2024 estimates; 2025 population estimate; City of Moorhead GIS.
Moorhead city territory
Each illuminated shape is a real Moorhead parcel, revealed by its recorded year built. Hover to inspect.
What’s happening · September 13

Today in Moorhead

See current city activity where it connects to the map.

Explore news, events and photos around the city. Updated September 13, 2026.
People · 2020–2024 estimates

Moorhead’s people

Explore how population and demographic patterns vary across the city.

Explore where people live.

Lower shareHigher share
These are American Community Survey estimates for geographic areas—not dots representing individual residents. Small-area estimates carry margins of error, so use them to see patterns rather than exact headcounts. Race categories shown are non-Hispanic; Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race. U.S. Census Bureau ACS.
Two-minute city guide

How Moorhead works

Who sets direction, who runs the city, and who represents your neighborhood.

ResidentsElect the mayor and eight council members
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City CouncilSets policy, passes laws and approves the budget
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City ManagerRuns departments and carries out council direction
Moorhead is a home rule charter city using the council–manager system. Elected leaders decide what the city should do. Professional staff decide how to operate it day to day.
What the council actually does

The eight-member council is Moorhead’s policy-making and legislative body. It adopts ordinances, approves the budget and major city direction, appoints the city manager, and monitors city performance. Council members work through the manager rather than giving orders directly to city employees.

Mayor · elected citywide

Shelly Carlson

The mayor presides over council meetings, appoints council committees and represents the city ceremonially. Under Moorhead’s charter, the mayor has no administrative duties and votes only to break a council tie. Current term ends December 31, 2026.

City Manager · appointed by council

Dan Mahli

The city’s chief administrative officer oversees departments and city operations, advises the mayor and council, and turns adopted policy into daily work. Mahli has served as city manager since November 2020.

The simplest distinction: the mayor chairs and represents; the council decides; the manager administers.

Moorhead has four wards, each represented by two council members. Select a ward to isolate it on the map.

Four wards · eight council members

Ward 1: Ryan Nelson and Nicole Mattson

Ward 2: Emily Moore and Heather Nesemeier

Ward 3: Deb White and Lisa Borgen

Ward 4: Chuck Hendrickson and Sebastian McDougall

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1

Find your ward. Your two ward council members are your neighborhood representatives.

2

Follow an issue. Council agendas, supporting documents, video, minutes and adopted resolutions are published online.

3

Speak to council. Residents may address public hearings, agenda items, or general community issues; individual speakers are generally limited to three minutes.

4

Join a board or commission. These resident bodies study specific areas and advise the council.

Regular council meetings are typically held the second and fourth Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Hjemkomst Center auditorium.
Official sources
[1] Government · [2] Mayor and Council · [3] City Charter, Ch. 2 · [4] City Manager · [5] Meetings. Leadership checked September 13, 2026. Ward boundaries: City of Moorhead/Clay County GIS.