Becker, Minnesota
Becker is a small city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, located between the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. The population was 4,877 at the 2020 census and an estimated 4,997 in 2022. It sits about 46 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 19 miles southeast of St. Cloud, with U.S. Highway 10 as a main route through town.
The city covers about 12.26 square miles (11.67 land and 0.59 water). A key feature is the Sherburne County Generating Station (Sherco), a large coal-fired power plant that has long provided a big share of Becker’s tax revenue. Because of the plant, Becker residents have historically paid lower property taxes than nearby communities. There have been discussions about closing parts of the plant since 2015, and in 2023 Becker sought state aid to offset potential tax losses. Excel Energy has announced plans to close the plant by the end of the decade.
Becker was platted in 1867 and named after state legislator George Loomis Becker; a post office has operated there since 1870.
The city has nine parks, including Becker City Park, and Pebble Creek Golf Course. Becker Public Library is part of the Great River Regional Library system. Amtrak’s Empire Builder passes through Becker but does not stop; the nearest station is in St. Cloud. The Northstar commuter rail may add a stop in Becker in the future, and the town is served today by the Northstar Link bus between Big Lake and St. Cloud. Becker is part of Independent School District 726, with four schools totaling about 2,700 students. The local newspaper is the Patriot.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:29 (CET).