Nelson is a city in Douglas County, Minnesota, United States.

[5] The present name is for Knute Nelson, a prominent citizen and United States Senator from Minnesota.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.66 square miles (1.71 km2), all land.

[7] Minnesota State Highway 27 serves as a main route in the community.

The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White, 1.16% Native American, and 0.58% from two or more races.

About 22.0% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.7% of those 65 or over.