It is about one hundred sixty miles northwest of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metro area.

[6] Wadena is an agricultural community and serves as a region hub for the Tri county area.

[10] On June 17, 2010, Wadena was hit by an EF-4[11] tornado that cut a quarter-mile-wide path of destruction through the town.

City officials are encouraging rebuilding by offering tax free land incentives.

[13] The Wadena Tornado was covered extensively on the December 1, 2010, episode of the Discovery Channel series Storm Chasers.

In the aftermath of the tornado, students from the high school attended classes at the Wadena campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College, at a school that was previously no longer in use in nearby Deer Creek (Deer Creek having consolidated with Wadena in 1991), and at the Wadena Elementary School.

Outdoor athletics were largely unaffected, but home volleyball and basketball games were played in the Elementary School gymnasium.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.38 square miles (13.93 km2), all of it land.

With over 100 hand-painted murals decorating downtown buildings, Wadena depicts 1,000 years of Minnesota history known as the "Largest Puzzle in the World".

As a result of the actions of the Freedom From Religion, many nativity scenes sprang up around the city, estimated to be over 1,000 in total.

The city's economy is largely driven by a mix of manufacturing, agriculture, and small businesses, which collectively contribute to its growth and resilience.

Wadena is home to several trucking logistics companies as its strategic location along major transportation routes, facilitates the distribution of goods and services.

Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which operates between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop.

The nearest station is located in Staples, 18 miles (29 km) to the southeast.