The Brainerd Weekly Dispatch was founded on December 22, 1881, and became a daily after it was purchased by N. H. Ingersoll and F. W. Weiland in 1883.

In 1931 Weiland, then the sole owner, sold the Dispatch to W. D. Junkin and Henry F. McCollough, in partnership with the W. J. McGiffin Newspaper Co. Henry McCollough became publisher after Junkin's death in 1941, joined by his son, William, after World War II. The two were co-publishers until Henry's death in 1980. William's son, Terry, joined the Dispatch in 1967, and became publisher in 1983.

In 1953, the McCollough family purchased the interest owned by the McGiffin Co. and in 1984 they sold The Brainerd Daily Dispatch to Stauffer Communications, Inc. of Topeka, Kan. Morris Communications Co. acquired Stauffer in 1995.

In May 2004, the paper changed its name to the Brainerd Dispatch.