Virginia, Minnesota
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2020) |
Virginia | |
|---|---|
 View of Virginia, showing a water tower and a line of wind turbines in the distance | |
| Nickname: Queen City of the North | |
 Location of the city of Virginia within St. Louis County, Minnesota | |
| Coordinates: 47°31′2″N 92°32′29″W / 47.51722°N 92.54139°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | St. Louis |
| Established | March 1892 |
| Incorporated | February 1895 |
| Named after | U.S. state of Virginia |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Larry A. Cuffe Jr.[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.10 sq mi (49.46 km2) |
| • Land | 18.77 sq mi (48.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.33 sq mi (0.85 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,440 ft (439 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,421 |
• Estimate (2022)[5] | 8,332 |
| • Density | 448.67/sq mi (173.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 55741, 55777, 55792 |
| Area code | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-67288 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0662719[3] |
| Sales tax | 8.375%[6] |
| Website | www.virginiamn.us |
Virginia is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. With an economy heavily reliant on large-scale iron ore mining, Virginia is considered the Mesabi Iron Range's commercial center. The population was 8,423 at the 2020 census.[4] Virginia is a part of the Duluth metropolitan area,[7] and U.S. Highway 53 runs through town.
Virginia was founded by Orrin Day Kinney, the original owner of the town site, which was laid out in 1892 and named after Virginia, the home state of many of the lumbermen in the area at the time.[9] A post office has been in operation at Virginia since 1893.[10] Virginia was incorporated in 1895. It was a logging community first, then developed as a mining community. The Virginia area mines were prosperous and setting new records consistently by the late 1890s. The main population boom began after mining camps were built for entrepreneurs and financiers including Andrew Carnegie, Leonidas Merritt, Jay Cooke, John D. Rockefeller, William J. Olcott, and James J. Hill. With the use of diamond drills, mules, and a massive labor force, the mines moved millions of tons per year and shipped them out of the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, as well as Two Harbors.
The City of Franklin was consolidated into the City of Virginia.[11]
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 19.18 square miles (49.68 km2); 18.85 square miles (48.82 km2) is land and 0.33 square miles (0.85 km2) is water.[12] Lakes in Virginia include Silver Lake and Bailey Lake. An Ojibwe tribe originally named the area Qeechaquepagem, which roughly means "lake of the north birds".
Virginia is part of the Quad Cities, along with Eveleth, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron.
Climate
[edit]The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb" (Warm Summer Continental Climate). Summers are warm, sometimes hot, and winters are severely cold.
| Climate data for Virginia, Minnesota | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −9 (16) |
−4 (24) |
2 (36) |
11 (51) |
19 (66) |
23 (74) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
18 (64) |
11 (52) |
1 (33) |
−6 (21) |
9 (49) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −21 (−6) |
−17 (2) |
−10 (14) |
−3 (27) |
4 (39) |
9 (48) |
12 (53) |
11 (51) |
6 (43) |
0 (32) |
−8 (17) |
−17 (1) |
−3 (27) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 20 (0.8) |
13 (0.5) |
28 (1.1) |
41 (1.6) |
69 (2.7) |
120 (4.6) |
99 (3.9) |
94 (3.7) |
86 (3.4) |
64 (2.5) |
36 (1.4) |
18 (0.7) |
690 (27.1) |
| Source: Weatherbase [13] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 2,962 | — | |
| 1910 | 10,473 | 253.6% | |
| 1920 | 14,022 | 33.9% | |
| 1930 | 11,963 | −14.7% | |
| 1940 | 12,264 | 2.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,486 | 1.8% | |
| 1960 | 14,034 | 12.4% | |
| 1970 | 12,450 | −11.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,056 | −11.2% | |
| 1990 | 9,410 | −14.9% | |
| 2000 | 9,157 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 8,712 | −4.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,423 | −3.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 8,332 | [5] | −1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 2020 Census[4] | |||
2010 census
[edit]As of the census of 2010, there were 8,712 people, 4,242 households, and 2,019 families living in the city. The population density was 462.2 inhabitants per square mile (178.5/km2). There were 4,738 housing units at an average density of 251.4 per square mile (97.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.7% White, 0.6% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 4,242 households, of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.4% were non-families. 46.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.74.
The median age in the city was 44.9 years. 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.9% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
2000 census
[edit]As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families living in the city. The population density was 486.1 inhabitants per square mile (187.7/km2). There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile (96.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.17% White, 0.46% African American, 2.24% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. 21.4% were of Finnish, 13.3% German, 9.9% Norwegian, 8.8% Italian, and 7.8% Swedish ancestry.
There were 4,333 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 42.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,873, and the median income for a family was $43,419. Males had a median income of $38,834 versus $22,473 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,776. About 10.6% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
[edit]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 47.8% 2,040 | 50.0% 2,134 | 2.2% 98 |
| 2016 | 44.1% 1,854 | 47.0% 1,976 | 8.9% 375 |
| 2012 | 34.5% 1,607 | 62.3% 2,902 | 3.2% 148 |
| 2008 | 33.4% 1,612 | 64.0% 3,090 | 2.6% 125 |
| 2004 | 32.1% 1,595 | 66.6% 3,310 | 1.3% 66 |
| 2000 | 30.5% 1,453 | 60.8% 2,901 | 8.7% 416 |
| 1996 | 23.3% 1,066 | 66.3% 3,036 | 10.4% 479 |
| 1992 | 20.8% 1,064 | 62.2% 3,183 | 17.0% 871 |
| 1988 | 27.5% 1,476 | 72.5% 3,885 | 0.0% 0 |
| 1984 | 30.4% 1,790 | 69.6% 4,102 | 0.0% 0 |
| 1980 | 32.7% 2,004 | 59.4% 3,637 | 7.8% 479 |
| 1976 | 34.1% 2,296 | 64.0% 4,309 | 1.9% 130 |
| 1968 | 28.6% 1,829 | 69.4% 4,429 | 2.0% 128 |
| 1964 | 28.5% 1,968 | 71.4% 4,935 | 0.1% 12 |
| 1960 | 39.7% 2,809 | 60.1% 4,254 | 0.2% 11 |
Economy
[edit]Virginia is located on the Mesabi Range, part of northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range, which has historically served as a center for iron ore mining.[16]
Although mining continues to influence the broader region, Virginia’s local economy has diversified. The city functions as a commercial, healthcare, and service hub for nearby communities.[17] Virginia’s position along U.S. Highway 53 and its proximity to other Range towns contribute to its role as a regional center.[18]
Retail is a key part of the local economy, with large national stores like Target and Walmart operating alongside independent businesses in the downtown district and along the highway corridor.[19]
Healthcare is also a major employer. Essentia Health–Virginia provides medical services for much of the central Iron Range and is one of the city’s largest institutions.[20]
Other sectors include transportation, warehousing, and companies tied to mining and industrial support services.[21]
Tourism adds seasonal economic activity, with visitors drawn to outdoor recreation, nearby lakes, and events such as the annual Land of the Loon festival.[22]
In 2023, Rock Ridge Public Schools opened a new consolidated high school campus in Virginia, bringing students from multiple communities and further establishing the city as an educational center for the area.[23]
Arts and culture
[edit]Virginia is home to the annual Land of the Loon festival, held each June. The event includes a parade, artisan market, food vendors, and cultural exhibitions celebrating the Iron Range’s immigrant heritage.[24]
Other popular annual events include the Brewfest which features regional craft breweries and live music at Olcott Park, and the Virginia Food Truck Festival, hosted main street.[25][26]
Points of interest
[edit]B'nai Abraham Synagogue: A restored early 20th-century synagogue now used as a cultural and historical interpretive site.[27]
Laurentian Divide: A geographical landmark just north of the city, representing a continental hydrological divide.
Lyric Center for the Arts: Located in the historic Lyric Opera House, this venue supports local performing arts and visual arts through shows, exhibits, and educational programs.[28]
Mesabi Trail: A paved recreational trail that passes through Virginia and connects communities across the Iron Range.[29]
Olcott Park Greenhouse: A city-operated public greenhouse featuring botanical displays and seasonal programming.[30]
Urban area
[edit]Virginia is part of a cluster of communities in northeastern Minnesota commonly referred to as the central Mesabi Iron Range. The immediate urban area includes Virginia, Hibbing, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Gilbert, Chisholm, and Fayal Township.[31]
The city is located roughly 60 miles north of Duluth, which anchors the Duluth–Superior metropolitan area. Virginia is officially included in the Duluth MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, the second-largest metropolitan region in Minnesota by population.[32]
Parks and recreation
[edit]Virginia maintains a variety of public parks, trails, and recreational facilities that serve residents and visitors throughout the year.
Olcott Park, located near the center of the city, spans approximately 40 acres. It features open green space, a bandshell used for summer concerts, and a stone fountain originally built in 1937 through a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The fountain was restored and reactivated in 2019.[33][34] The park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse, a city-operated botanical facility that features tropical and seasonal plants and is open to the public year-round.[35]
Silver Lake Park, located east of downtown, includes picnic shelters, a public boat launch, shoreline access, and paved trails. The adjacent Silver Lake Trail forms a walking and biking loop around the lake.[36]
Bridgeview Park, near the east end of Chestnut Street, offers elevated views of the Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge, which spans the Rouchleau Mine Pit. The park features interpretive signage, benches, and access to the Mesabi Trail trailhead.[37]
Southside Park, located in the southern part of the city, includes athletic fields used for youth baseball, softball, and soccer programs.[38]
The Iron Trail Motors Event Center (ITMEC) opened in 2021. The 120,000 square foot facility includes two indoor ice arenas, a fitness center, a ballroom, and community meeting rooms. It serves as the home rink for Rock Ridge High School and hosts public skating, tournaments, and other events.[39]
The Virginia Indoor Tennis and Pickleball Club, formerly known as Tennis for All, is located at 1310 South 5th Avenue. The facility includes 12 acrylic courts—six indoor and six outdoor—with permanent lines, portable nets, restrooms, water, and lights. [40][41]
Virginia is also located along the Mesabi Trail, a paved multi-use trail that extends more than 135 miles across the Iron Range.[42]
Education
[edit]Rock Ridge Public Schools (ISD 2909) serves the city with Rock Ridge High School (grades 7–12), North Star Elementary (grades 3–6), and Parkview Learning Center (Pre-K–2).[43]
Virginia is also the site of the Iron Range Engineering program, an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in Integrated Engineering offered through Minnesota North College and Minnesota State University, Mankato. The program, based at Mesabi Range–Virginia, uses a cooperative education model with industry internships during the junior and senior years.[44][45]
The St. Louis County Schools (ISD 2142) district office is located in Virginia, though its schools serve surrounding towns such as Cherry and Tower–Soudan.[46]
Marquette Catholic School, affiliated with the Diocese of Duluth, offers private elementary education (K–6).[47]
The Virginia campus of Mesabi Range, part of Minnesota North College, provides two-year technical, career, and transfer programs.[48]
The Virginia Public Library offers media, resources, and programs for all ages.[49]
The Northland Learning Center, housed in the former James Madison Elementary School, serves students requiring alternative education under ISD 2909.[50]
Media
[edit]News media
[edit]- The Mesabi Tribune, newspaper published in Virginia and Hibbing
Television
[edit]Stations serving Virginia are received from the Duluth television market:
Infrastructure
[edit]Transportation
[edit]Virginia is a regional transportation hub within the Mesabi Range. Major roadways include U.S. routes 53 and 169 (northern terminus) and State Highway 135 (MN 135). Other main routes include 2nd Avenue West, 9th Avenue West, 12th Avenue West, 13th Street South, 8th Street South, and 9th Street North. Downtown Virginia is centered along Chestnut Street. Arrowhead Transportation also allows for city bussing through the Virginia Metro area.
In 2017, the U.S. 53 Bridge was built. It is Minnesota's tallest bridge and the main bridge from the freeway from southern Minnesota to the north. In 2021, it was renamed the Thomas Rukavina Memorial Bridge.
Notable people
[edit]
- W. T. Bailey, lumber industrialist
- Daniel Berrigan, peace activist
- Luke F. Burns, lawyer and Minnesota state legislator
- Jack Carlson, professional hockey player
- Jeff Carlson, professional hockey player[52]
- Steve Carlson, professional hockey player
- Mark Cullen, professional hockey player
- Matt Cullen, professional hockey player
- Peter X. Fugina, educator and Minnesota state legislator
- John Gruden, professional hockey player
- Frank Haege, professional and collegiate football coach
- John Harrington, hockey player, member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team that won the Olympic gold medal
- Edwin H. Hoff, Minnesota state legislator
- Kurt Johnson, auto racer
- Warren Johnson, auto racer, member of Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
- Vic Kulbitski, football player
- Pete LoPresti, professional hockey player
- Robert W. Mattson, Sr., Minnesota attorney general
- Robert Mondavi, winemaker
- Matt Niskanen, professional hockey player[53]
- Johnny Norlander, professional basketball player
- Tim Paulson, California Labor Leader
- Chris Pratt, actor[51]
- Alex Rozier, journalist
- Tom Rukavina, Minnesota state legislator
- Sherman Walt, bassoonist
- Leonard C. Ward, United States Army Brigadier General
- Thomas D. Yukelich, Minnesota state legislator
- Craig Hella Johnson, Composer
References
[edit]- ^ "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Virginia, Minnesota
- ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "Virginia (MN) sales tax rate". Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "2020 State-based Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Maps". Census.gov. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Virginia | Minnesota, History, Mining | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 491.
- ^ "St. Louis County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ City of Franklin (historical), St. Louis County, Minnesota. HomeTown Locator. Accessed 6 May 2024.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
- ^ "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on August 10, 2013.
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ^ "Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results".
- ^ Minnesota DNR – Iron Range Geology
- ^ Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board – Community Profiles
- ^ City of Virginia – 2040 Comprehensive Plan
- ^ Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Business Directory
- ^ Essentia Health – Virginia Hospital
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau – Virginia, MN Industry by Occupation
- ^ Iron Range Tourism Bureau – Virginia Area
- ^ WDIO – Rock Ridge High School Opens
- ^ "Events in Virginia". City of Virginia, MN. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Iron Range Beer Fest returns to Virginia". Hometown Focus. July 2023.
- ^ "Upcoming Events". Iron Trail Motors Event Center.
- ^ "B'nai Abraham Synagogue". Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest.
- ^ "Lyric Center for the Arts". LyricCenterOnline.org.
- ^ "Mesabi Trail". MesabiTrail.com.
- ^ "Olcott Park Greenhouse". City of Virginia.
- ^ "Iron Range Community Profiles". Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.
- ^ "Metropolitan Regions". Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
- ^ "Historic Iron Range fountain comes back to life". MPR News. June 15, 2019.
- ^ "Olcott Park Fountain Restoration". City of Virginia.
- ^ "Olcott Park Greenhouse". City of Virginia.
- ^ "Weekend itinerary: lakes, parks and history". Iron Range Tourism.
- ^ "Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge and Bridge View Park – Virginia". Iron Range Tourism.
- ^ "Weekend itinerary: lakes, parks and history". Iron Range Tourism.
- ^ "Iron Trail Motors Event Center – About". Iron Trail Motors Event Center.
- ^ "Tennis for All". City of Virginia.
- ^ "Virginia Indoor Tennis and Pickleball Club". Pickleheads.
- ^ "Mesabi Trail". Mesabi Trail.
- ^ "Rock Ridge Public Schools". Rock Ridge Public Schools. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
- ^ "Iron Range Engineering". Iron Range Engineering.
- ^ "Iron Range Engineering". Minnesota State University, Mankato.
- ^ "St. Louis County Schools". Independent School District 2142.
- ^ "School Directory". Diocese of Duluth.
- ^ "Mesabi Range – Virginia Campus". Minnesota North College.
- ^ "Virginia Public Library". City of Virginia.
- ^ "Northland Learning Center". ISD 706.
- ^ a b Brown, Aaron (June 29, 2015). "Chris Pratt was born on the Iron Range". Minnesota Brown. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ "Jeff Carlson (a.k.a. Jeff Hanson, #18)". Arena Central. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2007.
- ^ Field Level Media (October 5, 2020). "Former Bulldog Matt Niskanen retires after 13 seasons in NHL". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
External links
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