ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MINNESOTA


St. Louis County Courthouse

'St. Louis County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2000, the population was 200,528. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by area in Minnesota, and the largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River (if water area is 'ex'cluded, it is second largest, behind Aroostook County, Maine). Major industries include pulpwood production and tourism. At one time, surface mining of low-grade iron-ore was a major part of the economy. Parts of the Bois Forte and Fond du Lac Indian reservations are in the county.
St. Louis County was founded on February 20, 1855 as 'Doty County' and had its name changed to 'Newton County' on March 3, 1855. On March 1, 1856, St. Louis County to the east became Lake County while Newton County was renamed St. Louis County. Originally Doty County and Newton County consisted of the area east and south of the St. Louis River. The area east of Vermilion River and north of St. Louis River was part of Superior County (which then became St. Louis County, and then Lake County). Upon establishment of this St. Louis County, these two areas were merged, then expanded westward by incorporating parts of Itasca County, which then also included most of Carlton County. On May 23, 1857 St. Louis County took its current shape when Carlton County was formed from parts of St. Louis and Pine Counties.

Contents
Geography
Major Highways
Adjacent counties
Demographics
Governance
Politics
Cities and towns
Cities
Townships
Unorganized
External links

Geography


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 17,767 km² (6,860 mi²). 16,123 km² (6,225 mi²) of it is land and 1,644 km² (635 mi²) of it (9.25%) is water. By land area, it is the largest county in Minnesota.
Major Highways


Interstate Highway 35
Interstate Highway 535
U.S. Highway 2
U.S. Highway 53
U.S. Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 23
Minnesota State Highway 33

Minnesota State Highway 37
Minnesota State Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 73
Minnesota State Highway 135
Minnesota State Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 194
Minnesota State Highway 210

Adjacent counties


Rainy River District, Ontario (north)

Lake County (east)

Douglas County, Wisconsin (southeast)

Carlton County (south)

Aitkin County (southwest)

Itasca County (west)

Koochiching County (northwest)

Demographics


Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data.

As of the census² of 2000, there were 200,528 people, 82,619 households, and 51,389 families residing in the county. The population density was 12/km² (32/mi²). There were 95,800 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (15/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.86% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 2.03% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.0% were of German, 13.7% Norwegian, 12.1% Finnish, 9.7% Swedish, 6.0% Irish and 5.3% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 82,619 households out of which 27.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.30% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.80% were non-families. 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.40% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,306, and the median income for a family was $47,134. Males had a median income of $37,934 versus $24,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,982. About 7.20% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Governance


Like all counties in Minnesota, Saint Louis is governed by an elected and nonpartisan 'board of commissioners'. In Minnesota, county commissions usually have five members, but Saint Louis, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties have seven members. Each commissioner represents a district of equal population.
The county commission elects a chair who presides at meetings.
Commissioners as of August 2007:
District Commissioner In office since Current term expires
1st Dennis Fink 1997December 31, 2010
2nd Steven O'Neil 2005December 31, 2008
3rd Bill Kron (chair) 1977December 31, 2008
4th Mike Forsman 1995 December 31, 2010
5th Peg Sweeney 1997December 31, 2008
6th Keith Nelson 2003December 31, 2010
7th Steve Raukar 1989December 31, 2010

Politics


The county board of commissioners presently is experiencing high levels of conflict. Disputes among commissioners have created a situation that makes it very difficult for them to accomplish their work in a responsible manner. Two commissioners have recently been charged with with sexual harassment and another has articulated his willingness to support slavery if his constituents wanted it.

Cities and towns


Cities

Cities Unincorporated communities

Aurora
Babbitt
Biwabik
Brookston
Buhl
Chisholm
Cook
Duluth
Ely
Eveleth
Floodwood
Gilbert
Hermantown

Hibbing
Hoyt Lakes
Iron Junction
Kinney
Leonidas
McKinley
Meadowlands
Mountain Iron
Orr
Proctor
Tower
Virginia
Winton

Alborn
Angora
Arnold
Ash Lake
Bassett
Bear River
Bengal
Brimson
Britt
Burnett
Burntside
Buyck
Canyon
Celina
Central Lakes
Cherry

Cotton
Crane Lake
Culver
Cusson
Eldes Corner
Elmer
Embarrass
Fairbanks
Fermoy
Florenton
Forbes
Four Corners
French River
Gheen
Gheen Corner
Glendale

Gowan
Greaney
Idington
Independence
Island Lake
Kabetogama
Keenan
Kelly Lake
Kelsey
Leetonia
Linden Grove
Little Swan
Makinen
Markham
McComber
Meadow Brook

Melrude
Munger
Nett Lake
Palmers
Palo
Payne
Peary
Petrel
Peyla
Prosit
Ramshaw
Redore
Robinson
Rollins
Saginaw
Sax

Shaw
Sherman Corner
Side Lake
Silica
Skibo
Sturgeon
Taft
Toivola
Twig
Vermilion Dam
Wakemup
Whiteface
Wolf
Zim

Townships


Alango Township
Alborn Township
Alden Township
Angora Township
Arrowhead Township
Ault Township
Balkan Township
Bassett Township
Beatty Township
Biwabik Township
Breitung Township
Brevator Township
Camp 5 Township
Canosia Township
Cedar Valley Township
Cherry Township
Clinton Township
Colvin Township

Cotton Township
Culver Township
Duluth Township
Eagles Nest Township
Ellsburg Township
Elmer Township
Embarrass Township
Fairbanks Township
Fayal Township
Field Township
Fine Lakes Township
Floodwood Township
Fredenberg Township
French Township
Gnesen Township
Grand Lake Township
Great Scott Township
Greenwood Township

Halden Township
Industrial Township
Kelsey Township
Kugler Township
Lakewood Township
Lavell Township
Leiding Township
Linden Grove Township
McDavitt Township
Meadowlands Township
Midway Township
Morcom Township
Morse Township
Ness Township
New Independence Township
Normanna Township
North Star Township
Northland Township

Owens Township
Pequaywan Township
Pike Township
Portage Township
Prairie Lake Township
Rice Lake Township
Sandy Township
Solway Township
Stoney Brook Township
Sturgeon Township
Toivola Township
Van Buren Township
Vermilion Lake Township
Waasa Township
White Township
Willow Valley Township
Wuori Township

Unorganized


Angleworm Lake
Birch Lake
Brimson
Camp A Lake
Crab Lake
Dark River
Gheen
Hay Lake
Heikkala Lake
Janette Lake
Kabetogema
Leander Lake
Linwood Lake
Marion Lake

McCormack
Mud Hen Lake
Nett Lake
Northeast St. Louis
Northwest St. Louis
Picket Lake
Potshot Lake
Rollins
Sand Lake
Slim Lake
Sturgeon River
Sunday Lake
Tikander Lake
Whiteface Reservoir

External links



'St. Louis County' government’s website - Link

''Duluth News Tribune'' website

''Duluth.com'' website

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