Virginia, Minnesota

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. Virginia is a part of the Duluth metropolitan area, and U.S. Highway 53 runs through town.

History

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. A post office has been in operation at Virginia since 1893. 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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of ; is land and is water. 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

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is " Dfb" (Warm Summer Continental Climate). Summers are warm, sometimes hot, and winters are severely cold.

Demographics

2010 census

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 . There were 4,738 housing units at an average density of . 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

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 . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of . 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

Economy

Virginia is on the Mesabi Range, one of the sub-regions of Minnesota's Iron Range. It is considered the Mesabi Range's commerce center. Virginia is a shopping, industrial, educational, and medical hub for surrounding communities.

Arts and culture

Virginia is the home of the Land of the Loon festival, an annual event in June.

Points of interest

* B'nai Abraham Synagogue
* Laurentian Divide
* Lyric Center for the Arts (Historic Lyric Opera House)
* Mesabi Trail
* Olcott Park Greenhouse

Urban area

Virginia's urban area is relatively large, with a 30-mile radius. The major cities are Virginia, Hibbing, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Gilbert, Fayal, and Chisholm. Virginia is the area's commercial hub, while Hibbing has a large residential population. Duluth, a significantly larger city, is 45 miles south. Virginia is also part of the Duluth MN-WI Metropolitan Area. The Duluth Metro is Minnesota's second-largest metro.

Parks and recreation

Olcott Park is a city park in Virginia. It has a fountain, built in 1937, and a bandstand, used mainly for city band performances. To the south it borders Parkview Learning Center, to the east 9th Avenue West, to the north 9th Street North, and to the west Greenwood Cemetery. Olcott Park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse. It is named after William J. Olcott, who headed the Oliver Iron Mining Company, for decades the Iron Range's largest mining company.

Education

The public high school is Rock Ridge Public Schools, and the public elementary schools are Parkview Learning Center (early childhood programs through second grade) and Roosevelt Elementary (grades three through six). The higher education institution in the city is Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. The Virginia Public Library is also an educational place for people of all ages. Marquette Catholic School is a private elementary school operated by the Duluth Diocese. Northland Learning Center, a cooperative alternative school for students with disciplinary problems or other special circumstances, operates in the former James Madison Elementary School, which is owned by ISD No. 706.

Sports

Virginia High School is the home of the Blue Devils. In the 2022–23 school year, Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert High Schools combined into a new high school, Rock Ridge High School, with new mascot the Wolverines (a blend of the Virginia Blue Devils and the Eveleth-Gilbert Bears).

Virginia's main high school sport is ice hockey. The main hockey arena is the Miners Memorial Building. A new complex, the Miners Event and Convention Center (MECC), with two planned ice arenas, is under construction. The MECC will incorporate many elements from the Miners Building, such as its ice arena seats.

Media

News media

* The '' Mesabi Tribune'', newspaper published in Virginia and Hibbing

Television

Stations serving Virginia are received from the Duluth television market:
* 3 KDLH – CBS
* 6 / 11 KBJR – NBC
* 8 / 31 WDSE – PBS
* 10 / 13 WDIO – ABC
* 21 KQDS – Fox

Infrastructure

Transportation

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

* 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
* 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
* Johnny Norlander, professional basketball player
* Tim Paulson, California Labor Leader
* Chris Pratt, actor
* 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

References

External links

City of Virginia – Official Website

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Cities in St. Louis County, Minnesota
Cities in Minnesota
Mining communities in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1892
1892 establishments in Minnesota