Virginia is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mesabi Iron Range. The population was 8,712 at the 2010 census. According to a water tower in the middle of town, the city's nickname is the "Queen City", or "Queen City of the North".
History
Virginia was laid out in 1892, and named after Virginia, the native state of a large share of the lumbermen in the area at that time. A post office has been in operation at Virginia since 1893. Virginia was incorporated in February 1895. It was a logging community first, then it was developed as an iron mining community. The mines in the Virginia area 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, James J. Hill, and others. With the use of diamond drills, mules, and a massive labor force, the mines were able to move millions of tons per year and ship them out of the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, as well as Two Harbors.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total 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. Lakes in Virginia include Silver Lake and Bailey Lake. The area was originally named Qeechaquepagem by an Ojibwe tribe, which roughly means “lake of the north birdsâ€.
Virginia is part of the Quad Cities, which also include nearby Eveleth, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron.
Economy
Virginia is located on the Mesabi Range, one of the sub-regions within Minnesota's Iron Range. Virginia is considered the commerce center of the Mesabi Range. Virginia serves as a shopping, industrial, educational, and medical hub for the surrounding communities.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,712 people, 4,242 households, and 2,019 families residing 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
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people 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.
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
Parks and recreation
Olcott Park
Olcott Park is a city park in Virginia. It has a fountain in the northern part of the park, built in 1937. Also, there is a bandstand in the center, used mainly for city band performances. To the south, it borders Parkview Learning Center (see education), 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. Olcott Park is named after William J. Olcott who headed The Oliver Mining Company, which was the largest mining company on the Iron Range for decades.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Virginia is a regional transportation hub within the Mesabi Range. Major roadways include U.S. Highway 53, U.S. Highway 169, and State Highway 135 (MN 135). Other main routes include 2nd Avenue West, 12th Avenue West, 13th Street South, 8th Street South, and 9th Street North. The downtown area of Virginia is centered along Chestnut Street.
Education
The public high school is Virginia High School, 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 for the city is Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. The Virginia Public Library is also featured as 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 still owned by ISD No. 706.
Media
News media
- The Mesabi Daily News, newspaper published in Virginia, Minnesota
Television
Stations serving Virginia are received from the Duluth television market:
- 3 KDLH â€" CBS
- 6 / 11 KBJR â€" NBC
- 8 / 31 WDSE â€" PBS
- 10 / 13 WDIO â€" ABC
- 21 KQDS â€" Fox
Climate
The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb"(Warm Summer Continental Climate).
Notable people
- W. T. Bailey - Lumber industrialist from 1897 to 1914. His old house is still standing at 816 5th Street South, but his old sawmill was razed a few years back after The Seppi Brothers Inc. moved their headquarters (The Seppi Brothers owned the property at the time).
- Daniel Berrigan â€" Peace activist
- Daniel William Carlson - Chief Machinist's Mate aboard the USS Hammann (DD-412). Killed at the Battle of Midway on June 6, 1942, when the ship was sunk by Japanese submarine I-168. He received the silver star posthumously. Namesake of the USS Carlson (DE-9)
- Jack Carlson â€" Professional hockey player (retired)
- Jeff Carlson â€" Professional hockey player (retired
- Steve Carlson â€" Professional hockey player (retired)
- Mark Cullen â€" Professional hockey player
- Matt Cullen â€" Professional hockey player
- John Gruden â€" Professional hockey player (retired)
- Frank Haege â€" Professional and collegiate football coach
- John Harrington â€" Hockey player; member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team that won the Olympic gold medal
- Warren Johnson - Auto racer, member of Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
- Vic Kulbitski â€" Football player
- Pete LoPresti - Professional hockey player (retired)
- Robert W. Mattson, Sr. - Minnesota Attorney General
- Robert Mondavi â€" Winemaker
- Matt Niskanen â€" Professional hockey player (Mt. Iron-Buhl Alumni)
- Johnny Norlander - Professional basketball player
- Chris Pratt â€" Actor, star of such films as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World
- Tom Rukavina - Member of Minnesota House of Representatives (retired)
- Sherman Walt - Musician, bassoonist.
- Leonard C. Ward (1917-2001) -- United States Army Brigadier General who served as Chief of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau and Commander of the 46th Infantry Division
- Aaron Halfaker â€" Computer Scientist and Wikimedia employee
References
External links
- Media related to Virginia, Minnesota at Wikimedia Commons
- Virginia, Minnesota â€" City Government website
- Mesabi Daily News - newspaper website
- Land of the Loon Festival â€" June â€" website