A Postcard from Northeast, Minnesota
We watched the sunset over the lake, and listened to the haunting sound of the loon, before returning to our cabin in the woods. The fishing is extraordinary, and the quiet sounds here are such a relief from the city just a few hours away. Can’t wait to snowmobile in the winter. This is definitely our dream vacation home.(photo courtesy of http://www.virginiamn.com/chamber/)
About Northeast, Minnesota
Nature is the buzz-word for this area. With thousands of acres of water and myriad forest trails, the Northeast Region of Minnesota is a perfect second home location for outdoor individualists and families. Located in the Superior National Forest Region, famous for its vast wilderness areas and beautiful lakes, the area is near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, amazing waterways that join the USA with Canada. Nature is well protected with state parks and forests and several National Wilderness areas.
Vacation homes are found in a wide array of communities including Virginia, Mt. Iron/Buhl, Cook, Orr, Tower, Babbitt, Aurora-Hoyt Lakes, Biwabik, Gilbert, Eveleth, and Hibbing, plus the surrounding rural and lakeshore areas. Also known as the Iron Trail, the area has been popular since the 1900s, with its history is well preserved. Settled by immigrants from over 40 countries, each town carries a variety of cultural flavors. From Bavarian to Scandanavian delicacies, you can enjoy them all within a short drive of your vacation home in Northeast Minnesota.
Local History
The wealth of the mountains lured people to this area in the late 1890’s as iron ore was discovered and mined. Along with the miners came the lumber industry to accommodate their needs. At one time, the town of Virginia had both the largest White Pine mill and the biggest ore producing mine. The mining and lumbering settlers came from over 40 countries, bringing their local customs and foods with them to this new wilderness.
An Average Lifestyle
People in the Northeastern towns in Minnesota are friendly and relaxed. They live with an awareness that the hardships of nature are more than compensated for by Her beauty. The lifestyle is simple, and people are undaunted by snow and cold, continuing to enjoy outdoor life all year round. The small towns are popular as weekend destinations from Duluth and Minneapolis. Northeast Region is where life slows down and being neighborly picks up.
Things to Do
• Kayak on Lake Superior
• Hike the historic Mesabi Trail starting in Biwabik
• Enjoy snowmobiling on excellent groomed trails
• Golf one of the many challenging, affordable golf courses
• Hike and camp through Superior and Chippewa National Forests
• Discover Bob Dylan’s roots at the historic Hibbing High School and the Dylan exhibits at
the Hibbing Library
• Visit the National Historic Landmark in Mountain Iron
• Take the family canoeing or hiking in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
• Spend a day in Voyageurs National Park
Cultural Activities
• IRONWORLD Discovery Center and Minnesota Museum of Mining exhibits in Chisholm
• Virginia Area Historical Society's Heritage Museum and Virginia's Greenhouse in Olcott Park,
Virginia, Minnesota
• United States Hockey Hall of Fame at Eveleth
Calendar of Events
http://www.irontrail.org/Events/April/
Location:
General Location: (Viginia, Hibbing, Eveleth, Biwabik)
Elevation: 1400 (Virginia)
Size: Four cities: Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, and Gilbert are at the eastern end of the Northwest Minnesota area, covering over 70 square miles. Hibbing is a bit further west.
Distance to other major cities:
Minneapolis/St. Paul: 181 miles (three hours)
Duluth : 58 miles (one hour)
Superior, Wisconsin: 66 miles
Getting There:
Duluth International Airport: American Airlines / American Eagle, Northwest Airlines/KLM
Chisholm-Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Ely, International Falls Brainerd:
Northwest Airlines / KLM
Weather
Annual Average Precipitation: 27 inches (Virginia)
Annual Average Temperature: Virginia:
Jan 5.0
Feb 12.0
Mar 24.2
Apr 38.9
May 52.6
June 61.4
July 65.9
Aug 63.8
Sep 53.7
Oct 41.8
Nov 25.4
Dec 10.9
Population:
Virginia: 9157
Eveleth: 3865
Biwabik: 954
Mountain Iron: 2999
Gilbert: 1847
St. Louis County, which includes Duluth, has a total population of over 200,000
Median Age, 2000: 43
Median Housing Costs
Virginia: $54,000
Eveleth: 46,000
Biwabik: 43,000
Mountain Iron: 75,000
Gilbert: 46,000
Real Estate /Property Taxes
In 2001, the State of Minnesota added a property tax to seasonal residential recreational property, including cabins. This is in addition to the local property tax. Local property tax rate appears to be between .03 and .08 in Virginia, for example.
Economics
Median Household Income: $28,000
Principle Industries: Mining, wood and paper products, shipping and transportation, health care, and tourism
Education
Lake Superior College in Duluth
University of Minnesota-Duluth in Duluth
University of Wisconsin-Superior in Superior, Wisconsin
Resort Area Specialists
http://www.century21edwards.com/
More Information
Superior National Forest / Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
218-626-4300 http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior
Iron Trail Convention & Visitors Bureau: http://www.irontrail.org/
Northern Lights Tourism Alliance http://www.wildnorth.org/
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness1-877-550-6777 http://www.bwcaw.org
Voyageurs National Park (218) 283-9821 http://www.nps.gov/voya