Chisholm, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Chisholm
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:St. Louis
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:July 23, 1901
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:12.24
Area Land Km2:11.57
Area Water Km2:0.67
Area Total Sq Mi:4.73
Area Land Sq Mi:4.47
Area Water Sq Mi:0.26
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:4775
Population Density Km2:412.56
Population Density Sq Mi:1068.47
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:1539
Coordinates:47.4911°N -92.8789°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:55719
Area Code:218
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-11386
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0660998
Website:City of Chisholm

Chisholm is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,775 at the 2020 census.[2] The city has been called "The Heart of the Iron Range" due to its location in the middle of the Mesabi Iron Range.

History

The city was named for its founder, Archibald Mark Chisholm (1862–1933), a mining man and investor from Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada.[3] Chisholm was incorporated in 1901. A post office called Chisholm has been in operation since 1901.[4] With a railroad line to Duluth and plenty of mining work available in and near town, Chisholm's population grew rapidly, and by 1908 it had more than 6,000 people and 500 buildings. On September 5, 1908, a fast-moving forest fire obliterated the town due to dry conditions and the wooden construction of nearly all the town's buildings. Many people escaped by going into the lake. No one died in the fire. Afterward, building codes were enhanced, and by the next summer more than 70 fireproof buildings had been erected.

Chisholm became a city in 1934. Muralist Elizabeth Carney Pope completed a Works Progress Administration (WPA) mural, Discovery of Ore, in the Chisholm post office in 1941.

1930s and 1940s

Located in the Iron Range region, Chisholm experienced significant change throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, reflecting the booms and busts of the iron mining industry.[5] The 1930s were a challenging time for Chisholm. The Great Depression impacted iron ore demand, leading to mine closures and unemployment. Workers faced labor unrest and strikes.[6] World War II brought renewed demand for iron ore, reviving Chisholm's economy.[7]

1970s and 1980s

The 1970s saw a decline in iron ore prices and a shift to foreign competition. Mines in Chisholm began closing again, resulting in job losses and population decline. The city grappled with economic diversification efforts.

1990s to current

The late 20th and early 21st centuries brought continued adjustments. Tourism and healthcare emerged as new economic sectors. Chisholm focused on preserving its mining history and revitalizing its downtown area. Chisholm maintains a strong connection to its iron mining past. The Minnesota Museum of Mining and the Minnesota Discover Center interprets the region's mining history and the city hosts festivals and events celebrating its heritage.[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.74sqmi; 4.48sqmi is land and 0.26sqmi is water.[9]

Chisholm is in the center of the Mesabi Iron Range, one of the four iron ranges in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region.

U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 (MN 73) are two of Chisholm's main routes.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 4,976 people, 2,257 households, and 1,260 families living in the city. The population density was 1110.7PD/sqmi. There were 2,524 housing units at an average density of 563.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 0.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 2,256 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.1% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,960 people, 2,178 households, and 1,287 families living in the city. The population density was 1129sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,375 housing units at an average density of 540sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, less than one percent Pacific Islander, and 1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population. (Percentages may not add to exactly 100 due to rounding.) 12.8% were of Finnish, 11.9% German, 9.9% Slovene, 8.5% Italian, 8.4% Norwegian, 6.4% Irish and 5.8% French ancestry.

There were 2,178 households, out of which 28% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44% were married couples living together, 11% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41% were non-families. 37% 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 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22% under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 23% from 45 to 64, and 22% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,472, and the median income for a family was $40,431. Males had a median income of $35,972 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,204. About 6% of families and 12% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14% of those under age 18 and 11% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Chisholm Independent School District draws students from Chisholm and surrounding Balkan Township. Vaughan–Steffensrud Elementary School (named for the first two superintendents of the Chisholm school system) has classes for children from preschool through third grade, Chisholm Elementary School has students in grades 4 through 6, and Chisholm High School has grades 7 through 12.

Notable people

In popular culture

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: Chisholm, Minnesota . May 31, 2024 . Census.
  3. Book: Upham, Warren . Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance . Minnesota Historical Society . 1920 . 479.
  4. Web site: St. Louis County . Jim Forte Postal History . 7 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160115230456/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Saint+Louis . 15 January 2016 .
  5. Web site: 2016-04-11 . Explaining the Iron Range downturn . 2024-07-16 . MPR News . en.
  6. Web site: 2022-06-30 . CCC helped millions of unemployed in Great Depression - Tri-County News . 2024-07-16 . Tri-County News -.
  7. Web site: Hollingsworth . Jana . March 17, 2023 . How important was the Iron Range to winning World War II? . 2024-07-16 . Star Tribune.
  8. Web site: Lauritsen . John . 2023-05-10 . Iron ore and baseball celebrated at Chisholm's Minnesota Museum of Mining - CBS Minnesota . 2024-07-16 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  9. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-11-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . 2012-01-25 .
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-11-13.
  11. Web site: SEC, N.Y. investigate loan to Chisholm's Falcone. . 17 April 2018.