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 8,421 at the 2020 census. Virginia is a part of the Duluth metropolitan area, and U.S. Highway 53 runs through town.
History
Virginia began as a logging settlement and experienced significant growth when the iron ore industry expanded. Orrin Day Kinney, the original owner of the land, founded the town. The site was planned in 1892 and named in honor of the home state of many local lumber workers at that time. A post office was established in Virginia in 1893. The city was incorporated in 1895. As the mining industry developed, mines in the area became highly productive, consistently breaking records for ore output by the late 1890s. The city’s main population increase started after the construction of mining camps for prominent business figures such as Andrew Carnegie, Leonidas Merritt, Jay Cooke, John D. Rockefeller, William J. Olcott, and James J. Hill. Mining operations relied on diamond drills, mules, and a large workforce to extract millions of tons of ore each year. The ore was shipped from the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, as well as Two Harbors.
The commercial heart of Virginia endured two catastrophic fires in 1893 and 1900, with the second leading to the complete destruction of the downtown business area. In response, city ordinances were enacted mandating the use of brick for new commercial construction along Chestnut Street, which subsequently led to the establishment of a durable and fire-resistant downtown core. Many properties in this historic district were operated by early immigrant families from Finland, Sweden, Slovenia, and Croatia, along with other European countries who contributed to the city’s economic landscape. These groups, drawn by mining and industrial jobs, became major parts of the business community and established various enterprises in the city’s commercial district.
The City of Franklin was consolidated into the City of Virginia.City of Franklin (historical), St. Louis County, Minnesota. HomeTown Locator. Accessed 6 May 2024.
Virginia Commercial Historic District
The Virginia Commercial Historic District is a designation applied to Virginia's historic downtown. It comprises 78 contributing properties built from 1900 to 1941. With It was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 for its local significance in commerce. It was nominated for representing an early-20th-century business district and Virginia's development as a mining boomtown and tourism gateway.
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
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Virginia had a population of 8,421. The median age was 43.5 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.2 males age 18 and over.
95.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,100 households in Virginia, of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 29.2% were married-couple households, 25.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 48.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 4,735 housing units, of which 13.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 7,360 87.4% Black or African American 198 2.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 281 3.3% Asian 43 0.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.0% Some other race 41 0.5% Two or more races 494 5.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 164 1.9%
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
+ Precinct General Election Results Year Republican Democratic Third parties202450.1% 2,05647.5% 1,9502.3% 96202047.8% 2,04050.0% 2,1342.2% 98201644.1% 1,85447.0% 1,9768.9% 375201234.5% 1,60762.3% 2,9023.2% 148200833.4% 1,61264.0% 3,0902.6% 125200432.1% 1,59566.6% 3,3101.3% 66200030.5% 1,45360.8% 2,9018.7% 416199623.3% 1,06666.3% 3,03610.4% 479199220.8% 1,06462.2% 3,18317.0% 871198827.5% 1,47672.5% 3,8850.0% 0198430.4% 1,79069.6% 4,1020.0% 0198032.7% 2,00459.4% 3,6377.8% 479197634.1% 2,29664.0% 4,3091.9% 130196828.6% 1,82969.4% 4,4292.0% 128196428.5% 1,96871.4% 4,9350.1% 12196039.7% 2,80960.1% 4,2540.2% 11
Economy Virginia is on the Mesabi Range, part of northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range, a region historically known for iron ore mining.Minnesota DNR – Iron Range Geology While mining remains important to the broader area, Virginia has diversified its economy. The city serves as a commercial, healthcare, and service hub for nearby communities, aided by its location along U.S. Highway 53 and proximity to other towns on the Range.Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board – Community ProfilesCity of Virginia – 2040 Comprehensive Plan Retail plays a significant role in Virginia's economy, with national chains like Target and Walmart operating alongside independent businesses downtown and along the highway corridor.Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Business Directory
Healthcare is a major employer, with Essentia Health–Virginia providing medical services to much of the central Iron Range and standing as one of the city's largest institutions.Essentia Health – Virginia Hospital Other economic sectors include transportation, warehousing, and companies supporting mining and industrial activities.U.S. Census Bureau – Virginia, MN Industry by Occupation Tourism also contributes seasonally, as visitors come for outdoor recreation, nearby lakes, and events such as the Land of the Loon festival.Iron Range Tourism Bureau – Virginia Area In 2023, Virginia strengthened its role as an educational center with the opening of a new consolidated high school campus under Rock Ridge Public Schools, serving students from multiple communities in the region.WDIO – Rock Ridge High School Opens
Arts and culture
Virginia is home to several annual events that celebrate its culture and traditions. Each June, the city hosts the Land of the Loon festival, which includes a parade, artisan market, food vendors, and cultural exhibitions that highlight the Iron Range's immigrant heritage. The Range Iron Pride Festival takes place in August and focuses on LGBTQ+ pride and supporting diversity in the region. Other major events include the Brewfest at Olcott Park, where regional craft breweries and live music are featured, and the Virginia Food Truck Festival, which is held on Main Street.
Points of interest B'nai Abraham Synagogue: A restored early 20th-century synagogue now used as a cultural and historical interpretive site.
Laurentian Divide: A geographical landmark just north of the city, representing a continental hydrological divide.
Lyric Center for the Arts: Located in the historic Lyric Opera House, this venue supports local performing arts and visual arts through shows, exhibits, and educational programs.
Mesabi Trail: A paved recreational trail that passes through Virginia and connects communities across the Iron Range.
Olcott Park Greenhouse: A city-operated public greenhouse featuring botanical displays and seasonal programming.
Socialist Opera House In the early 20th century, socialist Finns in Virginia founded the cooperative Socialist Opera House, which hosted plays and political meetings. The opera house also became home to the local Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) chapter. During the 1916 Mesabi strike, the IWW used the opera house as a headquarters. In 1955, the local United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners union bought the property and converted it into an office building.
Urban area Virginia is part of a cluster of communities in northeastern Minnesota commonly referred to as the central Mesabi Iron Range. The immediate urban area includes Virginia, Hibbing, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Gilbert, Chisholm, and Fayal Township.
Virginia is about 60 miles north of Duluth, which anchors the Duluth–Superior metropolitan area. Virginia is included in the Duluth MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, Minnesota's second-largest metropolitan region by population.
Parks and recreation