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{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{For|the film|Virginia Minnesota}}
{{For|the film|Virginia Minnesota}}
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{{more citations needed|date=September 2020}}
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==Economy==
==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.
Virginia is located on the [[Mesabi Range]], part of northeastern Minnesota’s [[Iron Range]], which has historically served as a center for iron ore mining.<ref>[https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/education/geology/digging/ironrange.html Minnesota DNR – Iron Range Geology]</ref>
 
Although mining continues to influence the broader region, Virginia’s local economy has diversified. The city functions as a commercial, healthcare, and service hub for nearby communities.<ref>[https://mn.gov/irrrb/ Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board – Community Profiles]</ref> Virginia’s position along [[U.S. Highway 53]] and its proximity to other Range towns contribute to its role as a regional center.<ref>[https://www.virginiamn.us/document_center/Planning/Virginia2040ComprehensivePlan.pdf City of Virginia – 2040 Comprehensive Plan]</ref>
 
Retail is a key part of the local economy, with large national stores like Target and Walmart operating alongside independent businesses in the downtown district and along the highway corridor.<ref>[https://www.virginiamnchamber.com/ Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Business Directory]</ref>
 
Healthcare is also a major employer. [[Essentia Health]]–Virginia provides medical services for much of the central Iron Range and is one of the city’s largest institutions.<ref>[https://www.essentiahealth.org/find-facility/profile/virginia-hospital/ Essentia Health – Virginia Hospital]</ref>
 
Other sectors include transportation, warehousing, and companies tied to mining and industrial support services.<ref>[https://data.census.gov/ U.S. Census Bureau – Virginia, MN Industry by Occupation]</ref>
 
Tourism adds seasonal economic activity, with visitors drawn to outdoor recreation, nearby lakes, and events such as the annual Land of the Loon festival.<ref>[https://ironrange.org/ Iron Range Tourism Bureau – Virginia Area]</ref>
 
In 2023, Rock Ridge Public Schools opened a new consolidated high school campus in Virginia, bringing students from multiple communities and further establishing the city as an educational center for the area.<ref>[https://www.wdio.com/front-page/top-stories/rock-ridge-high-school-opens/ WDIO – Rock Ridge High School Opens]</ref>


{{wide image|Rouchleau Pit, Virginia, Minnesota 2021-09-01.jpg|900 px|The [[Rouchleau Mine|Rouchleau]] open pit iron mine, now closed}}
{{wide image|Rouchleau Pit, Virginia, Minnesota 2021-09-01.jpg|900 px|The [[Rouchleau Mine|Rouchleau]] open pit iron mine, now closed}}


==Arts and culture==
==Arts and culture==
Virginia is the home of the [[Land of the Loon]] festival, an annual event in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virginiamn.us/visitor_info/events.php| title=Events In Virginia|website=City of Virginia, MN|access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref>
Virginia is home to the annual [[Land of the Loon]] festival, held each June. The event includes a parade, artisan market, food vendors, and cultural exhibitions celebrating the Iron Range’s immigrant heritage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiamn.us/visitor_info/events.php |title=Events in Virginia |website=City of Virginia, MN |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
 
Other popular annual events include the Brewfest which features regional craft breweries and live music at Olcott Park, and the Virginia Food Truck Festival, hosted main street.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iron Range Beer Fest returns to Virginia |url=https://www.hometownfocus.us/articles/iron-range-beer-fest-returns-to-virginia/ |website=Hometown Focus |date=July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://irontrailmotorseventcenter.com/events |title=Upcoming Events |website=Iron Trail Motors Event Center}}</ref>


===Points of interest===
===Points of interest===
* [[B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Virginia, Minnesota)|B'nai Abraham Synagogue]]
 
* [[Laurentian Divide]]
'''[[B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Virginia, Minnesota)|B'nai Abraham Synagogue]]''': A restored early 20th-century synagogue now used as a cultural and historical interpretive site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jhsum.org/jewish-historical-sites/bnai-abraham/ |title=B’nai Abraham Synagogue |website=Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest}}</ref>
* [[Lyric Center for the Arts]] (Historic Lyric Opera House)
 
* [[Mesabi Trail]]
'''[[Laurentian Divide]]''': A geographical landmark just north of the city, representing a continental hydrological divide.
* [[Olcott Park Greenhouse]]
 
'''[[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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lyriccenteronline.org |title=Lyric Center for the Arts |website=LyricCenterOnline.org}}</ref>
 
'''[[Mesabi Trail]]''': A paved recreational trail that passes through Virginia and connects communities across the Iron Range.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mesabitrail.com |title=Mesabi Trail |website=MesabiTrail.com}}</ref>
 
'''[[Olcott Park Greenhouse]]''': A city-operated public greenhouse featuring botanical displays and seasonal programming.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiamn.us/departments/parks_and_recreation/olcott_park_greenhouse.php |title=Olcott Park Greenhouse |website=City of Virginia}}</ref>


==Urban area==
==Urban area==
Virginia's urban area is relatively large, with a 30-mile radius. The major cities are Virginia, [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]], Mountain Iron, [[Eveleth, Minnesota|Eveleth]], [[Gilbert, Minnesota|Gilbert]], [[Fayal Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Fayal]], and [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]]. Virginia is the area's commercial hub, while Hibbing has a large residential population. [[Duluth, Minnesota|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.
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, Minnesota|Virginia]], [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]], [[Mountain Iron, Minnesota|Mountain Iron]], [[Eveleth, Minnesota|Eveleth]], [[Gilbert, Minnesota|Gilbert]], [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]], and [[Fayal Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Fayal Township]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mn.gov/irrrb/ |title=Iron Range Community Profiles |website=Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation}}</ref>
 
The city is located roughly 60 miles north of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], which anchors the Duluth–Superior metropolitan area. Virginia is officially included in the Duluth MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, the second-largest metropolitan region in Minnesota by population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/metropolitan-regions.jsp |title=Metropolitan Regions |website=Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development}}</ref>


==Parks and recreation==
==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.
Virginia maintains a variety of public parks, trails, and recreational facilities that serve residents and visitors throughout the year.
 
[[Olcott Park]], located near the center of the city, spans approximately 40 acres. It features open green space, a bandshell used for summer concerts, and a stone fountain originally built in 1937 through a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The fountain was restored and reactivated in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Historic Iron Range fountain comes back to life |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/06/15/historic-iron-range-fountain-comes-back-to-life |website=MPR News |date=June 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiamn.us/department/parks_and_recreation/olcott_park_fountain_restoration/index.php |title=Olcott Park Fountain Restoration |website=City of Virginia}}</ref> The park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse, a city-operated botanical facility that features tropical and seasonal plants and is open to the public year-round.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiamn.us/departments/parks_and_recreation/olcott_park_greenhouse.php |title=Olcott Park Greenhouse |website=City of Virginia}}</ref>
 
Silver Lake Park, located east of downtown, includes picnic shelters, a public boat launch, shoreline access, and paved trails. The adjacent Silver Lake Trail forms a walking and biking loop around the lake.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ironrange.org/communities-virginia-weekend-itinerary/ |title=Weekend itinerary: lakes, parks and history |website=Iron Range Tourism}}</ref>
 
Bridgeview Park, near the east end of Chestnut Street, offers elevated views of the [[Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge]], which spans the Rouchleau Mine Pit. The park features interpretive signage, benches, and access to the Mesabi Trail trailhead.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ironrange.org/listings/tom-rukavina-memorial-bridge-and-bridge-view-park-virginia/ |title=Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge and Bridge View Park – Virginia |website=Iron Range Tourism}}</ref>
 
Southside Park, located in the southern part of the city, includes athletic fields used for youth baseball, softball, and soccer programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ironrange.org/communities-virginia-weekend-itinerary/ |title=Weekend itinerary: lakes, parks and history |website=Iron Range Tourism}}</ref>
 
The [[Iron Trail Motors Event Center]] (ITMEC) opened in 2021. The 120,000 square foot facility includes two indoor ice arenas, a fitness center, a ballroom, and community meeting rooms. It serves as the home rink for Rock Ridge High School and hosts public skating, tournaments, and other events.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://irontrailmotorseventcenter.com/about/ |title=Iron Trail Motors Event Center – About |website=Iron Trail Motors Event Center}}</ref>
 
The Virginia Indoor Tennis and Pickleball Club, formerly known as Tennis for All, is located at 1310 South 5th Avenue. The facility includes 12 acrylic courts—six indoor and six outdoor—with permanent lines, portable nets, restrooms, water, and lights. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiamn.us/department/parks_and_recreation_department/tennis_for_all.php |title=Tennis for All |website=City of Virginia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pickleheads.com/courts/us/minnesota/virginia/virginia-indoor-tennis-and-pickleball-club |title=Virginia Indoor Tennis and Pickleball Club |website=Pickleheads}}</ref>
 
Virginia is also located along the [[Mesabi Trail]], a paved multi-use trail that extends more than 135 miles across the Iron Range.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mesabitrail.com/ |title=Mesabi Trail |website=Mesabi Trail}}</ref>


==Education==
==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.
[[Rock Ridge Public Schools]] (ISD 2909) serves the city with Rock Ridge High School (grades 7–12), North Star Elementary (grades 3–6), and Parkview Learning Center (Pre-K–2).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rrps.org/ |title=Rock Ridge Public Schools |website=Rock Ridge Public Schools |access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
 
Virginia is also the site of the [[Iron Range Engineering]] program, an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in Integrated Engineering offered through [[Minnesota North College]] and [[Minnesota State University, Mankato]]. The program, based at Mesabi Range–Virginia, uses a cooperative education model with industry internships during the junior and senior years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ire.minnstate.edu/ |title=Iron Range Engineering |website=Iron Range Engineering}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cset.mnsu.edu/departments/integrated-engineering/iron-range-engineering/ |title=Iron Range Engineering |website=Minnesota State University, Mankato}}</ref>
 
The St. Louis County Schools (ISD 2142) district office is located in Virginia, though its schools serve surrounding towns such as Cherry and Tower–Soudan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.isd2142.net/ |title=St. Louis County Schools |website=Independent School District 2142}}</ref>
 
Marquette Catholic School, affiliated with the Diocese of Duluth, offers private elementary education (K–6).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dioceseduluth.org/school-directory |title=School Directory |website=Diocese of Duluth}}</ref>
 
The Virginia campus of Mesabi Range, part of Minnesota North College, provides two-year technical, career, and transfer programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://minnesotanorth.edu/campuses/mesabi-range-virginia/ |title=Mesabi Range – Virginia Campus |website=Minnesota North College}}</ref>


==Sports==
The Virginia Public Library offers media, resources, and programs for all ages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiapubliclibrary.info/ |title=Virginia Public Library |website=City of Virginia}}</ref>
[[Virginia High School (Minnesota)|Virginia High School]] is the home of the Blue Devils. In the 2022–23 school year, Virginia and [[Eveleth, Minnesota|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).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/historic-minnesota-hockey-schools-consolidate-to-form-new-teamhttps://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/historic-minnesota-hockey-schools-consolidate-to-form-new-team|title=Historic Minnesota hockey schools consolidate to form new team|work=Bring Me the News|first=Joe|last=Nelson|date=January 24, 2020|access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref>


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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mesabitribune.com/mine/new-miners-building-is-a-major-not-a-minor-project/article_37b0b9a6-571a-11ea-a7cc-cbb01b072947.html|title=New Miners building 'is a major, not a minor project'|first=Leah|last=Ryan| date=February 26, 2020|access-date=September 24, 2021|work=[[Mesabi Daily News|Mesabi Tribune]]}}</ref>
The Northland Learning Center, housed in the former James Madison Elementary School, serves students requiring alternative education under ISD 2909.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nlc.k12.mn.us/ |title=Northland Learning Center |website=ISD 706}}</ref>


==Media==
==Media==
Line 353: Line 396:
* [[Leonard C. Ward]], [[United States Army]] [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brigadier General]]
* [[Leonard C. Ward]], [[United States Army]] [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brigadier General]]
* [[Thomas D. Yukelich]], Minnesota state legislator
* [[Thomas D. Yukelich]], Minnesota state legislator
* [[Craig Hella Johnson]], Composer


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 17:42, 30 June 2025

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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.[1] Virginia is a part of the Duluth metropolitan area,[2] and U.S. Highway 53 runs through town.

History[3]

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.[4] A post office has been in operation at Virginia since 1893.[5] 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.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of Template:Convert; Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.[7] 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. Template:Weather box

Demographics

Template:US Census population

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 Template:Convert. There were 4,738 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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 Template:Convert. There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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

<templatestyles src="Template:Hidden begin/styles.css"/>

Presidential election results
Precinct General Election Results[8]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2020 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|47.8% 2,040 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|50.0% 2,134 2.2% 98
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2016 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|44.1% 1,854 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|47.0% 1,976 8.9% 375
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2012 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|34.5% 1,607 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|62.3% 2,902 3.2% 148
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2008 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|33.4% 1,612 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|64.0% 3,090 2.6% 125
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2004 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|32.1% 1,595 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|66.6% 3,310 1.3% 66
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|2000 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|30.5% 1,453 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|60.8% 2,901 8.7% 416
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1996 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|23.3% 1,066 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|66.3% 3,036 10.4% 479
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1992 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|20.8% 1,064 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|62.2% 3,183 17.0% 871
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1988 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|27.5% 1,476 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|72.5% 3,885 0.0% 0
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1984 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|30.4% 1,790 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|69.6% 4,102 0.0% 0
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1980 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|32.7% 2,004 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|59.4% 3,637 7.8% 479
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1976 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|34.1% 2,296 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|64.0% 4,309 1.9% 130
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1968 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|28.6% 1,829 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|69.4% 4,429 2.0% 128
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1964 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|28.5% 1,968 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|71.4% 4,935 0.1% 12
style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|1960 style="text-align:center;" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|39.7% 2,809 style="text-align:center;" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|60.1% 4,254 0.2% 11

Economy

Virginia is located on the Mesabi Range, part of northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range, which has historically served as a center for iron ore mining.[9]

Although mining continues to influence the broader region, Virginia’s local economy has diversified. The city functions as a commercial, healthcare, and service hub for nearby communities.[10] Virginia’s position along U.S. Highway 53 and its proximity to other Range towns contribute to its role as a regional center.[11]

Retail is a key part of the local economy, with large national stores like Target and Walmart operating alongside independent businesses in the downtown district and along the highway corridor.[12]

Healthcare is also a major employer. Essentia Health–Virginia provides medical services for much of the central Iron Range and is one of the city’s largest institutions.[13]

Other sectors include transportation, warehousing, and companies tied to mining and industrial support services.[14]

Tourism adds seasonal economic activity, with visitors drawn to outdoor recreation, nearby lakes, and events such as the annual Land of the Loon festival.[15]

In 2023, Rock Ridge Public Schools opened a new consolidated high school campus in Virginia, bringing students from multiple communities and further establishing the city as an educational center for the area.[16]

Template:Wide image

Arts and culture

Virginia is home to the annual Land of the Loon festival, held each June. The event includes a parade, artisan market, food vendors, and cultural exhibitions celebrating the Iron Range’s immigrant heritage.[17]

Other popular annual events include the Brewfest which features regional craft breweries and live music at Olcott Park, and the Virginia Food Truck Festival, hosted main street.[18][19]

Points of interest

B'nai Abraham Synagogue: A restored early 20th-century synagogue now used as a cultural and historical interpretive site.[20]

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.[21]

Mesabi Trail: A paved recreational trail that passes through Virginia and connects communities across the Iron Range.[22]

Olcott Park Greenhouse: A city-operated public greenhouse featuring botanical displays and seasonal programming.[23]

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.[24]

The city is located roughly 60 miles north of Duluth, which anchors the Duluth–Superior metropolitan area. Virginia is officially included in the Duluth MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, the second-largest metropolitan region in Minnesota by population.[25]

Parks and recreation

Virginia maintains a variety of public parks, trails, and recreational facilities that serve residents and visitors throughout the year.

Olcott Park, located near the center of the city, spans approximately 40 acres. It features open green space, a bandshell used for summer concerts, and a stone fountain originally built in 1937 through a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The fountain was restored and reactivated in 2019.[26][27] The park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse, a city-operated botanical facility that features tropical and seasonal plants and is open to the public year-round.[28]

Silver Lake Park, located east of downtown, includes picnic shelters, a public boat launch, shoreline access, and paved trails. The adjacent Silver Lake Trail forms a walking and biking loop around the lake.[29]

Bridgeview Park, near the east end of Chestnut Street, offers elevated views of the Tom Rukavina Memorial Bridge, which spans the Rouchleau Mine Pit. The park features interpretive signage, benches, and access to the Mesabi Trail trailhead.[30]

Southside Park, located in the southern part of the city, includes athletic fields used for youth baseball, softball, and soccer programs.[31]

The Iron Trail Motors Event Center (ITMEC) opened in 2021. The 120,000 square foot facility includes two indoor ice arenas, a fitness center, a ballroom, and community meeting rooms. It serves as the home rink for Rock Ridge High School and hosts public skating, tournaments, and other events.[32]

The Virginia Indoor Tennis and Pickleball Club, formerly known as Tennis for All, is located at 1310 South 5th Avenue. The facility includes 12 acrylic courts—six indoor and six outdoor—with permanent lines, portable nets, restrooms, water, and lights. [33][34]

Virginia is also located along the Mesabi Trail, a paved multi-use trail that extends more than 135 miles across the Iron Range.[35]

Education

Rock Ridge Public Schools (ISD 2909) serves the city with Rock Ridge High School (grades 7–12), North Star Elementary (grades 3–6), and Parkview Learning Center (Pre-K–2).[36]

Virginia is also the site of the Iron Range Engineering program, an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in Integrated Engineering offered through Minnesota North College and Minnesota State University, Mankato. The program, based at Mesabi Range–Virginia, uses a cooperative education model with industry internships during the junior and senior years.[37][38]

The St. Louis County Schools (ISD 2142) district office is located in Virginia, though its schools serve surrounding towns such as Cherry and Tower–Soudan.[39]

Marquette Catholic School, affiliated with the Diocese of Duluth, offers private elementary education (K–6).[40]

The Virginia campus of Mesabi Range, part of Minnesota North College, provides two-year technical, career, and transfer programs.[41]

The Virginia Public Library offers media, resources, and programs for all ages.[42]

The Northland Learning Center, housed in the former James Madison Elementary School, serves students requiring alternative education under ISD 2909.[43]

Media

News media

Television

Stations serving Virginia are received from the Duluth television market:

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

File:Chris Pratt 2018.jpg
Actor Chris Pratt was born in Virginia, Minnesota.[44]

References

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External links

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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ City of Franklin (historical), St. Louis County, Minnesota. HomeTown Locator. Accessed 6 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Minnesota DNR – Iron Range Geology
  10. ↑ Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board – Community Profiles
  11. ↑ City of Virginia – 2040 Comprehensive Plan
  12. ↑ Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Business Directory
  13. ↑ Essentia Health – Virginia Hospital
  14. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau – Virginia, MN Industry by Occupation
  15. ↑ Iron Range Tourism Bureau – Virginia Area
  16. ↑ WDIO – Rock Ridge High School Opens
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