# St. Louis County, Minnesota *County in the Arrowhead Region of northeastern Minnesota* St. Louis County lies in the [[Arrowhead Region]] of [[Minnesota]], and its county seat is Duluth.[^1] The 2020 census counted 200,231 residents.[^1] By land area it is Minnesota's largest county. By total area it is the largest county in the United States east of the [[Mississippi River]].[^1] The county belongs to the Duluth, MN–Superior, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] Pulpwood production and tourism are major industries. Open-pit [[Taconite]] mining on the [[Iron Range]], with the ore processed into high-grade iron ore, remains important to the economy and is tied to shipping through the [[Twin Ports]] of Duluth and Superior.[^1] Portions of the federally recognized Bois Forte and [[Fond du Lac Indian Reservation]] lands fall within the county's boundaries.[^1] ## History Before American settlement, the region was home to Algonquian-speaking peoples. These were the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Ottawa and Potawatomi, who were loosely joined in the Council of Three Fires. As American settlers arrived, Native Americans were displaced toward outer areas.[^2] The [[Minnesota Legislature]] created the county on February 20, 1855, under the name Doty County. On March 3, 1855, it changed the name to Newton County.[^2] At first the county covered the area east and south of the St. Louis River. The area east of the Vermilion River and north of the St. Louis River belonged to Superior County, which was later renamed St. Louis County.[^2] On March 1, 1856, that St. Louis County became Lake County. At the same time, Newton County took the name St. Louis County and absorbed the eastern area. It also grew westward by taking in parts of Itasca County, which then included most of present-day Carlton County.[^2] The county's present boundaries date from May 23, 1857, when Carlton County was formed from parts of St. Louis and Pine counties.[^2] ## Geography Figures from the [[United States Census Bureau]] give a total area of 6,860 square miles (17,800 km²). Of this, 6,247 square miles is land and 612 square miles, or 8.9%, is water.[^3] No other U.S. county combines a coastline with borders on both a foreign country and another state.[^3] [[Voyageurs National Park]], established in 1975, occupies the county's northwestern corner. It lies on the south shore of [[Rainy Lake]] along the Canada–US border.[^3] Parts of two other protected areas also lie within the county. One is [[Superior National Forest]], established in 1909. The other is the [[Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness]], a 1,090,000-acre wilderness area established in 1978.[^3] The county holds more than 500 lakes, of which Pelican and Vermilion are the largest.[^3] The Hill of Three Waters sits on the Laurentian Divide northeast of Hibbing. Rain falling on it drains to three watersheds: Hudson Bay to the north, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by way of [[Lake Superior]], and the Gulf of Mexico by way of the Mississippi.[^3] The St. Louis and Vermilion rivers, among others, drain the county. Duluth, on Lake Superior, is among the most important fresh-water ports in the United States.[^3] Active taconite mines are located in Hibbing, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Virginia and Babbitt.[^3] [[Interstate 35]] is among the county's major highways.[^3] ## Climate and weather Under the Köppen system the county's climate is humid continental (Dfb), tempered somewhat by Lake Superior.[^4] Winters are long, snowy and very cold. Daily highs normally stay below 32 °F (0 °C) on 106 days of the year.[^4] On January 29–30, 2019, wind chills of −70 °F (−56.7 °C) closed public schools and other government offices. The cold was attributed to shifts in the global jet stream linked to climate change.[^4] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census counted 200,231 people, with a median age of 41.5 years. Of these residents, 19.1% were under 18 and 20.8% were 65 or older.[^5] There were 100.4 males for every 100 females.[^5] The census recorded the following racial makeup: - 88.6% White - 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native - 2.1% Black or African American - 1.0% Asian - under 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander - 0.6% some other race - 5.5% two or more races Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 1.8% of the population.[^5] Urban areas held 60.7% of residents and rural areas 39.3%.[^5] The county had 86,540 households. Of these, 22.8% had children under 18, 42.8% were married-couple households, and 34.6% consisted of individuals living alone.[^5] There were 103,681 housing units, of which 16.5% were vacant. Of occupied units, 69.6% were owner-occupied and 30.4% renter-occupied.[^5] ### 2010 census The 2010 census had counted 200,226 people. That count was 94.0% White, 2.2% Native American, 0.4% Black or African American and 0.9% Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino origin of any race made up 1.2%.[^6] ## Government An elected board of commissioners governs the county, and its members are chosen in nonpartisan elections. Most Minnesota counties have five-member commissions, but St. Louis, Hennepin and Ramsey counties each have seven members.[^7] Each commissioner represents a single-member district of equal population. The board chooses its own chair to preside at meetings.[^7] In 2007 the county considered a study of splitting into two counties, but the proposal was not acted on.[^7] ### Politics No Republican or Independent candidate has carried the county in a statewide race since 1992.[^8] Only once has a Democratic candidate fallen below 50% of the county vote. That was in 1998, when [[Jesse Ventura]] of the Reform ticket won statewide and drew about 24% of the county's vote.[^8] Since 1992, Republicans have exceeded 34% in the county only in 1994. That year the incumbent Independent-Republican governor won statewide with more than 60%, and the Independent-Republican Senate candidate won with 49% statewide.[^8] ### Presidential elections Democrats have carried the county in 24 consecutive presidential elections. The last Republican to win it was Herbert Hoover in 1928.[^9] In recent elections, Republicans have received roughly one-third of the county's vote.[^9] In 2016 Donald Trump received 39.7%, and the Democratic share fell to 51.4%. The cached article describes that share as the lowest since 1932.[^9] ## Communities The county's cities include Duluth, the county seat, along with Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Chisholm, Ely, Hermantown and Proctor.[^10] The county also contains dozens of townships, alphabetically from Alango to Wuori, and a number of unorganized territories.[^10] ## Education K–12 school districts in the county include: - [[Duluth Public Schools]] - the Hibbing Public School District - the Virginia Public School District - the [[Ely Public School District]] - [[Rock Ridge Public Schools]] - the [[Mountain Iron-Buhl School District]] Other K–12 districts also serve the county.[^11] The Nett Lake Public School District is the county's one elementary school district.[^11] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead section: location, county seat, 2020 population, area rank, metropolitan area, industries, reservations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — History section: original inhabitants; creation and renaming of the county, 1855–1857. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Geography section, reporting Census Bureau area figures; parks, lakes, watersheds, port, mines, highways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Climate and weather section: climate classification, winter temperatures, January 2019 closures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Demographics section, 2020 census: population, age, racial makeup, households, housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Demographics section, 2010 census: population and racial makeup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Government section: board composition, districts, chair, 2007 division proposal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Politics subsection: statewide election results since 1992. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Presidential elections subsection: consecutive Democratic wins, 1928, 2016 shares. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Communities section: cities, townships, unorganized territories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia contributors, *St. Louis County, Minnesota* (revision 1375334567, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Education section: K–12 and elementary school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_County,_Minnesota