Grand Rapids, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 City Hall | |
| Motto: "It's In Minnesota's Nature" | |
 Location of Grand Rapids in Itasca County and Minnesota | |
| Coordinates:47°14′14″N93°31′49″W / 47.23722°N 93.53028°W /47.23722; -93.53028 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Itasca |
| Settled | 1872 |
| Incorporated (village) | June 9, 1891 |
| Established (county seat) | November 8, 1892 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1957 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor – Council |
| • Mayor | Cameron Fox |
| Area | |
• Total | 24.46 sq mi (63.36 km2) |
| • Land | 22.57 sq mi (58.46 km2) |
| • Water | 1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,289 ft (393 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 11,126 |
• Estimate (2021)[3] | 11,220 |
| • Density | 492.9/sq mi (190.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 55744 |
| Area code | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-25118 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0656428[4] |
| Website | cityofgrandrapidsmn.com |
Grand Rapids is a city in, and thecounty seat of,Itasca County,Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,126 at the2020 census.[2] The city is named for the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) longrapids in theMississippi River which was the uppermost limit of practicalsteamboat travel during the late 19th century. Today the rapids are hidden below thedam ofUPM Paper Company.
Grand Rapids became a logging town, as theMississippi River provided an optimal method of log shipment to population centers. Blandin Paper Mill opened in 1902.[5] The Forest History Center,[6] located in Grand Rapids, MN, is a State Historic Site and a living history museum that recreates life as it was in a turn of the 20th century logging camp. Costumed interpreters guide visitors through a recreated circa 1890slogging camp to educate the public on the history of white pine logging and its relevance to today's economy. Miles of nature trails, educational naturalist programming, and an interpretive museum are also located on the site.
Old Central School, located in downtown Grand Rapids, was built in 1895 in theRichardsonian Romanesque style of architecture. The three-story building served as an elementary school from 1895 to 1972. A community effort restored the building in 1984 and it now serves as a location for commerce and is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.
In 1991Enbridge'sLine 3 pipelineruptured, spilling 1.7 million gallons of oil into the area, including thePrairie River, in the largest inland oil spill in US history.[7][8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.44 square miles (63.30 km2), of which 22.56 square miles (58.43 km2) is land and 1.88 square miles (4.87 km2) is water.[9]
The city of Grand Rapids sits at the junction of U.S. Highways2 and169. U.S. Highway 2 runs west towardsBemidji and east towardsDuluth. U.S. Highway 169 heads south toHill City, and ultimately towards the city ofMinneapolis. In the opposite direction, U.S. Highway 169 heads up theMesabi Range passing throughHibbing and several smaller towns along the way until it reaches the city ofVirginia. Grand Rapids is also the starting point ofState Highway 38, designated aNational Scenic Byway by theUSDOT, and marked as theEdge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway as it travels towardEffie. The following routes are located within the city of Grand Rapids.
U.S. Highway 2.svg)
U.S. Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 38 – Edge of the Wilderness Scenic BywayThe city of Grand Rapids has aHumid continental climate (Köppen Climate Classification Dfb) with warm summers and long, cold winters, typical of its location on theMesabi Iron Range.
| Climate data for Grand Rapids, Minnesota (1991–2020 normals, records 1915–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 51 (11) | 61 (16) | 80 (27) | 93 (34) | 101 (38) | 100 (38) | 104 (40) | 100 (38) | 99 (37) | 89 (32) | 74 (23) | 59 (15) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.0 (5.0) | 47.3 (8.5) | 60.9 (16.1) | 75.1 (23.9) | 86.2 (30.1) | 89.2 (31.8) | 91.0 (32.8) | 90.0 (32.2) | 85.4 (29.7) | 76.9 (24.9) | 56.6 (13.7) | 42.1 (5.6) | 93.0 (33.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 18.9 (−7.3) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 38.8 (3.8) | 52.6 (11.4) | 66.1 (18.9) | 75.2 (24.0) | 79.7 (26.5) | 77.8 (25.4) | 68.1 (20.1) | 52.8 (11.6) | 36.1 (2.3) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 51.2 (10.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 8.7 (−12.9) | 13.9 (−10.1) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 40.3 (4.6) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.9 (17.2) | 67.6 (19.8) | 65.5 (18.6) | 56.4 (13.6) | 43.1 (6.2) | 28.1 (−2.2) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 40.1 (4.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −1.5 (−18.6) | 2.1 (−16.6) | 15.4 (−9.2) | 28.0 (−2.2) | 40.2 (4.6) | 50.5 (10.3) | 55.4 (13.0) | 53.2 (11.8) | 44.7 (7.1) | 33.3 (0.7) | 20.1 (−6.6) | 6.5 (−14.2) | 29.0 (−1.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −26.4 (−32.4) | −21.5 (−29.7) | −10.5 (−23.6) | 13.9 (−10.1) | 27.2 (−2.7) | 37.8 (3.2) | 44.9 (7.2) | 42.1 (5.6) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 1.5 (−16.9) | −18.5 (−28.1) | −29.0 (−33.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −51 (−46) | −45 (−43) | −39 (−39) | −10 (−23) | 11 (−12) | 24 (−4) | 33 (1) | 27 (−3) | 15 (−9) | −3 (−19) | −25 (−32) | −45 (−43) | −51 (−46) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.97 (25) | 0.85 (22) | 1.33 (34) | 2.10 (53) | 3.23 (82) | 4.70 (119) | 4.14 (105) | 3.40 (86) | 3.05 (77) | 2.79 (71) | 1.59 (40) | 1.23 (31) | 29.38 (746) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.2 (31) | 9.7 (25) | 7.5 (19) | 5.6 (14) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.0 (5.1) | 9.0 (23) | 13.4 (34) | 59.6 (151) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 15.0 (38) | 18.1 (46) | 16.7 (42) | 5.9 (15) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.9 (2.3) | 5.6 (14) | 10.2 (26) | 19.6 (50) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.9 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 12.7 | 13.5 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 10.6 | 11.7 | 131.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 11.5 | 8.7 | 6.3 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 7.3 | 11.8 | 51.4 |
| Source:NOAA[10][11] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1,428 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,230 | 56.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,914 | 30.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,205 | 10.0% | |
| 1940 | 4,875 | 52.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,019 | 23.5% | |
| 1960 | 7,265 | 20.7% | |
| 1970 | 7,247 | −0.2% | |
| 1980 | 7,934 | 9.5% | |
| 1990 | 7,976 | 0.5% | |
| 2000 | 7,764 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 10,869 | 40.0% | |
| 2020 | 11,126 | 2.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 11,220 | [3] | 0.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 2020 Census[2] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 10,869 people, 4,615 households, and 2,633 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 481.8 inhabitants per square mile (186.0/km2). There were 4,910 housing units at an average density of 217.6 per square mile (84.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.6%White, 0.6%African American, 1.9%Native American, 0.6%Asian, 0.3% fromother races, and 2.0% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 4,615 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% weremarried couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.9% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.
The median age in the city was 42 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 20.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 7,764 people, 3,446 households, and 1,943 families living in the city. The population density was 1,057.8 inhabitants per square mile (408.4/km2). There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 493.3 per square mile (190.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.53%White, 0.28%African American, 1.93%Native American, 0.71%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.39% fromother races, and 1.13% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 3,446 households, out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% weremarried couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% 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 2.82.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,991, and the median income for a family was $39,468. Males had a median income of $36,035 versus $20,759 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,223. About 9.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Churches in Grand Rapids include the First Lutheran Church(LCMS), New Song Alliance Church, the Grand Rapids Alliance Church, the Grand Rapids Evangelical Free Church, St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, member of theWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS);[13] St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Churches, members of theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA);,[14][15] theUnited Methodist Church of Grand Rapids,[16] St. Joseph'sRoman Catholic Church,[17] Full Gospel Church, Grand Rapids,[18] River of Life Church; Apostolic; Pentecostal; and the non-denominational Grace Bible Chapel.[19]
Grand Rapids is represented at the federal and state level by:
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Historically, the local economy of Grand Rapids was based on timber harvesting; and, to this day, Blandin Paper Mill—now owned by the Finnish-basedUPM paper company—has downtown paper-making facilities. Ainsworth (formerlyPotlach) producedoriented strand board and was located just outside the city limits until ceasing operations in September 2006.
TheMesabi Range orIron Range, frequently referred to as "The Range" by residents, region of Minnesota begins in Grand Rapids with one iron mine to the southwest and a number to the northeast of the city. Although technically and geographically a member of the Iron Range, Grand Rapids and its economy has been historically based on paper manufacturing and other wood products.
Although founded in Marcell, ASVI (All Season Vehicles Inc), now Yanmar Compact Equipment North America, has been a contributor to the Grand Rapids economy since the mid-1990's manufacturing compact track loaders at its Grand Rapids facility.
The contemporary economy also boasts a large tourist footing, with many local resorts, four golf courses, over one million acres (4,000 km2) of public and industrial forestlands that provide excellent regional hunting, and more than 1,000 lakes for fishing. It also is the service center for 46,000 people due to a large seasonal and weekend population of summer residences on surrounding lakes, and a number of smaller bedroom communities located near Grand Rapids.
The public school district isISD 318. West Elementary, East Elementary, Robert J. Elkington Middle School, andGrand Rapids High School are located within the city limits. Parochial schools include St. Joseph's Catholic School.Minnesota North College - Itasca serves the community.
The following radio stations are based in Grand Rapids. The city is also served by many other radio stations from the Iron Range area.
Grand Rapids TV is primarily fed in from Duluth, MN television stations, but some cable subscribers also receive Bemidji, MN & Minneapolis, MN television stations as well. Local government and community events are covered by the local community television station. Television stations available in Grand Rapids are:
Municipalities and communities ofItasca County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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