The Quad Cities in the
U.S. state of
Minnesota are
Virginia,
Eveleth,
Gilbert, and
Mountain Iron
Mountain Iron is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States, in the heart of the Mesabi Range. The population was 2,878 at the 2020 census.
U.S. Highway 169 serves as a main route in Mountain Iron.
The city's motto is " Taconite ...
in the
Arrowhead Region, overlapping the
Iron Range region,
Duluth MN-WI MSA, and
Saint Louis County.
U.S. Highway 53
U.S. Route 53, or U.S. Highway 53 (U.S. 53), is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 404 miles (650 km) from La Crosse, Wisconsin to International Falls, Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin ...
,
U.S. Highway 169
U.S. Route 169 (US 169) is a north-south U.S highway that currently runs for 966 miles (1,555 km) from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at Memorial Drive.
Route description
Oklahoma
US 169 is a major north–south ...
, State Highway 37 (
MN 37) and State Highway 135 (
MN 135) are four of the main routes in the Quad Cities.
History
The Quad Cities, founded in the 1890s and early 1900s, owe their existence mainly to the mining industry that came to the area around that time. Their prosperity grew as the mines grew. Many of the mines shut down during the
Great Depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
and didn't resume work until World War II. This was approximately the peak of the industry in the area.
Populations
According to the 2000
census, the Quad Cities have a population of 17,868. Virginia has 9,157 residents, Eveleth 3,865, Mountain Iron 2,999, and Gilbert 1,847.
Economy and industry
The mining industry, long lasting since the early 1900s, is declining in the area, with a new focus on tourism and healthcare.
Things to do
Swimming and shopping are among the activities available in Virginia and its surrounding areas. Swimming and boating are available at many lakes and pits around the Range. The Range has several hiking, biking, and four-wheeling paths. Several snowmobile paths with easy access and ice rinks are also available in the region. The Thunderbird Mall in Virginia, downtown shops in each community, and a Walmart Super Center near the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Mountain Iron are also options for shopping. The United States Hockey Hall of Fame, a museum celebrating prominent hockey players with history displays and a model rink, is in Eveleth.
References
Source
LaurentianChamber.org -- accessed Nov. 25, 2007
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Geography of St. Louis County, Minnesota