Chisholm, Minnesota


Chisholm is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,976 at the 2010 census.
U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 are two of the main routes in Chisholm.
A mining town on the Mesabi Range, Chisholm was founded by Archibald Mark Chisholm.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ; is land and is water.
Chisholm is in the center of the Mesabi Iron Range, one of the four iron ranges in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota.

History

The city was named for Archibald Mark Chisholm a mining man and investor from Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada. Chisholm was incorporated in 1901. A post office called Chisholm has been in operation since 1901. With a railroad line to Duluth and plenty of mining work available in and near town, the population of Chisholm grew rapidly, and by 1908 the town had more than 6000 people and 500 buildings. On September 5, 1908, a fast-moving forest fire obliterated the town due to the dry conditions during the late summer and wood construction of nearly all the buildings in town. Many people sought escape by going into the lake. No one died in the fire. Afterwards, building codes were enhanced, and by the next summer more than 70 fireproof buildings had been erected.
Chisholm became a city in 1934. Muralist Elizabeth Carney Pope completed a WPA mural titled Discovery of Ore in the Chisholm post office in 1941.

Education

The Chisholm Independent School District draws students from the city of Chisholm and surrounding Balkan Township. The Vaughan–Steffensrud Elementary School has classes for children from preschool through third grade, Chisholm Elementary School has students in grades four through six, and Chisholm High School has grades seven through twelve.
Chisholm High School sports teams participate in Class "A" of the Minnesota State High School League. Competitive varsity sports include baseball, girls' basketball, boys' basketball, cheerleading, cross-country running, football, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, and girls' volleyball. Chisholm students join with students in nearby Hibbing to participate in alpine skiing, golf, gymnastics, boys' hockey, girls' hockey, girls' tennis, and boys' tennis.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,976 people, 2,257 households, and 1,260 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 2,524 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 0.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 2,256 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.1% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% 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 2.81.
The median age in the city was 40.7 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,960 people, 2,178 households, and 1,287 families living in the city. The population density was 1,129 people per square mile. There were 2,375 housing units at an average density of 540/sq mi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.9% White, 0.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, less than one percent Pacific Islander, and 1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population. 12.8% were of Finnish, 11.9% German, 9.9% Slovene, 8.5% Italian, 8.4% Norwegian, 6.4% Irish and 5.8% French ancestry.
There were 2,178 households, out of which 28% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44% were married couples living together, 11% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41% were non-families. 37% 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 2.2 and the average family size was 2.9.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22% under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 23% from 45 to 64, and 22% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,472, and the median income for a family was $40,431. Males had a median income of $35,972 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,204. About 6% of families and 12% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14% of those under age 18 and 11% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Television