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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city
has a total area of 10.2 km² (3.9 mi²). 9.8 km² (3.8 mi²) of it is land
and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.56%) is water. It is surrounded by mixed
coniferous/deciduous forest and is near many lakes.
As of the census
of 2000, there are 1,850 people,
812 households, and 495 families
residing in the city. The
population density is 188.0/km²
(487.4/mi²). There are 893
housing units at an average
density of 90.7/km² (235.3/mi²).
The racial makeup of the city is
98.38% White, 0.05% African
American, 0.43% Native American,
0.38% Asian, 0.00% Pacific
Islander, 0.05% from other
races, and 0.70% from two or
more races. 0.32% of the
population are Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There are
812 households out of which
22.2% have children under the
age of 18 living with them,
48.6% are married couples living
together, 8.4% have a female
householder with no husband
present, and 39.0% are
non-families. 34.6% of all
households are made up of
individuals and 17.4% have
someone living alone who is 65
years of age or older. The
average household size is 2.19
and the average family size is
2.79. In the city the population
is spread out with 19.8% under
the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to
24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 26.4%
from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who are
65 years of age or older. The
median age is 45 years. For
every 100 females there are 95.6
males. For every 100 females age
18 and over, there are 93.4
males. The median income for a
household in the city is
$32,094, and the median income
for a family is $43,095. Males
have a median income of $41,413
versus $20,625 for females. The
per capita income for the city
is $17,442. 11.9% of the
population and 8.5% of families
are below the poverty line. Out
of the total population, 26.0%
of those under the age of 18 and
4.7% of those 65 and older are
living below the poverty line.
AURORA, founded in 1898 and incorporated on November 25,
1903, is a city in sections 9 and 10 of White Township (T. 58N, R. 15W).
The post office was established in 1903 and had a Duluth and Iron Range
Railroad station. This Latin name, meaning "the morning," is borne by cities
in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Nebraska, a township of this state in
Steele County, and villages and townships in 13 other states.
Aurora (1,478 alt., 1,528
pop.), its name from the Latin meaning "morning," is an eastern Mesabi
Range mining town that was moved from its original location to improve
its railroad facilities.
Although ore had been found in paying quantities at Biwabik in
1891, most of the subsequent exploratory work was done on the western
end of the Mesabi. The Meadow Mine (exhausted), the first in the
vicinity of the unborn Aurora, was explored in 1898. A settlement grew
near the mine and, in 1903, was incorporated as a village. It soon was
evident, however, that the location (one mile north of the present site)
was too far from the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, which served the
Vermilion Range and the eastern end of the Mesabi. Today's town site was
platted by E. J. Longyear, and building was begun in 1905. The village
then moved to its new location on the railroad, and a period of rapid
development followed.
The mines here have not been operated so extensively as those on
other parts of the range, but vast reserves underlie the district.
Mining inactivity temporarily has checked the growth of the community.
Aurora is, however, the trade center for a growing number of miners who
have turned to farming, especially dairying, for a livelihood. It has a
municipally owned potato warehouse of 18,ooo bushels capacity for
certified seed and table stock.
Aurora’s three tapestry-brick schools, Aurora High, Hearding High,
and Johnson Grade, stand on a 15 acre campus (corner 4th Ave. and
Vermilion St.). Shell-pink Kasota stone and Flemish-gray oak finish the
halls of the high school. The agricultural department supervises a
complete dairy room, in which milk is pasteurized for distribution to
undernourished pupils. The music department has a 3o-piece orchestra,
which has won -wide honors, and a 48-piece band. Housed in the high
school is a museum containing 225 mounted specimens of birds, 25 mounted
animals, 1694 mounted classified insects, miniatures of a lumber camp,
open-pit mine, and farm. There is also a large collection of
fossils-fish, reptiles, leaves, and plants. The Village Hall, built in
1930, houses the fire department and library.
The village is within easy driving distance of the Vermilion Lake region,
the Superior National Forest, and Esquagama Lake. Colby and Whitewater
lakes, three miles east of Aurora, provide picnic, camping, and
recreational facilities.
The WPA Guide to the Minnesota Arrowhead
Country, 1941
Aurora celebrates the
4th of July
with a bang, featuring parades, picnics, music and numerous community
events. Class reunions and other gala festivities provide
nostalgic entertainment for residents and visitors alike
Aurora's
Pumpkinfest
held annually in October, attracts both young and old to it's craft
displays, quilt show, children's activities and variety of tasty
food. Stagecoach rides and a great clown are only part of
the entertainment during this harvest-time event.
The Legend at Giants Ridge
and NEW Quarry at Giants Ridge offer 36 holes of the Midwest's
greatest golf. The Quarry was recently cited as "The Best
Golf of the 21st Century," by Golf Digest writer Ron Whitten.
Tour our spectacular courses online and you'll know why
Giants Ridge was named among the "Top Six Golf Destinations
in the World," by GolfWorld magazine.
Giants Ridge is the Midwest's hottest summer resort and
coolest winter destination!
Rated as Minnesota's #1 Ski Resort (SKI magazine, 2003.),
Giants Ridge also offers 34 downhill runs, more than 60
km of cross country ski trails and one of Minnesota's hottest
terrain parks.
No matter what time of year you visit, we've got miles of
year-round recreation trails, lake access, unbeatable lodging
accommodations, dining, shopping, and much more.
The
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely
and intersects with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake
Vermillion. Portions are paved for biking and in-line skating. The
remainder of the natural surface trail is used primarily for snowmobiling
in the winter. The trail goes through a few areas that have standing
water in the summer, however portions of the trail are suitable
for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking.
The Taconite Trail winds through forests of birch
and aspen intertwined with pine, leading the visitor by many isolated
lakes and streams. From Grand Rapids heading north, you see the
impact of the taconite and iron mining industry. The northern portion
of the trail terrain is rolling and tree covered as it winds through
state and national forest land.
Eight trail waysides and picnic facilities offer
scenic vistas of the hills, lakes and rivers of this area. The trail
also links three state parks: Bear Head Lake, Soudan Underground
Mine, and McCarthy Beach. The landscape in and around Bear Head
Lake State Park is very rolling and rocky.
White Community Hospital is a private, non-profit
corporation with a board of directors and approximately 275
shareholders. It has 69 nursing home beds and 16 hospital beds.
Typically, there are between 250 and 300 inpatients per year and
the ER serves between 1,500 and 2,000 citizens per year. White
Community Hospital is the largest employer in the extended
community area. Both inpatient acute and respite hospice
services are provided in conjunction with Duluth Clinic Hospice.
Collaborative services are provided by Duluth Clinic, St. Lukes,
and Range Medical Services. These services include outpatient
general surgery, pulmonary medicine, ophthalmology, and
ophthalmologic surgery. Other outpatient services offered are
chemotherapy, lab, radiology, cardiac rehab, physical and
occupational therapy, and CT imaging services. White Community
Hospital also offers a fitness center that is open to the
general public.
Located
among the pines, lakes, and mines of Northeast Minnesota, the Mesabi
East School District provides quality education for students of
all ages. Serving the cities of Aurora, Biwabik, and Hoyt
Lakes as well as the surrounding rural communities, Mesabi East's
primary focus is to help youngsters fulfill their highest potential
as students and as people.
Mesabi East
High School offers excellent college preparation courses
as well as the top vocational courses available in
northern Minnesota. Our students can choose from high
level courses in English, science, math, and social
studies that can be taken for dual enrollment through
the freshman year of college. Students in auto, welding,
and machining can test out of coursework at the
vocational college level. The Mesabi East music program,
both instrumental and vocal, are known throughout the
area as premier programs. Students graduating from
Mesabi East High School are well prepared to meet the
rigorous demands of citizenship and are equipped with
skills to either enter the job market or to continue
their education.
The American Legion Post #241 was chartered
to serve the community of Aurora and surrounding area. The post
home is located on the corner of main street and 2nd avenue west.
It is a full service post and offers membership to all eligible
United States veterans and their families. With over 400 post, 175
auxiliary, and 50 Son’s of AML members, the post has a strong presence
within the community and provides opportunities for the members
and guests to utilize its wide-array of services/facilities (including
a cozy lounge, a spacious banquet/dining room and catering service
that is highly capable of catering any occasion). The post has charitable
gambling with pull tab sales during lounge
hours. Most of all, AML #241 offers a variety of social activities
and adult/youth programs - all aimed at building a strong sense
of community and Americanism. The post has an outstanding Color/Honor
Guard that partakes in parades, military funerals and other community
activities.
Aurora Bakery
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: n/a
Aurora Car Wash
101 S Main Street
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-2691
Aurora Carquest
212 S Main Street
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-2144
Aurora Chiropractic
13 W 2nd Avenue N
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3638
Toll Free:
(877) 703-9812
Aurora Community
Center
15 W 1st Avenue N
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3876
Aurora Decorating &
Framing
204 N Main Street
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-2334
Aurora Drug &
Variety
201 N Main Street
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3327
Aurora Giant Wash
102 East 3rd Avenue N
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3249
Aurora Pines Hair
Design
310 West 1st Avenue S
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3457
Aurora Pines Motel
308 W 1st Avenue S
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3377
The
Aurora Pine Motel offers kitchenettes, outside plug ins, air conditioned
rooms, drive-in access, access to snowmobile trails, cable television,
and is only five miles from Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort. Located
in quiet residential area. Small town hospitality and service. Owned
and operated by Jewel Kjellberg. Non-smoking rooms available. Salon
and hair styling available onsite.
Aurora Plumbing
221 W 3rd Avenue N
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-2396
Aurora Stamp & Trophy
18 E 3rd Avenue N
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-3785
Aurora Systems
212 E 4th Avenue N
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
750-6994
B & S Machine
15 S 1st Street W
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
229-2323
Located in the heart of the Iron Range
of Northeastern Minnesota, CMS Design is your company's gateway
to low cost, high quality drafting and 3D modeling. Please visit
our website to learn more about the promising capabilities that
CMS Design, Inc. has to offer you.
Colosimo, Patchin, Kearney, Lindell & Brunfelt, Ltd. is a multi-specialty
law firm located on the Mesaba Range area of northeastern Minnesota.
The firm evolved from two old and honored Iron Range law firms:
Westerlund & Belanger, and Greenberg & Greenberg. The firm was founded
by former high school classmates Gary Bloomquist and John Colosimo
in 1973.
The
Forest Garden Motel is located approximately five miles from the
Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort. Access to 2,000 miles of snowmobile
trails. Heated garage available for use. Vehicle plug-ins located
just outside rooms. It is 1.5 blocks from Holiday Gas Station. Restaurants,
drug store, theatre and American Legion Club within blocks of motel.
Halmet's General
Store
5569 Palo Road
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: (218)
638-2626
Irongate Apartments offers an affordably priced,
carefree, comfortable, maintenance free lifestyle that allows you
to enjoy your retirement while maintaining your independence.
Iron Wood Bat Company has a variety of bats available for youth
to adult. Our novelty bat is a unique gift for the person who has
everything and loves baseball. We can laser a face or signature!
We make a quality bat at a competitive price. Our billets come from
the eastern states where some of the best ash and hard maple are
grown. We purchase the best wood available. Purchasing the stock
in large quantities enables us to pass the savings onto the customer.
"The Muskie Hunter" is a hand crafted fishing lure
made by Krog Industries of Aurora, MN. "If you're not catching fish,
you're not using Krog Lures" The Minnesota Muskie Hunter not
only catches Muskie but is also ideal for: Northern Pike, Greyling,
Bass, Salmon, Walleye, Trout & all types of game fish. All our lures
can be used for saltwater fishing too. Perfect for Tarpon, Red Snapper,
Barracuda & more.
The
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely
and intersects with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake
Vermillion. Portions are paved for biking and in-line skating. The
remainder of the natural surface trail is used primarily for snowmobiling
in the winter. The trail goes through a few areas that have standing
water in the summer, however portions of the trail are suitable
for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. 
Located
among the pines, lakes, and mines of Northeast Minnesota, the Mesabi
East School District provides quality education for students of
all ages. Serving the cities of Aurora, Biwabik, and Hoyt
Lakes as well as the surrounding rural communities, Mesabi East's
primary focus is to help youngsters fulfill their highest potential
as students and as people.
