Frank Hibbing, while prospecting on the Mesabi Range, came upon a lumber camp here in 1891. With the discovery of rich iron ore deposits in 1892, the site took on dramatic significance. It changed almost overnight into an unorganized mining community and remained such for nearly a decade, during which neighboring sections were bought by explorers and businessmen. Among these was A.M. Chisholm for whom the town is named.

In 1901, this group organized the Chisholm Improvement Company, platted the town site and had it incorporated as a village.

In six years the population had grown to almost 6,000, and the town had an imposing city hail, four blocks of business houses, two banks, sewers and two weekly newspapers.

On September 5, 1908, a brush fire swept down upon the village. In what seemed like moments, Chisholm was destroyed. No lives were lost and residents began rebuilding the town almost immediately. Within nine months, 70 fireproof buildings had been constructed. Within a year the town was again flourishing.

Chisholm became a city in 1934.

Forty five mines have shipped ore from the Chisholm district, although there is now just the Sherman Group of mines producing ore.

Chisholm has survived the ups and downs of a mining economy to become the robust community it is today. It has several unique sites of visitor interest; it is home to the Minnesota Museum of Mining and the Iron Range Interpretative Center.

Excerpt From: Iron Range Country A Historical Travelogue of Minnesota's Iron Ranges Published by: The IRRRB 1979

Where Everybody Goes To School

Chisholm (1,492 alt., 7,487 pop.), on the shores of Longyear Lake, claims to be the geographical center of the Minnesota Arrowhead, the Continental Divide being one mile north. Chisholm lays proud claim to having proportionately the highest school enrollment of any community in the State.

Frank Hibbing (see Hibbing), while prospecting on the Mesabi Range, came upon a lumber camp here in 1891. With the discovery of rich iron-ore deposits in 1892, the site took on dramatic significance. It changed almost over night into an unorganized mining community and remained such for nearly a decade, during which neighboring sections were bought by explorers and businessmen. Among these was A. M. Chisholm for whom the town was named.

In 1901, this group organized the Chisholm Improvement Company, platted the town site and had it incorporated as a village. In November, the Chisholm Herald was established by W. E. Talboys, who also was Chisholm's first postmaster and mayor. The following year, Chisholm established its first school, a frame building, and employed two teachers. During these first two years, the Catholics and the Methodists erected log churches, the Methodist being built in two weeks by men who contributed their labor. In six years, the population had grown to almost 6,000, and the town had an imposing city hall, four blocks of business houses, two banks, an electric-lighting plant, sewers, two weekly newspapers; and it had been necessary to plat two more residential districts.

On September 5, 1908, a brush fire fanned by a shifting wind swept down upon the village. In what seemed but a few minutes, Chisholm was practically destroyed. Fortunately no lives were lost, and rebuilding began immediately. Within nine months, 70 fireproof brick buildings had been constructed as well as a municipal water plant and five miles of mains. Within a year the town again was flourishing, its population growing steadily. Chisholm became a city in 1934.

Panoramic Photo of Chisholm after the fire, 1908 - Click to enlarge

Forty-five mines, five of them now active, have shipped ore from the district. The largest is the Godfrey (Godfrey Rd., 0.25 mile south), an underground; the Shenango, with a maximum depth of 400 feet, is the deepest open-pit iron mine in the world. Next to mining, the chief source of revenue is dairying, an independently owned creamery providing an outlet for the dairy farms in the vicinity.

As high as 46 per cent of the total population has made use of Chisholm's educational facilities at one time. The Senior High, of iron-spot brick and white Bedford stone, the Junior High, of soft-toned brick in Tudor-Gothic design, and the Washington Grade, of pressed brick and Superior sandstone, all on the main campus (cor. 3rd St. S.W. and 3rd Ave. S.W.), are among the most elaborate school buildings in the Arrowhead.

Chisholm's foreign born, of whom Yugoslavs, Finns, and Italians predominate numerically, have had a profound influence upon the city's development. With the aim of speeding Americanization, the schools have placed much emphasis upon English and reading courses; their work along these lines has attracted educators throughout the country. The schools also are keenly interested in discovering and fostering latent talent. Hundreds of pupils receive instruction in instrumental music, for which special teachers are provided. Forensic and other teams repeatedly have won State and District championships.

The Chisholm Public Library (300 W. Lake St.) has one of the largest collections of foreign-language books in northern Minnesota, with ten tongues represented. The only Serbian-Orthodox Church in the Arrowhead outside of Duluth is St. Vasselj (cor. W. 3rd St. S.W. and 3rd Ave.). The Chisholm Community Band gives concerts twice a week in City Park during the summer. Numerous district contests and four State championships have been won by the Chisholm Drum and Bugle Corps.

Chisholm City Park has a bathing beach and a small zoo. Chisholm Memorial Park provides complete recreational facilities.

The WPA Guide to the Minnesota Arrowhead Country, 1941