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According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.7
km² (19.2
mi²). 48.8 km² (18.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it
(1.93%) is water.
As of the census2 of
2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333
households, and 2,270 families residing
in the city. The population density was
187.7/km² (486.1/mi²). There were 4,692
housing units at an average density of
96.2/km² (249.1/mi²). The racial makeup
of the city was 95.17% White, 0.46%
African American, 2.24% Native American,
0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander,
0.17% from other races, and 1.40% from
two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of
any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 4,333
households out of which 22.5% had
children under the age of 18 living with
them, 38.4% were married couples living
together, 10.7% had a female householder
with no husband present, and 47.6% were
non-families. 42.6% of all households
were made up of individuals and 19.6%
had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average
household size was 2.00 and the average
family size was 2.73.
In the city the
population was spread out with 19.0%
under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24,
25.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to
64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age
or older. The median age was 43 years.
For every 100 females there were 88.4
males. For every 100 females age 18 and
over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for
a household in the city was $28,873, and
the median income for a family was
$43,419. Males had a median income of
$38,834 versus $22,473 for females. The
per capita income for the city was
$17,776. About 10.6% of families and
15.9% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 16.6% of those
under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65
or over.
Ore was discovered in the Virginia area in March 1892.
Ore was discovered in Mountain Iron by Leonidas Merritt in 1890. Virginia
was settled to accommodate the Iron Ore Mining in the area. Lumbering came
later to take care of the settlement in building the town. Both turned out
to be big businesses. At one time Virginia had both the largest White Pine
Mill in the world and the biggest ore producing mine-Mesaba Mountain. Virginia
got its name "Queen City Mesaba" because of it's progressiveness. Virginia
has fifteen buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and the
downtown commercial district is also on the register. Mountain Iron is the
birthplace of the Mesabi Iron Range.
The
two-day festival kicks off on the third full weekend of June on
Saturday morning with a Parade along Chestnut Street in downtown
Virginia. This year’s parade will start at 9:00 AM. Then follow
the crowd to beautiful Olcott Park to sample the ethnic food, dance
to the continuous music, see the hundreds of arts and crafts booths
and celebrate the weekend long entertainment.
Centerpiece
of the annual Land of the Loon Festival, this loon floats on Silver
Lake in the heart of Virginia.
Heritage Museum
800 9th Avenue North
Virginia, MN
(218)
741-1136
This museum complex
consists of the former park superintendent's residence, a Finnish
log house, a depression-era tourist cabin and permanent exhibits
of Virginia's history.
The
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce is an information and referral center
serving businesses in Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, Gilbert,
and surrounding communities. The Chamber office is located at 403
First Street North (next to Bailey's Lake) in downtown Virginia.
Our trained Hospitality Hosts at Mineview in the Sky Visitors' Information
Center & Overlook welcome thousands of visitors from May-October
on Highway 53 South of Virginia.
Oldtown Fintown Mineview Overlook
East end of 3rd Street North
Virginia, MN
This overlook provides
a panoramic view of the Missabe Mountain Pit, which features red-colored
walls and lush greenery. Peregrine falcons nest on the pit's east
wall.
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.
Virginia Golf Course
1308 18th Street N
Virginia, MN
Phone: (218)
748-7530
The
two-day festival kicks off on the third full weekend of June on
Saturday morning with a Parade along Chestnut Street in downtown
Virginia. This year’s parade will start at 9:00 AM. Then follow
the crowd to beautiful Olcott Park to sample the ethnic food, dance
to the continuous music, see the hundreds of arts and crafts booths
and celebrate the weekend long entertainment.
Centerpiece
of the annual Land of the Loon Festival, this loon floats on Silver
Lake in the heart of Virginia.
The
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce is an information and referral center
serving businesses in Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, Gilbert,
and surrounding communities. The Chamber office is located at 403
First Street North (next to Bailey's Lake) in downtown Virginia.
Our trained Hospitality Hosts at Mineview in the Sky Visitors' Information
Center & Overlook welcome thousands of visitors from May-October
on Highway 53 South of Virginia.
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. 
