Babbitt, Minnesota
| Babbitt, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 47°40′10″N 91°55′10″W / 47.66944°N 91.91944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Saint Louis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 106.7 sq mi (276.4 km2) |
| • Land | 105.7 sq mi (273.6 km2) |
| • Water | 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,483 ft (452 m) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,475 |
| • Density | 15.8/sq mi (6.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 55706 |
| Area code(s) | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-03106[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0660701[3] |
| Website | www.babbitt-mn.com |
Babbitt is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 1,475.[1]
County Highway 21 serves as a main arterial route in the community.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 106.7 square miles (276 km2), of which, 105.7 square miles (274 km2) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) of it is water. The total area is 0.99% water.
[edit] History
The city grew out of the formation of a taconite mine built by the Armco and Republic Steel starting in 1944.[4] The company town was built near the eastern edge of the Mesabi Iron Range. The city of Silver Bay was built simultaneously along Lake Superior (60 miles to the southeast), and connected by train, for transportation of iron ore to cities along the Great Lakes. Babbitt is named after Judge Kurnal R. Babbitt of New York City. Judge Babbitt, who died on February 15, 1920, was general counsel for and a director of several mining companies. Before removing to New York in 1908, he practiced law in Colorado at Aspen, Cripple Creek, and Colorado Springs. [Who Was Who in America, 40 (Chicago, 1942). Ed.]
[edit] Notes
Babbitt is surrounded by the Superior National Forest and often has wild animals like deer and wolves within the city limits. In the summer black bears are often sighted.
Babbitt enjoys being the hometown to a few celebrities both local (Dale Kasper) and national (Buzz Schneider). Schneider's claim to fame was being on the 1976 Olympic hockey team and the 1980 Olympic gold medal hockey team. He scored the first goal against the Russians in possibly the most renowned game of hockey ever played; the semi-finals of the 1980 Olympics (Miracle on Ice). Babbitt is home to a few NCAA division one hockey players, most notebly: Buzz Schneider-University of Minnesota, Steve Schneider-Notre Dame, Greg Woods-Denver University and Mike Krensing-University of Minnesota Duluth. Schneider played on two national champion hockey teams at Minnesota. 2006 saw the closing of Kasson Pool Table Company leaving Babbitt with many fewer jobs. The city of Babbitt was left with the buildings due to the default of loans given to the company.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,670 people, 735 households, and 530 families residing in the city. The population density was 15.8 people per square mile (6.1/km²). There were 801 housing units at an average density of 7.6 per square mile (2.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.86% White, 0.12% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.12% Asian, and 0.60% from two or more races. 20.0% were of German, 16.6% Norwegian, 15.1% Finnish, 6.8% Swedish, 5.8% English and 5.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 735 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,229, and the median income for a family was $37,137. Males had a median income of $38,214 versus $24,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,853. About 3.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 1.9% of those 65 and older.
[edit] External links
Media related to Babbitt, Minnesota at Wikimedia Commons
[edit] References
- ^ a b "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Silver Bay & Babbitt History, Retrieved July 7, 2010.
Coordinates: 47°42′31″N 91°56′41″W / 47.70861°N 91.94472°W
