| Virginia, Minnesota | |||
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| — City — | |||
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| Nickname(s): Queen City of the North | |||
| Location of the city of Virginia in Saint Louis County, Minnesota |
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Minnesota | ||
| County | Saint Louis | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Steve Peterson | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 19.2 sq mi (49.7 km2) | ||
| • Land | 18.8 sq mi (48.8 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,437 ft (438 m) | ||
| Population (2010)[1] | |||
| • Total | 8,712 | ||
| • Density | 486.1/sq mi (187.7/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| ZIP codes | 55792 | ||
| Area code(s) | 218 | ||
| FIPS code | 27-67288[2] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0662719[3] | ||
| Website | www.virginiamn.us | ||
Virginia is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mesabi Iron Range. The area was originally named "qeechaquepagem" by the Ojibwe tribe, which roughly means "lake of the North birds". The population was 8,712 at the 2010 census.[1] According to a water tower in the middle of town, the city's nickname is the "Queen City", or "Queen City of the North".
U.S. Highway 53, U.S. Highway 169, and State Highway 135 are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
Virginia is part of the Quad Cities of Eveleth, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron. The nearby town of Eveleth is the location of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame (not to be confused with the Hockey Hall of Fame, in Toronto).
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (50 km2), of which, 18.8 square miles (49 km2) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) of it (1.93%) is water.
Virginia is located on the Mesabi Range, one of sub-regions within Minnesota's Iron Range.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 2,962 |
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| 1910 | 10,473 | 253.6% | |
| 1920 | 14,022 | 33.9% | |
| 1930 | 11,963 | −14.7% | |
| 1940 | 12,264 | 2.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,486 | 1.8% | |
| 1960 | 14,034 | 12.4% | |
| 1970 | 12,450 | −11.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,056 | −11.2% | |
| 1990 | 9,410 | −14.9% | |
| 2000 | 9,157 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 8,712 | −4.9% | |
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As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile (187.7/km²). There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile (96.2/km²). 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. 21.4% were of Finnish, 13.3% German, 9.9% Norwegian, 8.8% Italian and 7.8% Swedish ancestry.
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.
The public high school is Virginia High School. Other area schools include Parkview Learning Center and Roosevelt Elementary. The higher education institution for the city is Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. The Virginia Public Library is also featured as an educational place for people of all ages.
Virginia, Minnesota has a city band for people of all ages. They play a range of high school level music each Thursday during the summer in the bandstand in Olcott Park. The conductors are Bob Baldrica and Bill Lavato.
Olcott Park is a 40-acre (160,000 m2) piece of land in Virginia reserved for the city's enjoyment. It has a fountain in the northern part built during the Great Depression. Also, there is a bandstand in the center, used mainly for city band performances. To the south, it borders Parkview Learning Center (see education), to the east 9th Avenue West, to the north 9th Street North, and to the west Greenwood Cemetery. The Olcott Park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse.