Babbitt, Minnesota
| Babbitt, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
 Location of the city of Babbitt within Saint Louis County, Minnesota | |
| Coordinates: 47°40′10″N 91°55′10″W / 47.66944°N 91.91944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Saint Louis |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 106.72 sq mi (276.40 km2) |
| • Land | 105.91 sq mi (274.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.81 sq mi (2.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,483 ft (452 m) |
| Population (2010)[2] | |
| • Total | 1,475 |
| • Estimate (2012[3]) | 1,469 |
| • Density | 13.9/sq mi (5.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 55706 |
| Area code(s) | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-03106[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0660701[5] |
| 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.[6]
Saint Louis County Highway 21 (CR 21) serves as a main route in the community.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 106.72 square miles (276.40 km2); 105.91 square miles (274.31 km2) is land and 0.81 square miles (2.10 km2) is water.[1]
History
The city grew out of the formation of a taconite mine built by the Armco and Republic Steel starting in 1944.[7] 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. [8]
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 Kasten) 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. Schneider, known as the "Babbitt Rabbit", 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 notably: 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. Babbitt is also home to the 1976 State High School Baseball Champions. Babbitt High School was the first ever Class "A" High School Baseball Champions, as champions before 1976 were 1 classification. John F. Kennedy High School in Babbitt was known as the Babbitt-Embarrass High School following a consolidation with the latter community. The school is now a K-12 facility called the Northeast Range School, established after another consolidation with the Tower-Soudan High School. The Babbitt-Embarrass school colors were purple and white; the school's mascot was the Knights. The school song was "The Ranger Song" from the musical comedy Rio Rita, which is a 1929 RKO Picture starring Bebe Daniels and John Boles along with the comedy team of Wheeler & Woolsey. The film is based on the 1927 stage musical produced by Florenz Ziegfeld. 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.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 2,587 | — | |
| 1970 | 3,076 | 18.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,435 | −20.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,562 | −35.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,670 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,475 | −11.7% | |
| Est. 2015 | 1,519 | [9] | 3.0% |
2010 census
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,475 people, 707 households, and 435 families residing in the city. The population density was 13.9 inhabitants per square mile (5.4/km2). There were 818 housing units at an average density of 7.7 per square mile (3.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.1% of the population.
There were 707 households of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.5% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.60.
The median age in the city was 51.1 years. 17.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 31.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000,[4] 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% American Indian, 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.
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.
Government
2013 Mayor and Council Members
Mayor Andrea Zupancich
Councilor Terry Switajewski
Councilor Jim Lassi
Councilor Ron Marinaro
Councilor Travis Roseth
References
- 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
- ↑ Silver Bay & Babbitt History, Retrieved July 7, 2010.
- ↑ Who Was Who in America. Chicago. 1942. p. 40.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
External links
Media related to Babbitt, Minnesota at Wikimedia Commons
Coordinates: 47°42′31″N 91°56′41″W / 47.70861°N 91.94472°W