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Mountain Iron
This city is founded on the taconite iron ore deposits discovered by Leonidas Merritt in the 1880s.
This city is founded on the taconite iron ore deposits discovered by Leonidas Merritt in the 1880s.
Motto(s): 
Taconite Capital of the World
Location of the city of Mountain Ironwithin Saint Louis County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Mountain Iron
within Saint Louis County, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Saint Louis
Founded 1892
Incorporated (village) November 28, 1892
Incorporated (city) June 20, 1913
Area
 • Total 70.89 sq mi (183.61 km2)
 • Land 68.11 sq mi (176.40 km2)
 • Water 2.79 sq mi (7.21 km2)
Elevation
1,480 ft (451 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,878
 • Estimate 
(2022)
2,860
 • Density 42.26/sq mi (16.32/km2)
Time zone UTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
55768 and 55792
Area code(s) 218
FIPS code 27-44548
GNIS feature ID 0661972
Sales tax 7.375%

Mountain Iron is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States, in the heart of the Mesabi Range. The population was 2,878 at the 2020 census.

U.S. Highway 169 serves as a main route in Mountain Iron.

The city's motto is "Taconite Capital of the World". The local mine, Minntac, is owned by the United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel).

Mountain Iron is part of the Quad Cities, with Virginia, Eveleth, and Gilbert.

History

Mountain Iron was founded in 1892 as a mining village in the former Nichols Township. It was named after the nearby Mountain Iron Mine.

Mountain Iron was incorporated as a city in 1972.

Mountain Iron Town Hall
Mountain Iron power plant building and village hall building (2020)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 71.31 square miles (184.69 km2); 68.52 square miles (177.47 km2) is land and 2.79 square miles (7.23 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 470
1910 1,343 185.7%
1920 1,546 15.1%
1930 1,349 −12.7%
1940 1,492 10.6%
1950 1,377 −7.7%
1960 1,808 31.3%
1970 1,698 −6.1%
1980 4,134 143.5%
1990 3,362 −18.7%
2000 2,999 −10.8%
2010 2,869 −4.3%
2020 2,878 0.3%
2022 (est.) 2,860 −0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,869 people, 1,336 households, and 796 families living in the city. The population density was 41.9 inhabitants per square mile (16.2/km2). There were 1,442 housing units at an average density of 21.0 per square mile (8.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 1,336 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.72.

The median age in the city was 45.4 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mountain Iron (Minnesota) para niños

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