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Duluth, MN

Frequently asked questions

Duluth, MN

Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population was 86,697 at the 2020 census, making it Minnesota's fifth-largest city. Duluth forms a metropolitan area with neighboring Superior, Wisconsin, called the Twin Ports. It is south of the Iron Range and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It is named after Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, the area's first known European explorer.

Duluth is on the north shore of Lake Superior at the westernmost point of the Great Lakes. It is the largest metropolitan area, the second-largest city, and the largest U.S. city on the lake. Duluth is accessible to the Atlantic Ocean, 2,300 miles (3,700 km) away, via the Great Lakes Waterway and St. Lawrence Seaway. The Port of Duluth is the world's farthest inland port accessible to oceangoing ships and is largest and busiest port on the Great Lakes. It is also among the top 20 U.S. ports by tonnage. Common items shipped from Duluth include coal, iron ore, grain, limestone, cement, salt, wood pulp, steel coil, and wind turbine parts.

Duluth is a popular Midwest tourist destination. The city is home to the Great Lakes Aquarium, the nation's only all-freshwater aquarium. The Aerial Lift Bridge, next to Canal Park, crosses the Duluth Ship Canal into the Duluth–Superior harbor. Minnesota Point, known locally as Park Point, is the world's longest freshwater baymouth bar, stretching 6 miles (10 km). The city is also the starting point for road trips along the North Shore of Lake Superior to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 87.43 square miles (226.44 km2); 67.79 square miles (175.58 km2) is land and 19.64 square miles (50.87 km2) is water. It is Minnesota's second-largest city by land area, surpassed only by Hibbing. Duluth's canal connects Lake Superior to the Duluth–Superior harbor and the Saint Louis River. It is spanned by the Aerial Lift Bridge, which connects Canal Park with Minnesota Point (or "Park Point"). Minnesota Point is about 7 miles (11 km) long, and when included with adjacent Wisconsin Point, which extends 3 miles (4.8 km) from the city of Superior, Wisconsin, is the largest freshwater baymouth bar in the world at a total of 10 miles (16 km).

Duluth's topography is dominated by a steep hillside that climbs from Lake Superior to high inland elevations. Duluth has been called "the San Francisco of the Midwest," alluding to San Francisco's similar water-to-hilltop topography. This similarity was most evident before World War II when Duluth had a network of streetcars and an inclined railroad, the 7th Avenue West Incline Railway, that, like San Francisco's cable cars, climbed a steep hill. The elevation change is illustrated by Duluth's two airports. The weather station at the lakeside Sky Harbor Airport on Minnesota Point has an elevation of 607 feet (185 m), while Duluth International Airport, atop the hill, is 820 feet (250 m) higher at 1,427 feet (435 m).

Even as the city has grown, its populace has tended to hug Lake Superior's shoreline, so Duluth is primarily a southwest–northeast city. The considerable development on the hill has given Duluth many steep streets. Some neighborhoods, such as Piedmont Heights and Bayview Heights, are atop the hill with scenic views of the city. Skyline Parkway is a scenic roadway that extends from Becks Road above the Gary – New Duluth neighborhood near the western end of the city to the Lester Park neighborhood on the east side. It crosses nearly Duluth's entire length and affords views of Lake Superior, the Aerial Lift Bridge, Canal Park, and the many industries that inhabit the largest inland port.

A developing part of the city is the Miller Hill Mall area and the adjacent big-box retailer shopping strips "over the hill" along the Miller Trunk Highway corridor. The 2009–10 road reconstruction project in Duluth's Miller Hill area improved movement through the U.S. Highway 53 corridor from Trinity Road to Maple Grove Road. The highway project reconstructed connector roads, intersections, and adjacent roadways. A new international airport terminal was completed in 2013 as part of the federal government's Stimulus Reconstruction Program.

Duluth has a thriving healthcare sector, with facilities such as Essentia Health and St. Luke's Hospital providing quality medical services to the residents. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local health and wellness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, and Snap Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Duluth, such as the Ely's Peak Trail and Chester Park Loop. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Duluth, MN are Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, Glensheen Mansion, Leif Erikson Park, and Great Lakes Aquarium.

Population: 87,680 (2023). ZIP codes: 55801–55808, 55810–55812, 55814–55816. Area code: 218. Elevation: 607 ft (185 m). Area: 80.16 sq mi (207.60 km2).

FAQs

Why is Duluth, MN so popular?

Duluth is a popular Midwest tourist destination. The city is home to the Great Lakes Aquarium, the nation's only all-freshwater aquarium. The Aerial Lift Bridge, next to Canal Park, crosses the Duluth Ship Canal into the Duluth–Superior harbor. Minnesota Point, known locally as Park Point, is the world's longest freshwater baymouth bar, stretching 6 miles (10 km). The city is also the starting point for road trips along the North Shore of Lake Superior to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Is Duluth, MN cheap to live in?

Duluth has a relatively affordable cost of living compared to other cities in the United States. Housing costs, in particular, are lower than the national average. which makes it an attractive option for those looking for a more affordable place to live. The median sale price for a house in Duluth is $235,000, which is 59% of the national median. Rental living is also more affordable than a majority of the country; the average one-bedroom apartment costs $1,532, which is below the national average.

What is the ethnic makeup of Duluth, MN?

As of 2022, 98.6% of Duluth, MN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Duluth, MN was 98.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing. In 2022, there were 20.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (75.6k people) in Duluth, MN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.69k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 2.13k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups. 2.74% of the people in Duluth, MN are hispanic (2.38k people).

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Duluth

Essentia Health 

St. Luke's Hospital 

Duluth Parks and Recreation Department 

Planet Fitness

Anytime Fitness 

Snap Fitness

Ely's Peak Trail 

Chester Park Loop

Spirit Mountain Recreation Area

Glensheen Mansion

Leif Erikson Park

Great Lakes Aquarium

Redfin

Data USA

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