Babbitt, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Babbitt
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Location of the city of Babbitt
within Saint Louis County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Saint Louis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 106.90 sq mi (276.87 km2) |
| • Land | 106.09 sq mi (274.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.81 sq mi (2.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,483 ft (452 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,475 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
1,484 |
| • Density | 13.99/sq mi (5.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
55706
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| Area code(s) | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-03106 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0660701 |
| Website | www.babbitt-mn.com |
Babbitt is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 1,462.
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.
History
The city grew out of the formation of a taconite mine built by the Armco and Republic Steel starting in 1944. 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.
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% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,484 | 0.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,475 people, 707 households, and 435 families living 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.
Notable people
- Buzz Schneider, hockey player
