Biwabik, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Biwabik
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City of Biwabik Public Works Garage
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Location of the city of Biwabik
within Saint Louis County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Saint Louis |
| Incorporated | November 10, 1892 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.93 sq mi (25.72 km2) |
| • Land | 8.76 sq mi (22.69 km2) |
| • Water | 1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,450 ft (442 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 961 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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963 |
| • Density | 109.70/sq mi (42.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
55708
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| Area code(s) | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-06148 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0660819 |
Biwabik is a small city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. About 961 people lived there in 2020.
The city's name comes from the Ojibwe word biiwaabik, which means 'iron'. Biwabik is known as the entrance to the East Range of the Mesabi Iron Range, an area famous for its iron ore.
Biwabik has a fun Bavarian theme. It welcomes visitors to the nearby Giants Ridge Resort, which has golf courses, a ski area, and many trails and lakes. The Mesabi Trail connects the city to Giants Ridge and Vermilion Trail Campground. This makes Biwabik a great place to visit all year round!
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Fun Things to Do in Biwabik
Biwabik is home to Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort. This resort is a top spot for sports and outdoor fun.
Golfing at Giants Ridge
Golf Digest magazine has called Giants Ridge one of the best golf resorts in the Midwest. It has two amazing golf courses:
- The Quarry: Ranked as the #1 public golf course in Minnesota.
- The Legend: Ranked as the #4 public golf course in Minnesota.
Mountain Biking Adventures
Giants Ridge Bike Park offers 10 downhill mountain bike trails. These trails have cool features like berms, jumps, and rock gardens. They are designed for all skill levels. There are also about 9.2 miles of cross-country mountain bike trails. These trails wind through the beautiful Superior National Forest.
More Outdoor Activities
Biwabik is perfect for many other outdoor activities, including:
- Road cycling
- Skiing and tubing
- Snowshoeing
- Boating and fishing
- Hunting
- ATV riding
- Snowmobiling
The Mesabi Trail and the East Range Multi Use Trail run through Biwabik. They offer many chances to connect with nature.
Exciting Events in Biwabik
The Biwabik Area Civic Association hosts several fun events each year:
- Music in the Park: Enjoy live music on Thursday nights during the summer.
- City-Wide Rummage Sale: Find great deals in the spring and fall.
- Honktoberfest: A special Oktoberfest celebration held on the last weekend of September. It honors Honk the Moose!
- Weihnachtsfest: A festive holiday event on the first Saturday of December. It features fireworks, music, food, and lights.
Other big events include:
- Pepsi Challenge Ski Race: A popular ski race held at Giants Ridge in March.
- Minnesota State High School Ski Meets: High school alpine and nordic ski championships take place at Giants Ridge in February.
Biwabik's Unique Geography
Biwabik covers about 10.15 square miles. Most of this area is land, with some water.
Mary Ellen Jasper: A Special Rock
A very special type of rock found in Biwabik is called Mary Ellen Jasper. This unique jasper was first found in Minnesota in the early 1900s. What makes it so special? It contains 1.88-billion-year-old stromatolite fossils! Stromatolites are fossilized algae, which means you can see ancient life forms preserved in the rock.
A Look at Biwabik's History
Biwabik has an interesting history, with many "firsts" for the Iron Range area.
Early Beginnings
Daniel R. Curtin, a businessman and politician from Wisconsin, once owned the land where Biwabik now stands. He was involved in the lumber and mining business for many years.
Biwabik was the first town on the Iron Range to become an official village. This happened in September 1892. It was also the first Iron Range town to have two railroads serving it: the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad and the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway. Biwabik also had the first large mine on the Mesabi Range and was the first to use a steam shovel for mining.
The 1900 Tornado
On October 6, 1900, a strong F3 tornado hit the northern and northwestern parts of Biwabik. It destroyed homes and caused a lot of damage. Sadly, ten people died in and near the city, and 70 were injured. Six of the deaths were from one family.
Honk the Moose
In 1915, a friendly moose started visiting Biwabik regularly. The people of the town named him "Honk" because of the noise he made. This moose became famous in the children's book Honk, the Moose. The book was written by Phil Stong and illustrated by Kurt Weise. Phil Stong was a teacher in Biwabik in 1919–1920, and he even used real people from the town as characters in his book! Honk, the Moose won a Newbery Honor award and is considered one of the best children's books of the 20th century. Today, a statue of Honk the Moose stands proudly in the city park on Main Street.
Notable People
Peter X. Fugina (1908–1994), who became an educator and a state legislator in Minnesota, was born in Biwabik.
Population of Biwabik
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,299 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,690 | 30.1% | |
| 1920 | 2,024 | 19.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,383 | −31.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,304 | −5.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,245 | −4.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,836 | 47.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,483 | −19.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,428 | −3.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,097 | −23.2% | |
| 2000 | 954 | −13.0% | |
| 2010 | 969 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 961 | −0.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 963 | −0.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Biwabik's Population in 2020
According to the 2020 census, 961 people lived in Biwabik. Most residents were White, with some Native American and people of two or more races. The median age of people living in Biwabik was about 45.5 years old.
Images for kids
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Learn more about Biwabik in Spanish!
