Chisholm, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chisholm
City
Clockwise from the top: Aerial panorama of Chisholm, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Minnesota Museum of Mining, Chisholm Elementary, and Minnesota Discovery Center
Location of the city of Chisholm within St. Louis County, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	St. Louis
Incorporated	July 23, 1901
Area
• Total	4.73 sq mi (12.24 km2)
• Land	4.47 sq mi (11.57 km2)
• Water	0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
Elevation	1,539 ft (469 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,775
• Density	1,068.47/sq mi (412.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	55719
Area code(s)	218
FIPS code	27-11386
GNIS feature ID	0660998
Website	City of Chisholm

Chisholm is a city located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 4,775 people lived there. Chisholm is often called "The Heart of the Iron Range" because it's right in the middle of the Mesabi Iron Range. This area is famous for its iron ore mining.

History of Chisholm

Chisholm was named after its founder, Archibald Mark Chisholm. He was a mining expert and investor from Canada. The town officially became a city in 1901. A post office opened in Chisholm that same year.

With a railroad line connecting to Duluth and many mining jobs nearby, Chisholm grew very quickly. By 1908, it had over 6,000 people and 500 buildings.

The Great Fire of 1908

On September 5, 1908, a fast-moving forest fire destroyed almost the entire town. This happened because of very dry weather and because most buildings were made of wood. Luckily, everyone escaped by going into the lake, and no one died. After the fire, the city made new rules for building. These rules said that buildings had to be fireproof. By the next summer, over 70 new fireproof buildings had been built.

Chisholm officially became a city in 1934. Later, in 1941, an artist named Elizabeth Carney Pope painted a mural called Discovery of Ore in the Chisholm post office. This mural was part of a government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Mining and Changes Over Time

Chisholm is in the Iron Range, so its history is closely tied to iron mining. The city has seen many ups and downs as the mining industry changed.

• 1930s and 1940s: The 1930s were tough because of the Great Depression. This meant less demand for iron ore, so mines closed, and many people lost their jobs. But during World War II, the demand for iron ore grew again, which helped Chisholm's economy recover.
• 1970s and 1980s: In the 1970s, iron ore prices dropped, and there was more competition from other countries. Mines in Chisholm started to close again, leading to job losses and fewer people living in the city. Chisholm began looking for new ways to support its economy.
• 1990s to Today: In recent years, Chisholm has continued to adapt. Tourism and healthcare have become important new industries. The city works hard to keep its mining history alive and to improve its downtown area. Chisholm still celebrates its past with places like the Minnesota Museum of Mining and the Minnesota Discovery Center. These places teach visitors about the region's mining history.

Geography

Chisholm covers about 4.74 square miles (12.24 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city is located in the middle of the Mesabi Iron Range. This is one of four main iron ore regions in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region.

Two important roads that go through Chisholm are U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 (MN 73).

Population Information

Chisholm's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 4,976 people living in Chisholm. These people lived in 2,257 households. About 27% of these households had children under 18 living there.

Most of the people in Chisholm were White (95.5%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Chisholm was about 40.7 years old. About 22.3% of residents were under 18, and 18% were 65 or older. The number of males and females in the city was almost equal.

Education

Chisholm High School

The Chisholm Independent School District serves students from Chisholm and the nearby Balkan Township.

The school system has three main schools:

• Vaughan–Steffensrud Elementary School: This school is for children from preschool through third grade. It's named after the first two leaders of the Chisholm school system.
• Chisholm Elementary School: This school teaches students in grades 4 through 6.
• Chisholm High School: This school is for older students, from grades 7 through 12.

Famous People from Chisholm

Many notable people have come from Chisholm, including:

• John Blatnik, a former U.S. Congressman
• Roger Enrico, who used to be the CEO of PepsiCo
• Philip Falcone, a well-known investor
• Ann Govednik, an Olympic swimmer
• Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, a former Major League Baseball player and town doctor
• Patty Hajdu, a Canadian politician
• Ben Hoberman, a pioneer in all-talk radio
• Richard Kelly, a Minnesota state politician
• Cameron Latu, a college football player
• Joel Maturi, a former athletic director for the University of Minnesota
• Jim Oberstar, a former U.S. Congressman
• Dan Orlich, a former NFL defensive end
• Shawn Rojeski, a bronze medalist in curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics
• Tony Sertich, a Minnesota politician
• John Shuster, a gold medalist in curling at the 2018 Winter Olympics
• Jason Smith, a curler at the 2010 Winter Olympics
• David Tomassoni, an Olympic and professional hockey player and former Minnesota State politician

See also

In Spanish: Chisholm (Minnesota) para niños