View source for St. Louis County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Confuse|St. Louis County, Missouri}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = St. Louis County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 20
 | founded year         = 1855<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Duluth
 | largest city         = Duluth
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 6860
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 6247
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 612
 | area percentage      = 8.9%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 200231
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 200794 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.stlouiscountymn.gov
 | named for            = [[St. Louis River]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chicago and North Western Railway Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA164 |title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways |year=1908 |page=164}}</ref>
 | ex image             = SLCCH.jpg
 | ex image cap         = St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth
 | district             = 8th
}}

'''St. Louis County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]]  in the [[Arrowhead Region]] of  [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 200,231.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stlouiscountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 8, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]]. It is the largest [[counties of Minnesota|county]] in Minnesota by land area, and the [[List of the largest counties in the United States by area|largest in the United States]] by total area east of the [[Mississippi River]].
St. Louis County is included in the [[Duluth MN–WI Metropolitan Area|Duluth, MN–Superior, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

Major industries include [[pulpwood]] production and [[tourism]]. [[Open pit mining]] of [[taconite]] and processing it into high grade [[iron ore]] remains an important part of the economy of the [[Iron Range]] and is directly tied to shipping in the twin ports of Duluth and Superior. Parts of the federally recognized [[Bois Forte Indian Reservation|Bois Forte]] and [[Fond du Lac Indian Reservation|Fond du Lac]] Indian reservations are in the county.

==History==
This area was long inhabited by [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking tribes: the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Ottawa and Potawatomi peoples were loosely affiliated in the [[Council of Three Fires]]. As American settlers entered the territory, the Native Americans were pushed to outer areas.

The Minnesota Legislature established St. Louis County on February 20, 1855, as ''Doty County,'' and changed its name to ''Newton County'' on March 3, 1855. It originally consisted of the area east and south of the [[St. Louis River]], while the area east of the [[Vermilion River (Minnesota)|Vermilion River]] and north of the St. Louis River was part of Superior County. Superior County was renamed St. Louis County.

On March 1, 1856, that St. Louis County was renamed as [[Lake County, Minnesota|Lake County]]. Newton County was renamed as St. Louis County and had that eastern area added to it; it was also expanded westward by incorporating parts of [[Itasca County, Minnesota|Itasca County]], which then also included most of [[Carlton County, Minnesota|Carlton County]]. On May 23, 1857, St. Louis County took its current shape when Carlton County was formed from parts of St. Louis and [[Pine County, Minnesota|Pine]] counties.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|6860|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|6247|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|612|sqmi}} (8.9%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the largest county in Minnesota and the largest (by total area) in the United States east of the Mississippi River. St. Louis County is the only county in the United States which has a coastline and borders both [[Canada|another country]] and [[Wisconsin|another state]].

[[Voyageurs National Park]], established in 1975, is located in its northwestern corner, on the south shore of [[Rainy Lake]] on the Canada–US border; it is popular with water enthusiasts and fishers. The county includes parts of [[Superior National Forest]], established in 1909, and the [[Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness]] on the border, established in 1978. The BWCAW is a {{convert|1090000|acre|km2|adj=on}} wilderness area designated for fishing, camping, hiking, and canoeing, and is one of the most visited wilderness areas in the United States. St. Louis County has more than 500 lakes. The largest lakes are [[Pelican Lake (St. Louis County, Minnesota)|Pelican]] and [[Lake Vermilion|Vermilion]].<ref name="ac">{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Saint Louis (county)|display=Saint Louis. I. A N. E. county of Minnesota}}</ref>

The "Hill of Three Waters" on the [[Laurentian Divide]] lies northeast of [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]]. Rainfall on this hill runs to three watersheds: [[Hudson Bay]] to the north, the [[Gulf of Saint Lawrence]] to the east (via [[Lake Superior]]), or the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to the south and west (via the Mississippi River).<ref>{{Cite web |title=7 km NE of Hibbing, Minnesota, United States 7/1/1983 |url=http://msrmaps.com/download.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=15&X=627&Y=6571&W=3&qs=%7cHibbing%7cMN%7c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025135538/http://msrmaps.com/download.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=15&X=627&Y=6571&W=3&qs=%7cHibbing%7cMN%7c |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2011 |website=Microsoft Research Terraserver |publisher=USGS |quote=See USGS map sheet "Hibbing Quadrangle", Minnesota-St. Louis county, 7.5 minute series, the "three-way watershed" marker is located at a spot on the hill about 375 meters south of the truck shop on the property of Hibbing Taconite mining company.}}</ref> The county is drained by the [[St. Louis River|St. Louis]], [[Vermilion River (Minnesota)|Vermilion]], and other rivers.<ref name=ac/>

[[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] on Lake Superior is one of the most important fresh-water ports in the United States.

The county encompasses part of the [[Iron Range]]. It has had a significant [[taconite]] mining industry, with active mines located in Hibbing, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Virginia, and Babbitt, in addition to Keewatin in [[Itasca County]].

===Major highways===
{{See also|County roads in St. Louis County, Minnesota}}
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Image:I-35.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35]]
* [[Image:I-535.svg|24px]] [[Interstate 535]] – John Blatnik Bridge
* [[Image:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2|U.S. Highway 2]]
* [[Image:US 53.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 53|U.S. Highway 53]]
* [[Image:US 169 (MN).svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 169|U.S. Highway 169]]
* [[Image:MN-1.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 1]]
* [[Image:MN-23.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 23]]
* [[Image:MN-33.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 33]]
* [[Image:MN-37.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 37]]
* [[Image:MN-39.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 39]] – McCuen Street
* [[Image:MN-61.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 61]] – North Shore
* [[Image:MN-73.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 73]]
* [[Image:MN-135.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 135]]
* [[Image:MN-169.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 169]]
* [[Image:MN-194.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 194]]
* [[Image:MN-210.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 210]]
* [[File:St Louis County Route 4 MN.svg|20px]] [[St. Louis County Road 4]] - Rice Lake Road
* [[File:St Louis County Route 13 MN.svg|20px]] [[St. Louis County Road 13]] – Midway Road
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Rainy River District, Ontario]], Canada (north)
* [[Lake County, Minnesota|Lake County]] (east)
* [[Douglas County, Wisconsin]] (southeast)
* [[Carlton County, Minnesota|Carlton County]] (south)
* [[Aitkin County, Minnesota|Aitkin County]] (southwest)
* [[Itasca County, Minnesota|Itasca County]] (west)
* [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]] (northwest)

===National protected areas===
* [[Superior National Forest]] (part)
** [[Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness]] (part)
* [[Voyageurs National Park]] (part)

==Climate and weather==
The county has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfb''), slightly moderated by its proximity to Lake Superior. Winters are long, snowy, and very cold, normally seeing maximum temperatures remaining below {{convert|32|F|C}} on 106 days. Due to global warming, in January 2019 Tracy Twine, professor at the University of Minnesota's Department of Soil, Water and Climate, said "we just don't expect temperatures to be below 10 degrees Fahrenheit in Duluth anymore."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jennifer Bjorhus |date=January 16, 2019 |title=U scientists: Minnesota is one of the nation's fastest-warming states |url=http://www.startribune.com/u-scientists-minnesota-is-one-of-the-nation-s-fastest-warming-states/504398862/ |access-date=January 30, 2019 |work=Star Tribune |quote=said Tracy Twine, an associate professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Soil, Water and Climate.  “We just don’t expect temperatures to be below 10 degrees Fahrenheit in Duluth anymore,” Twine said.}}</ref> Public schools and other government offices shut down on January 29–30, 2019 because of wind chills of {{convert|-70|°F|1|disp=or}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Weather-related closings and cancellations for this week |url=https://duluthnewstribune.com/news/4563023-weather-related-closings-and-cancellations-week |access-date=January 30, 2019 |work=[[Duluth News Tribune]] |quote=Duluth Public Schools – closed Tuesday and Wednesday}}</ref> This apparent anomaly was attributed to changes in the global jet stream due to the climate change.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 24, 2019 |title=Here's how Global Warming leads to colder winters in the Northeast |url=https://archive.thinkprogress.org/climate-change-making-winter-colder-30871bb3e2b4/ |access-date=April 29, 2020 |work=[[ThinkProgress]]}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 406
|1870= 4561
|1880= 4504
|1890= 44862
|1900= 82932
|1910= 163274
|1920= 206391
|1930= 204596
|1940= 206917
|1950= 206062
|1960= 231588
|1970= 220693
|1980= 222229
|1990= 198213
|2000= 200528
|2010= 200226
|2020= 200231
|estyear=2024
|estimate=200794
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''St. Louis County, Minnesota - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race  – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Louis County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US27137&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name="2020CensusP2">{{Cite web |title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race  – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Louis County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US27137&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|184,769
|176,112
|92.3%
|88.0%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,588
|4,075
|1.3%
|2.0%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|4,277
|4,305
|2.1%
|2.1%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,760
|1,901
|0.9%
|1.0%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|60
|58
|nil%
|nil%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|95
|579
|0.1%
|0.3%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|4,168
|9,598
|2.1%
|4.8%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,409
|3,603
|1.2%
|1.8%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''200,226'''
|'''200,231'''
|'''100%'''
|'''100%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 200,226 people in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% [[White Americans|White]], 2.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.4% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.9% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% of some other race and 2.3% [[Multiracial Americans|of two or more races]]. 1.2% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). According to the 2010–2015 [[American Community Survey]], the ancestral makeup was 24.3% [[German Americans|German]], 15.9% [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian]], 13.0% [[Swedish Americans|Swedish]], and 10.2% [[Irish Americans|Irish]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 American Community Survey |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US27137 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035637/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US27137 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=August 22, 2017}}</ref>

===2000 census===
[[File:StLouisCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for St. Louis County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 200,528 people, 82,619 households, and 51,389 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|32|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 95,800 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, nil% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

27.6% of households included children under the age of 18, 49.3% were [[married couples]] living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.2% of all households consisted of individuals, and 13.0% of individuals 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.

The population contained 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,306, and the median income for a family was $47,134. Males had a median income of $37,934 versus $24,235 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,982. About 7.2% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[File:St Louis County Government Services Center in Virginia, Minnesota (53302890939).jpg|thumb|right|St. Louis County Government Services Center in Virginia]]
St. Louis County is governed by an elected and [[Non-partisan democracy|nonpartisan]] [[county board of commissioners|board of commissioners]]. In Minnesota, county commissions usually have five members, but St. Louis, [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin]], and [[Ramsey County, Minnesota|Ramsey]] counties have seven-member boards. Each commissioner represents a [[single-member district]] of equal population.

The county commission elects a [[chairperson|chair]] who presides at meetings.

Commissioners as of January 2025:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District
! Commissioner
! In office since
! Current term expires
|-
|1st  ||{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Annie Harala (chair)  || 2023||January 4, 2027
|-
|2nd  ||{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Patrick Boyle  || 2014||January 8, 2029
|-
|3rd  ||{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ashley Grimm  || 2021||January 8, 2029
|-
|4th  ||{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Paul McDonald || 2019||January 4, 2027
|-
|5th  ||Keith Musolf || 2019||January 8, 2029
|-
|6th  ||{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Keith Nelson  || 2003||January 4, 2027
|-
|7th  ||{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Mike Jugovich (vice-chair) ||2017||January 8, 2029
|}

===Politics===
{{Hidden begin
|titlestyle = background:#ccccff;
|title      = Gubernatorial elections results
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Gubernatorial elections results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=36&f=0&off=99|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – Sate Data|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2022]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.1% ''35,372''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.67%''' ''53,551''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.22% ''3,917''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2018]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.41% ''35,212''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.72%''' ''60,383''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.88% ''3,852''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2014 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2014]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.5% ''26,423''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''62.09%''' ''50,484''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|5.41% ''4,404''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election|2010]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.58% ''24,187''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.81%''' ''52,312''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|9.62% ''8,136''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

In 2007, St. Louis County considered doing a study about dividing into two counties, but the proposal was not acted on.<ref>[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/07/27/countysplit/ St. Louis County considers a split|Minnesota Public Radio News]. Minnesota.publicradio.org (July 30, 2007; accessed July 12, 2013.)</ref>

This county is one of the most reliably [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] counties in the state, as no Republican or Independent candidate has won the county in a statewide election since 1992. The only time a Democrat obtained less than 50% of the vote was in 1998, when [[Jesse Ventura]] of the Reform ticket won statewide; some 24% of the county voted for him. Since 1992, the only time when a Republican obtained more than 34% of the vote was in the elections of 1994 (the year of the [[Republican Revolution]]) when the incumbent Independent-Republican governor won the statewide vote by a landslide of more than 60%, and when the Independent-Republican senatorial candidate won election with 49% statewide, both of which are rare occurrences in Minnesota.

===Presidential elections===
{{PresHead|place=St. Louis County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|5,157|3,586|1,640|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|9,810|7,412|184|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|8,851|4,667|372|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|10,375|1,972|998|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|12,076|4,464|1,734|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|3,881|5,124|11,873|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|10,834|12,056|3,234|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|27,987|14,767|6,361|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|37,033|2,577|25,013|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|44,331|25,401|2,785|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|34,883|40,181|8,665|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|22,332|69,365|1,813|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|32,243|68,620|1,760|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|27,493|63,369|1,080|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|28,490|62,553|6,249|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|38,900|63,032|1,354|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|39,902|62,190|631|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|39,620|69,270|632|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|25,246|79,529|408|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|25,981|72,267|3,549|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|41,435|61,103|1,642|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|35,331|75,040|3,704|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|33,407|69,403|11,864|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|34,162|77,683|1,013|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|31,799|70,344|1,094|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|24,579|61,813|22,423|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|25,553|60,736|13,907|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|35,420|64,237|7,807|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|40,112|77,958|1,495|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|38,742|77,351|2,721|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|39,131|73,378|3,085|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|44,630|57,771|10,021|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|49,017|67,704|2,810|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|50,065|66,335|2,609|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot}}
St. Louis County has long been one of the strongest Democratic bastions in the state outside of the Twin Cities. The Democrats have carried the county for 24 consecutive presidential elections; the last Republican candidate to carry the county was [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1928, before the Great Depression.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidential election of 1928 – Map by counties |url=http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1928.htm |website=geoelections.free.fr}}</ref> In recent elections, Republicans have received about 1/3rd of the county's vote. In 2016, [[Donald Trump]] earned 39.7% of the county's vote, while the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] vote deteriorated to 51.4% (the lowest percentage since 1932); according to exit polls, this was due to residents' concerns about the decline of mining and forestry in the county.<ref>[https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/11/09/hibbing-voters-tapped-gop-trump-change "Hibbing voters tapped GOP Trump change"], Minnesota Public Radio News, November 9, 2016</ref> This was the closest that a Republican had come to winning the county since 1932. In [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]], Trump became the first Republican since Herbert Hoover to get more than 40% of the vote in St. Louis County, but [[Joe Biden]] bolstered the Democratic margin of victory from 11.7% to 15.6%.

===Congress===
St. Louis County is in [[Minnesota's 8th congressional district]]. For 36 years, it was represented by Democrat [[Jim Oberstar]]. He was defeated in 2010 by Republican [[Chip Cravaack]]. Two years later, Cravaack was defeated by Democrat [[Rick Nolan]], who represented the district until his retirement in 2019. Republican St. Louis County commissioner [[Pete Stauber]] succeeded Nolan in one of three Democrat-to-Republican district flips in 2018, two of which happened in Minnesota.

{{U.S. SenHead|place=St Louis County, Minnesota|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=36&f=0&off=99|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – Sate Data|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Democratic|41,273|72,294|3,711|Minnesota}}
{{U.S. SenRow|2018|Democratic|30,293|66,056|3,465|Minnesota}}
{{U.S. SenRow|2012|Democratic|25,684|82,504|3,668|Minnesota}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=St. Louis County, Minnesota|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=36&f=0&off=99|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections – Sate Data|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2020|Democratic|45,016|63,036|9,083|Minnesota}}
{{U.S. SenRow|2018|Democratic|34,478|60,187|4,741|Minnesota}}
{{U.S. SenRow|2014|Democratic|26,114|52,347|3,137|Minnesota}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Aurora, Minnesota|Aurora]]
* [[Babbitt, Minnesota|Babbitt]]
* [[Biwabik, Minnesota|Biwabik]]
* [[Brookston, Minnesota|Brookston]]
* [[Buhl, Minnesota|Buhl]]
* [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]]
* [[Cook, Minnesota|Cook]]
* [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] (county seat)
* [[Ely, Minnesota|Ely]]
* [[Eveleth, Minnesota|Eveleth]]
* [[Floodwood, Minnesota|Floodwood]]
* [[Gilbert, Minnesota|Gilbert]]
* [[Hermantown, Minnesota|Hermantown]]
* [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]]
* [[Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota|Hoyt Lakes]]
* [[Iron Junction, Minnesota|Iron Junction]]
* [[Kinney, Minnesota|Kinney]]
* [[Leonidas, Minnesota|Leonidas]]
* [[McKinley, St. Louis County, Minnesota|McKinley]]
* [[Meadowlands, Minnesota|Meadowlands]]
* [[Mountain Iron, Minnesota|Mountain Iron]]
* [[Orr, Minnesota|Orr]]
* [[Proctor, Minnesota|Proctor]]
* [[Rice Lake, Minnesota|Rice Lake]]
* [[Tower, Minnesota|Tower]]
* [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]]
* [[Winton, Minnesota|Winton]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alango Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Alango Township]]
* [[Alborn Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Alborn Township]]
* [[Alden Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Alden Township]]
* [[Angora Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Angora Township]]
* [[Arrowhead Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Arrowhead Township]]
* [[Ault Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Ault Township]]
* [[Balkan Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Balkan Township]]
* [[Bassett Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Bassett Township]]
* [[Beatty Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Beatty Township]]
* [[Biwabik Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Biwabik Township]]
* [[Breitung Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Breitung Township]]
* [[Brevator Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Brevator Township]]
* [[Camp 5 Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Camp 5 Township]]
* [[Canosia Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Canosia Township]]
* [[Cedar Valley Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Cedar Valley Township]]
* [[Cherry Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Cherry Township]]
* [[Clinton Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Clinton Township]]
* [[Colvin Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Colvin Township]]
* [[Cotton Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Cotton Township]]
* [[Crane Lake Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Crane Lake Township]]
* [[Culver Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Culver Township]]
* [[Duluth Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Duluth Township]]
* [[Eagles Nest Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Eagles Nest Township]]
* [[Ellsburg Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Ellsburg Township]]
* [[Elmer Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Elmer Township]]
* [[Embarrass Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Embarrass Township]]
* [[Fairbanks Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Fairbanks Township]]
* [[Fayal Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Fayal Township]]
* [[Field Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Field Township]]
* [[Fine Lakes Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Fine Lakes Township]]
* [[Floodwood Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Floodwood Township]]
* [[Fredenberg Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Fredenberg Township]]
* [[French Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|French Township]]
* [[Gnesen Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Gnesen Township]]
* [[Grand Lake Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Grand Lake Township]]
* [[Great Scott Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Great Scott Township]]
* [[Greenwood Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Greenwood Township]]
* [[Halden Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Halden Township]]
* [[Industrial Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Industrial Township]]
* [[Kabetogama Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Kabetogama Township]]
* [[Kelsey Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Kelsey Township]]
* [[Kugler Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Kugler Township]]
* [[Lakewood Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Lakewood Township]]
* [[Lavell Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Lavell Township]]
* [[Leiding Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Leiding Township]]
* [[Linden Grove Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Linden Grove Township]]
* [[McDavitt Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|McDavitt Township]]
* [[Meadowlands Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Meadowlands Township]]
* [[Midway Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Midway Township]]
* [[Morcom Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Morcom Township]]
* [[Morse Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Morse Township]]
* [[Ness Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Ness Township]]
* [[New Independence Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|New Independence Township]]
* [[Normanna Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Normanna Township]]
* [[North Star Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|North Star Township]]
* [[Northland Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Northland Township]]
* [[Owens Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Owens Township]]
* [[Pequaywan Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Pequaywan Township]]
* [[Pike Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Pike Township]]
* [[Portage Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Portage Township]]
* [[Prairie Lake Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Prairie Lake Township]]
* [[Sandy Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Sandy Township]]
* [[Solway Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Solway Township]]
* [[Stoney Brook Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Stoney Brook Township]]
* [[Sturgeon Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Sturgeon Township]]
* [[Toivola Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Toivola Township]]
* [[Van Buren Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Van Buren Township]]
* [[Vermilion Lake Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Vermilion Lake Township]]
* [[Waasa Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Waasa Township]]
* [[White Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|White Township]]
* [[Willow Valley Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Willow Valley Township]]
* [[Wuori Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Wuori Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Unorganized territories===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Angleworm Lake, Minnesota|Angleworm Lake]]
* [[Bear Head Lake, Minnesota|Bear Head Lake]]
* [[Birch Lake, Minnesota|Birch Lake]]
* [[Camp A Lake, Minnesota|Camp A Lake]]
* [[Crab Lake, Minnesota|Crab Lake]]
* [[Dark River, Minnesota|Dark River]]
* [[Gheen, Minnesota|Gheen]]
* [[Hay Lake, Minnesota|Hay Lake]]
* [[Heikkala Lake, Minnesota|Heikkala Lake]]
* [[Hush Lake, Minnesota|Hush Lake]]
* [[Janette Lake, Minnesota|Janette Lake]]
* [[Leander Lake, Minnesota|Leander Lake]]
* [[Linwood Lake, Minnesota|Linwood Lake]]
* [[Marion Lake, Minnesota|Marion Lake]]
* [[McCormack, Minnesota|McCormack]]
* [[Mud Hen Lake, Minnesota|Mud Hen Lake]]
* [[Nett Lake, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Nett Lake]]
* [[Northeast St. Louis, Minnesota|Northeast St. Louis]]
* [[Northwest St. Louis, Minnesota|Northwest St. Louis]]
* [[Pfeiffer Lake, Minnesota|Pfeiffer Lake]]
* [[Picket Lake, Minnesota|Picket Lake]]
* [[Potshot Lake, Minnesota|Potshot Lake]]
* [[Sand Lake, Minnesota|Sand Lake]]
* [[Slim Lake, Minnesota|Slim Lake]]
* [[Sturgeon River, Minnesota|Sturgeon River]]
* [[Sunday Lake, Minnesota|Sunday Lake]]
* [[Tikander Lake, Minnesota|Tikander Lake]]
* [[Whiteface Reservoir, Minnesota|Whiteface Reservoir]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Mahnomen, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Mahnomen]]
* [[Nett Lake (CDP), Minnesota|Nett Lake]]
* [[Soudan, Minnesota|Soudan]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alborn, Minnesota|Alborn]]
* [[Angora, Minnesota|Angora]]
* [[Ash Lake, Minnesota|Ash Lake]]
* [[Bassett, Minnesota|Bassett]]
* [[Bear River, Minnesota|Bear River]]
* [[Bengal, Minnesota|Bengal]]
* [[Brimson, Minnesota|Brimson]]
* [[Britt, Minnesota|Britt]]
* [[Burnett, Minnesota|Burnett]]
* [[Burntside, Minnesota|Burntside]]
* [[Buyck, Minnesota|Buyck]]
* [[Canyon, Minnesota|Canyon]]
* [[Celina, Minnesota|Celina]]
* [[Central Lakes, Minnesota|Central Lakes]]
* [[Cherry, Minnesota|Cherry]]
* [[Clover Valley, Minnesota|Clover Valley]]
* [[Cotton, Minnesota|Cotton]]
* [[Crane Lake, Minnesota|Crane Lake]]
* [[Culver, Minnesota|Culver]]
* [[Cusson, Minnesota|Cusson]]
* [[Eldes Corner, Minnesota|Eldes Corner]]
* [[Elmer, Minnesota|Elmer]]
* [[Embarrass, Minnesota|Embarrass]]
* [[Fairbanks, Minnesota|Fairbanks]]
* [[Florenton, Minnesota|Florenton]]
* [[Forbes, Minnesota|Forbes]]
* [[Four Corners, Minnesota|Four Corners]]
* [[French River, Minnesota|French River]]
* [[Gheen (community), Minnesota|Gheen]]
* [[Gheen Corner, Minnesota|Gheen Corner]]
* [[Glendale, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Glendale]]
* [[Gowan, Minnesota|Gowan]]
* [[Greaney, Minnesota|Greaney]]
* [[Idington, Minnesota|Idington]]
* [[Independence, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Independence]]
* [[Island Lake, St. Louis County, Minnesota|Island Lake]]
* [[Kabetogama, Minnesota|Kabetogama]]
* [[Keenan, Minnesota|Keenan]]
* [[Kelsey, Minnesota|Kelsey]]
* [[Linden Grove, Minnesota|Linden Grove]]
* [[Makinen, Minnesota|Makinen]]
* [[Markham, Minnesota|Markham]]
* [[McComber, Minnesota|McComber]]
* [[Meadow Brook, Minnesota|Meadow Brook]]
* [[Melrude, Minnesota|Melrude]]
* [[Munger, Minnesota|Munger]]
* [[Palmers, Minnesota|Palmers]]
* [[Palo, Minnesota|Palo]]
* [[Payne, Minnesota|Payne]]
* [[Peary, Minnesota|Peary]]
* [[Petrel, Minnesota|Petrel]]
* [[Peyla, Minnesota|Peyla]]
* [[Pineville, Minnesota|Pineville]]
* [[Prosit, Minnesota|Prosit]]
* [[Ramshaw, Minnesota|Ramshaw]]
* [[Robinson, Minnesota|Robinson]]
* [[Rollins, Minnesota|Rollins]]
* [[Saginaw, Minnesota|Saginaw]]
* [[Sax, Minnesota|Sax]]
* [[Shaw, Minnesota|Shaw]]
* [[Sherman Corner, Minnesota|Sherman Corner]]
* [[Side Lake, Minnesota|Side Lake]]
* [[Silica, Minnesota|Silica]]
* [[Simar, Minnesota|Simar]]
* [[Skibo, Minnesota|Skibo]]
* [[Sturgeon, Minnesota|Sturgeon]]
* [[Taft, Minnesota|Taft]]
* [[Toivola, Minnesota|Toivola]]
* [[Twig, Minnesota|Twig]]
* [[Vermilion Dam, Minnesota|Vermilion Dam]]
* [[Wakemup, Minnesota|Wakemup]]
* [[Whiteface, Minnesota|Whiteface]]
* [[Wolf, Minnesota|Wolf]]
* [[Zim, Minnesota|Zim]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* Carson Lake<ref>[https://hibbinghistory.org/mining_location/carson-lake/ Carson Lake]. Hibbing Historical Society and Museum. Accessed April 11, 2021.</ref>
* [[Costin Village, Minnesota|Costin Village]]
* [[Elcor, Minnesota|Elcor]]
* [[Fermoy, Minnesota|Fermoy]]
* [[Spina, Minnesota|Spina]]

==Education==
K-12 school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27137_st_louis/DC20SD_C27137.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: St. Louis County, MN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=January 15, 2021|access-date=2025-06-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27137_st_louis/DC20SD_C27137_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col}}
* [[Chisholm Public School District]]
* [[Cloquet Public School District]]
* [[Duluth Public School District]]
* [[Ely Public School District]]
* [[Eveleth-Gilbert School District]]
* [[Floodwood Public School District]]
* [[Hermantown Public School District]]
* [[Hibbing Public School District]]
* [[Lake Superior Public School District]]
* [[Mesabi East School District]]
* [[Mountain Iron-Buhl School District]]
* [[Proctor Public School District]]
* [[Rock Ridge Public Schools]]
* [[Virginia Public Schools|Virginia Public School District]]
{{div col end}}

There is one elementary school district, [[Nett Lake Public School District]].<ref name=SDMap2020/>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis County, Minnesota]]
* [[Independent School District 2142]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.stlouiscountymn.gov/ St. Louis County Government site – Link]
* [http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/ ''Duluth News Tribune'' site]
* [[Minnesota Department of Transportation|Mn/DOT]] maps of St. Louis County ([http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis1.pdf Southwest portion], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis3.pdf West–Central portion], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis2.pdf Southeast portion], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis4.pdf East–Central portion], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis5.pdf Northern part of West–Central portion], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis7.pdf Northwest portion], [http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/data/maps/county/stlouis6.pdf Northeast portion])

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = St. Louis County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Rainy River District|Rainy River District, Ontario]] {{flagicon|CAN}}
|East      = [[Lake County, Minnesota|Lake County]]
|Southeast = ''[[Lake Superior]]''<br/>[[Douglas County, Wisconsin]]
|South     = [[Carlton County, Minnesota|Carlton County]]
|Southwest = [[Aitkin County, Minnesota|Aitkin County]]
|West      = [[Itasca County, Minnesota|Itasca County]]
|Northwest = [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]]
}}

{{Duluth, Minnesota}}
{{St. Louis County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|47.58|-92.46|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:St. Louis County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties|St. Louis County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1855]]