Quad Cities (Minnesota)
The Quad Cities in the U.S. state of Minnesota consist of the cities: Virginia, Eveleth, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron; located in the Arrowhead Region, overlapping Iron Range region, and St. Louis County.
U.S. Highway 53, U.S. Highway 169, State Highway 37, and State Highway 135 are four of the main arterial routes in the communities.
Populations
According to the 2000 census, the Quad Cities have a population of 17,868. Virginia has 9,157 residents. Eveleth has 3,865 residents; Mountain Iron has 2,999 residents; and Gilbert has 1,847 residents.
Land and climate
The climate of the Quad Cities, is continental, with warm summers and cold winters. There is an average of 20-40 inches of precipitation each year. The weather in the Quad Cities can be very unpredictable. Some days in winter can be 20 degrees below zero and the next day can be 30 degrees above zero. It can be similar in summer too. Some days may be 50 degrees and other may be a scorching 90 degrees.
The land of the Quad Cities is mainly forested, with many lakes and wetlands. The communities are located among many iron mines.
History
Once Ojibwa [Chippewa] Indians lived in northern Minnesota. They hunted, farmed, and traded along the rivers and lakes. They may have also mined iron ore to make goods for themselves and to trade with the French, [in the 1600's] British, [perhaps from the mid-1700's to the early 1800's] and Americans [from the 1700's through the 1800's.] The Quad Cities were founded in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The finding of iron ore in the northern Vermillion Range in the early 1900's soon lead to the booms down south in the cities. It is possible that Virginia, the largest of the cities once was the second largest city in the state.
Economy and Industry
The main industries in the area are mining, lumber, and tourism. Also, to the south, Duluth, Minnesota plays a vital role in shipping the iron ore collected in the Quad Cities Region to other Great Lakes ports and foreign port cities.