Duluth, Minnesota is a city of about 87,000 people, situated on the northernmost point of the Great Lakes on the shore of Lake Superior. It is a beautiful area with Lake Superior and gorgeous weather that includes long, snowy winters and very mild summers. Interestingly enough, Duluth has never had a tornado touch down there. Anyone thinking of moving to Duluth will find the city to be bustling with activities, arts, recreational possibilities and history.
Economy:
Duluth is the second largest port on the Great Lakes, and this makes it one of the most important places in northern Minnesota. The median household income is lower here than in the rest of the state. The cost of living is right at the average for the nation. Unemployment is low here at 6.1 percent. There is a lot of diversity in the city's major industries. The city is a regional center for medical care and banking, and industry includes food processing, woolen mills, lumber and paper mills and oil refineries. Tourism has become a major industry in Duluth as well.
History:
Originally home to the Sioux and Ojibwa Indians, the first known European to see the area was Pierre Espirit Radisson, a Frenchman who explored the area in the 1660s. The city was named for Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, who came to the area in 1679 to secure trapping rights and settle a disagreement between the two tribes. It was 1852 before the first European settled there. People flocked to the city in search of copper ore in 1855, and the city was named Duluth at that time. Disaster struck twice: an economic panic in 1857 and an outbreak of scarlet fever in 1859. Only two houses were occupied at the end of the Civil War. But the city came back due to the discovery of iron ore and gold, so that by 1869, there were 3,500 people living there. By 1887, the lumber industry had boomed there, increasing the population once again.
Tourism:
The Edge is a Polynesian indoor water park that features two four-story water slides. The Great Lakes Aquarium is a hands-on aquarium that is fun for the entire family. The Lake Superior is an excursion train that takes you for a ninety minute long ride filled with wildlife and scenery. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center is the place for boat watching. The Lake Superior Zoo has hundreds of animals and is open year round. There are many arts museums and galleries to see, and several historical museums as well. There are many activities related to the lake, including an alpine rollercoaster. There is a symphony orchestra and a ballet company. In January, there is the Lake Superior Family Fun Fest. In May, there is the Homegrown Music Festival.