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Duluth is a town in and the county seat of St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 86,918. It is a seaport at the westernmost point on Lake Superior, perhaps farther from the ocean than any other seaport. It is linked to the Atlantic Ocean via the Great Lakes and then either the Erie Canal/New York State Barge Canal or the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Duluth forms a single metropolitan area with Superior, Wisconsin, called the Twin Ports. The two cities share a harbor and are one of the most important ports on the Great Lakes. Among the items shipped out are iron ore (taconite) and grain. Both cities have museums devoted to the local nautical heritage. A major destination for tourists is the Aerial Lift Bridge spanning the short canal into Duluth's harbor. It is a vertical lift bridge made even more unique by the fact that it was originally built as an exceedingly rare aerial transfer bridge.
The city is named for Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, the first known European explorer of the area.
The northern terminus of Interstate 35 is in Duluth. The highway extends south through the state to the Twin Cities, although it continues its southerly course to the city of Laredo, Texas.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 226.2 km² (87.3 mi²). 176.1 km² (68.0 mi²) of it is land and 50.0 km² (19.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 22.11% water.
Demographics
Coffeeshop and skyway in downtown Duluth As of the census2 of 2000, there are 86,918 people, 35,500 households, and 19,915 families residing in the city. The population density is 493.4/km² (1,278.1/mi²). There are 36,994 housing units at an average density of 210.0/km² (544.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.65% White, 1.63% Black or African American, 2.44% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 35,500 households out of which 26.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% are non-families. 34.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.26 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 16.2% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $33,766, and the median income for a family is $46,394. Males have a median income of $35,182 versus $24,965 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,969. 15.5% of the population and 8.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Colleges and universities
Amateur sports
The Duluth Huskies are a baseball team based in Duluth that plays in the Northwoods League. The team plays it's home games at Wade Stadium.
Famous people
Politics
In 2004, Duluth was center to a controversial legal battle between the City Council, local residents, and the ACLU. The debate and eventual lawsuit revolved around a marble fixture enscribed with the ten commandments which resided on the lawn of City Hall. The city eventually agreed to remove the fixture, and it now resides on private property in Canal Park.
Media
Local Television Stations:
Local newspaper:
Transportation
The area marks the northern endpoint of Interstate 35, which stretches south to Laredo, Texas. U.S. highways that serve the area are U.S. Highway 53 (La Crosse, Wisconsin to International Falls, Minnesota), and U.S. Highway 2 (Everett, Washington to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
There are many state highways that serve the area as well. Minnesota State Highway 23 runs diagonally across Minnesota, indirectly connecting Duluth to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. MN-33 serves as a bypass of Duluth connecting Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 53. Minnesota State Highway 61 provides to Thunder Bay, Ontario via the North Shore of Lake Superior, while MN-194 and WI-13 reach along the lake's South Shore. Wisconsin State Highway 35 runs along Wisconsin's western boarder.
External links
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