Babbitt, Minnesota

Babbitt
City
Location of the city of Babbitt within Saint Louis County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 47°42′31″N 91°56′41″W / 47.70861°N 91.94472°W / 47.70861; -91.94472Coordinates: 47°42′31″N 91°56′41″W / 47.70861°N 91.94472°W / 47.70861; -91.94472
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Saint Louis
Area [1]
• Total	106.90 sq mi (276.87 km2)
• Land	106.09 sq mi (274.77 km2)
• Water	0.81 sq mi (2.10 km2)
Elevation [3]	1,483 ft (452 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	1,475
• Estimate  (2019)[5]	1,484
• Density	13.99/sq mi (5.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	55706
Area code(s)	218
FIPS code	27-03106[4]
GNIS feature ID	0660701[3]
Website	www.babbitt-mn.com

Babbitt is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 1,475.^[6]

Saint Louis County Highway 21 (CR 21) serves as a main route in the community.

History[]

The city grew out of the formation of a taconite mine built by the Armco and Republic Steel starting in 1944.^[7] The company town was built near the eastern edge of the Mesabi Iron Range. The city of Silver Bay was built simultaneously along Lake Superior (60 miles to the southeast), and connected by train, for transportation of iron ore to cities along the Great Lakes. Babbitt is named after Judge Kurnal R. Babbitt of New York City. Judge Babbitt, who died on February 15, 1920, was general counsel for and a director of several mining companies. Before removing to New York in 1908, he practiced law in Colorado at Aspen, Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs.^[8]

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 106.72 square miles (276.40 km²); 105.91 square miles (274.31 km²) is land and 0.81 square miles (2.10 km²) is water.^[9]

Notes[]

Babbitt is surrounded by the Superior National Forest and often has wild animals like deer and wolves within the city limits. In the summer black bears are often sighted.

Babbitt enjoys being the hometown to national celebrity Buzz Schneider. Schneider's claim to fame was being on the 1976 Olympic hockey team and the 1980 Olympic gold medal hockey team. Schneider, known as the "Babbitt Rabbit", scored the first goal against the Soviet Union in the most renowned game of hockey ever played; the first gold medal round game of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York (Miracle on Ice). Babbitt is home to a few NCAA division one hockey players, most notably: Buzz Schneider - University of Minnesota, Steve Schneider - Notre Dame, Greg Woods-Denver University and Mike Krensing - University of Minnesota Duluth. Schneider played on two national champion hockey teams at Minnesota. Babbitt is also home to the 1976 Class "A" State High School Baseball Champions. The Babbitt Knights were the first ever Class "A" High School Baseball Champions, as champions before 1976 were 1 classification. Babbitt High School's colors were purple and white; the school's mascot was the Knights. The school song was "The Ranger Song" from the musical comedy Rio Rita, which is a 1929 RKO Picture starring Bebe Daniels and John Boles along with the comedy team of Wheeler & Woolsey. The film is based on the 1927 stage musical produced by Florenz Ziegfeld.

Demographics[]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 1,475 people, 707 households, and 435 families living in the city. The population density was 13.9 inhabitants per square mile (5.4/km²). There were 818 housing units at an average density of 7.7 per square mile (3.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.1% of the population.

There were 707 households, of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.5% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.60.

The median age in the city was 51.1 years. 17.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 31.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

2000 census[]

As of the census of 2000,^[4] there were 1,670 people, 735 households, and 530 families living in the city. The population density was 15.8 people per square mile (6.1/km²). There were 801 housing units at an average density of 7.6 per square mile (2.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.86% White, 0.12% African American, 0.30% American Indian, 0.12% Asian, and 0.60% from two or more races. 20.0% were of German, 16.6% Norwegian, 15.1% Finnish, 6.8% Swedish, 5.8% English and 5.2% Irish ancestry.

There were 735 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,229, and the median income for a family was $37,137. Males had a median income of $38,214 versus $24,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,853. About 3.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 1.9% of those 65 and older.

Government[]

2016 Mayor and Council Members[]

Mayor Andrea Zupancich

Councilor Terry Switajewski

Councilor Richard Huovinen

Councilor Jim Lassi

Councilor Glenn Anderson

Clerk-Treasurer Cathy Bissonette

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Babbitt, Minnesota.

• City of Babbitt, MN – Official Website