Moving to Virginia, Minnesota

by btobers · Published June 19, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Virginia, Minnesota is a city located in Saint Louis County, just off the Iron Range of Northern Minnesota. It is known for its abundance of natural resources and for being a part of the Mesabi Iron Range. Virginia is home to a diverse population of about 8,000 people, with a mix of cultures from all over the world.

The city was founded in 1892 by mining prospectors who were drawn to the area by its abundance of iron ore deposits. The city quickly grew as the mining industry boomed, and by 1900 it had become a major hub for ore processing and shipping. The success of the mining industry allowed Virginia to expand and develop into an industrial center that included steel mills, paper mills, and other manufacturing facilities.

As the city grew, so did its cultural diversity. People from all over Europe came to Virginia looking for work in the mines or factories. This influx gave rise to many different ethnic restaurants and businesses throughout Virginia’s downtown area. Today, visitors can enjoy some great Italian food at Luigi’s Italian Restaurant or grab some authentic Mexican tacos at La Carreta Mexican Restaurant & Cantina.

The natural beauty of Virginia is one of its defining features. It sits on the edge of Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park where visitors can explore miles of trails and take in stunning views from atop tall cliffs overlooking Lake Vermilion itself. Just outside town is Bear Head Lake State Park which offers camping sites, fishing spots, hiking trails, mountain biking trails and more outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy year-round.

The city also has plenty to offer indoors as well with a variety of venues like art galleries like The Range Art Gallery or The Depot Center Gallery & Studio showcasing local artists’ work; theaters like The Lyric Arts Theater offering productions throughout the year; museums like The Minnesota Museum of Mining exploring the history and culture behind iron ore mining; or shopping centers like Timberland Mall with lots of stores to browse through while you’re in town!

Virginia also hosts many special events throughout the year such as their annual Fourth Of July Festival complete with fireworks displays; their annual Iron Man Triathlon; or their yearly Mesabi Trail Trek which offers cyclists an opportunity to explore miles upon miles on some beautiful trails throughout Northern Minnesota!

In conclusion, Virginia is an amazing place that offers something for everyone – whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or cultural experiences – there’s something here that will be sure to please everyone.

Population: 9,157. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,666 (-5.4% change)
Males: 4,296 (46.9%), Females: 4,861 (53.1%)

St. Louis County

Zip codes: 55792.

Demographics

Median resident age: 43.2 years
Median household income: $28,873
Median house value: $54,000

Population by Race

Races in Virginia:

White Non-Hispanic (94.6%)
American Indian (2.9%)
Two or more races (1.4%)
Hispanic (0.8%)

Ancestries: German (17.9%), Norwegian (12.2%), Swedish (11.2%), Italian (8.7%), Irish (6.7%), English (6.0%).

Elevation: 1437 feet

Land area: 18.8 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Virginia

High school or higher: 86.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.0%
Unemployed: 5.9%
Mean travel time to work: 14.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Virginia city

Never married: 26.6%
Now married: 45.3%
Separated: 1.3%
Widowed: 13.9%
Divorced: 12.9%

2.1% Foreign born (1.2% Europe, 0.3% Latin America, 0.3% Asia, 0.3% North America).

Population change in the 1990s: -290 (-3.1%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Virginia:

VIRGINIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (901 9TH ST N)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Virginia:

NNESOS EVELETH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (about 7 miles; EVELETH, MN)
WHITE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; AURORA, MN)
COOK HOSPITAL (about 29 miles; COOK, MN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Virginia:

CHISHOLM-HIBBING (about 23 miles; HIBBING, MN; Abbreviation: HIB)
DULUTH INTL (about 54 miles; DULUTH, MN; Abbreviation: DLH)
GRAND RAPIDS/ITASCA CO-GORDON NEWSTROM FLD (about 70 miles; GRAND RAPIDS, MN; Abbreviation: GPZ)

Other public-use airports nearest to Virginia:

SKY HARBOR (about 7 miles; EVELETH, MN; Abbreviation: 9Y5)
EVELETH-VIRGINIA MUNI (about 8 miles; EVELETH, MN; Abbreviation: EVM)
COOK MUNI (about 23 miles; COOK, MN; Abbreviation: CQM)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Virginia:

LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE (about 54 miles; DULUTH, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,512)
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH (about 59 miles; DULUTH, MN; Full-time enrollment: 8,224)
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR (about 66 miles; SUPERIOR, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,436)
WISCONSIN INDIANHEAD TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 128 miles; Shell Lake, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,045)
CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE-BRAINERD (about 138 miles; BRAINERD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,364)
NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE-BEMIDJI (about 162 miles; BEMIDJI, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,761)
BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 162 miles; BEMIDJI, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,562)

Schools

Public high school in Virginia:

VIRGINIA SEC. (Students: 831; Location: 411 5TH AVE. S.; Grades: 07 – 12)

Private high school in Virginia:

NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 51; Location: 1 SUNRISE DR; Grades: PK – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Virginia:

PARKVIEW EL (Students: 464; Location: 506 N. 9TH AVE. W.; Grades: PK – 03)
JAMES MADISON EL. (Students: 382; Location: 411 5TH AVE. S.; Grades: 04 – 06)
EAST RANGE SEC. TECH. CENTER (Location: 411 5TH AVE. S.; Grades: 00 – 00)
REGION 3 – NORTHEAST SERVICE COOP (Location: 8633 S 8TH ST.; Grades: 00 – 00)

Private primary/middle school in Virginia:

MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 147; Location: 311 THIRD STREET SOUTH; Grades: PK – 6)

Libraries

Libraries in Virginia:

ARROWHEAD LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $2,472,272; Location: 701 11TH STREET NORTH; 76,227 books; 1,829 audio materials; 24,001 video materials; 1,442 serial subscriptions)
VIRGINIA PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $754,971; Location: 215 5TH AVENUE S; 88,911 books; 1,387 audio materials; 1,057 video materials; 215 serial subscriptions)