Tower, Minnesota Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Tower is located in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota, on the outskirts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The city is nestled among rolling hills and thick forests, and it experiences a humid continental climate with long winters and short summers.

Tower’s history dates back to the late 1800s when it was first founded by European settlers. Since then, it has grown into a small but thriving community. Tower’s politics are progressive and diverse, with a strong commitment to preserving natural resources and protecting the environment. The economy is largely based on tourism, logging, and mining, but there are also many small businesses that cater to local needs.

Tower is served by an excellent school system that includes an elementary school, middle school, and high school. These schools offer a variety of educational opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds, including advanced placement courses and college-level classes. There are also several private schools in the area for those looking for more specialized instruction or alternative education options.

The city of Tower boasts numerous landmarks that attract visitors from near and far. One of its most iconic structures is the old water tower which stands tall above downtown Tower as a reminder of its past as a logging town. Other popular sites include scenic hiking trails in nearby state parks; historic buildings such as churches, museums; art galleries; libraries; theaters; bookstores; cafes; restaurants; bars; galleries; shops; boutiques; parks with playgrounds and picnic areas; sports fields for baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball and more! Finally, Tower has one of Minnesota’s most beautiful lakeside beaches where swimming enthusiasts can enjoy some fun in the sun!

Population: 479. Estimated population in July 2024: 469 (-2.1% change)
Males: 232 (48.4%), Females: 247 (51.6%)

St. Louis County

Zip code: 55790

Demographics

Median resident age: 45.3 years
Median household income: $26,429
Median house value: $55,800

Population by Race

Races in Tower:

  • White Non-Hispanic (97.3%)
  • Hispanic (1.9%)
  • American Indian (1.5%)
  • Other race (0.8%)

Ancestries: Norwegian (18.6%), Swedish (16.3%), German (15.9%), Italian (7.7%), English (6.1%), Irish (5.0%).

Elevation: 1390 feet

Land area: 2.7 square miles

Population by Education

Tower, Minnesota is a small town of about 800 people located in northern Minnesota. The area is mostly rural, with a few small businesses scattered around the area. The majority of the population are Caucasian, with a small minority population of Native Americans and other ethnic backgrounds. The median age of the citizens is 40 years old and most of the citizens have lived in Tower for their entire lives. Education is important to the citizens of Tower as there are three schools in the city limits, including an elementary school, middle school and high school. Many residents are employed in either logging or tourism related jobs due to the abundance of natural resources surrounding Tower. There is also a large number of retirees who live in Tower year round as well as those who visit during summer months when tourism activity increases. Overall, Tower is a peaceful town where all members of the community look out for one another and care deeply about their neighbors’ wellbeing.

For population 25 years and over in Tower

  • High school or higher: 88.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 1.6%
  • Unemployed: 2.9%
  • Mean travel time to work: 18.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Tower city

  • Never married: 21.6%
  • Now married: 53.4%
  • Separated: 0.8%
  • Widowed: 12.2%
  • Divorced: 12.0%

0.0% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -29 (-5.7%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Tower:

  • WHITE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; AURORA, MN)
  • VIRGINIA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 27 miles; VIRGINIA, MN)
  • ELY BLOOMENSON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 27 miles; ELY, MN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Tower:

  • CHISHOLM-HIBBING (about 49 miles; HIBBING, MN; Abbreviation: HIB)
  • DULUTH INTL (about 68 miles; DULUTH, MN; Abbreviation: DLH)
  • FALLS INTL (about 93 miles; INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN; Abbreviation: INL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Tower:

  • TOWER MUNI (about 1 miles; TOWER, MN; Abbreviation: 12D)
  • SKY HARBOR (about 28 miles; EVELETH, MN; Abbreviation: 9Y5)
  • COOK MUNI (about 28 miles; COOK, MN; Abbreviation: CQM)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Tower:

  • LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE (about 69 miles; DULUTH, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,512)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH (about 70 miles; DULUTH, MN; Full-time enrollment: 8,224)
  • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR (about 79 miles; SUPERIOR, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,436)
  • WISCONSIN INDIANHEAD TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 143 miles; Shell Lake, WI; Full-time enrollment: 2,045)
  • CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE-BRAINERD (about 165 miles; BRAINERD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,364)
  • NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE-BEMIDJI (about 181 miles; BEMIDJI, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,761)
  • BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 181 miles; BEMIDJI, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,562)

Schools

Public high school in Tower:

  • TOWER-SOUDAN SEC. (Students: 151; Location: 415 N. SECOND ST.; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Tower:

  • TOWER-SOUDAN EL. (Students: 150; Location: 415 N. SECOND ST.; Grades: PK – 06)