Floodwood, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 503 people (as of 2009, it was estimated to have 530), 254 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,131.9 people per square mile (441.4/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 652.6 per square mile (254.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.22% White, 0.99% Native American, 0.20% Asian, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. 48.5% were of Finnish, 18.5% German
, 6.5% Swedish and 5.9% Polish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 254 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.7% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.9% were non-families. 49.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,977, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,649. About 12.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
(30%), agriculture
(10%), wood products
(7%), building material
and garden equipment
and supplies dealers (5%), truck transportation
(5%), educational services
(5%) and public administration
(4%). For the women of Floodwood, the most common industries are accommodation
and food services (20%), health care
(18%), educational services (12%), food and beverage stores
(10%), public administration (8%), social assistance (5%) and food
(4%).
The largest employers in the Floodwood area include Floodwood School, Mat, Inc. (a Floodwood-based company that specializes in erosion control products), Floodwood Services and Training, Northview Bank (based in Finlayson
, with a branch in Floodwood as well as other locations), the City of Floodwood, the Minnesota Department of Transportation
, and the Saint Louis County Highway Department.
The city of Floodwood has a mayor-council government
and operates under the provisions of state statutes concerning city government (which is true for any city in Minnesota that has not obtained a home-rule charter). The current mayor
of Floodwood is Jeff Kletscher, who presides over meetings of the city council
. The position of City Administrator, created in 2002 to handle the day-to-day operations of the city's administration, is currently held by Jess Rich.
Floodwood, like the rest of Saint Louis County
and neighboring Carlton County
, was, prior to the 1960s, part of a strong area for co-operative economics
, having a strong worker cooperative
(in the form of the Floodwood Creamery Cooperative), a farmers' cooperative and a credit union
; today all that remains of the cooperative past in Floodwood is the credit union. During the 1930s, this tendency toward cooperative economics led Saint Louis County in general to be a major stronghold of the Farmer-Labor Party
, which aimed to create a cooperative commonwealth in Minnesota. When the Farmer-Labor Party merged with the Minnesota Democratic Party, the area became a stronghold for the resultant Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
(DFL).
For sixty-four years, beginning with the 1947 election of John Blatnik
, the area had been constantly represented by Democrats
in the United States House of Representatives
. This streak was broken with the seating of Republican
Chip Cravaack
, after his upset victory of over the normally popular Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar
in the 2010 Congressional election
. Floodwood is part of Minnesota's 8th congressional district
, having previously been represented by Oberstar in Congress since 1975. In every recent partisan election (President
, Governor
, Secretary of State
, Attorney General, State Auditor
, State Treasurer
, US Senate
, US House
, State Senate
and State House
), Floodwood has given a substantial majority, usually a supermajority
, of its votes to the Democratic or DFL candidate. In the 2008 presidential election
, Barack Obama
won the city with 73.49% of the vote to John McCain
's 23.69%. Floodwood is also part of Minnesota House District 5B
, which was represented by former Minnesota House Majority Leader Tony Sertich
(DFL-Chisholm
) until his resignation from the House following his appointment by Governor
Mark Dayton
as Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
; the seat remains vacant pending a special election to be held on February 15, 2011. Floodwood is also part of Minnesota Senate District 5
, which is represented by Dave Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm).
In May 2009, when city leaders from throughout Minnesota made the trek to the State Capitol
, Mayor Kletscher made statewide news when he made the comment "My toolbox is empty. We've been facing this for years. We're a very poor city and we can't afford to see tax rates go up." The city leaders were arguing against cuts to state funding for communities in Governor Pawlenty
's budget cuts. Kletscher, among others, argued that smaller communities did not have things like libraries that they could close to save funds and that the only way they could continue to function in the face of cuts in state funding would be to raise property taxes, which they did not want to do because residents of these communities are often poor, and they feared the burden would be too much for them to handle.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 503 people (as of 2009, it was estimated to have 530), 254 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,131.9 people per square mile (441.4/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 652.6 per square mile (254.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.22% White, 0.99% Native American, 0.20% Asian, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. 48.5% were of Finnish, 18.5% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 6.5% Swedish and 5.9% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 254 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.9% were non-families. 49.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $18,977, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,649. About 12.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The most common industries for the men of Floodwood to be employed in are constructionConstruction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
(30%), agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
(10%), wood products
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
(7%), building material
Building material
Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks, even twigs and leaves have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more...
and garden equipment
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
and supplies dealers (5%), truck transportation
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
(5%), educational services
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
(5%) and public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
(4%). For the women of Floodwood, the most common industries are accommodation
Lodging
Lodging is a type of residential accommodation. People who travel and stay away from home for more than a day need lodging for sleep, rest, safety, shelter from cold temperatures or rain, storage of luggage and access to common household functions.Lodgings may be self catering in which case no...
and food services (20%), health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
(18%), educational services (12%), food and beverage stores
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
(10%), public administration (8%), social assistance (5%) and food
Food industry
The food production is a complex, global collective of diverse businesses that together supply much of the food energy consumed by the world population...
(4%).
The largest employers in the Floodwood area include Floodwood School, Mat, Inc. (a Floodwood-based company that specializes in erosion control products), Floodwood Services and Training, Northview Bank (based in Finlayson
Finlayson, Minnesota
Finlayson is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 315 at the 2010 census. The city's area was incorporated from Finlayson Township, the remainder of which is still adjacent to it....
, with a branch in Floodwood as well as other locations), the City of Floodwood, the Minnesota Department of Transportation
Minnesota Department of Transportation
The Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees transportation by land, water, and air in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The cabinet-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's trunk highway system The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT, pronounced "min-dot") oversees...
, and the Saint Louis County Highway Department.
Government
| Election results from partisan races in Floodwood | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | GOP Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
DFL Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party... |
Others |
| 2010 | Governor Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010 The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candidates State Representative Tom Emmer , former Senator... |
23.39% | 69.59% | 7.02% |
| US Representative United States House of Representatives elections, 2010 The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, also known as the 2010 midterm elections, were held on November 2, 2010, at the midpoint of President Barack Obama's first term in office. Voters of the 50 U.S. states chose 435 U.S. Representatives. Voters of the U.S... |
30.23% | 63.37% | 6.40% | |
| State Senator | 21.56% | 78.44% | 0.00% | |
| State Representative | 23.67% | 76.33% | 0.00% | |
| 2008 | President United States presidential election, 2008 The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365... |
23.69% | 73.49% | 2.82% |
| US Senator United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2008 The 2008 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 4, 2008. After a legal battle lasting over eight months, Al Franken from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in one of the closest elections in the history of the Senate... |
24.51% | 66.80% | 8.70% | |
| US Representative | 18.80% | 81.20% | 0.00% | |
| State Representative | 21.54% | 78.46% | 0.00% | |
| 2006 | Governor Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2006 The 2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Tim Pawlenty was endorsed by the state Republican convention on June 2, 2006, while the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor convention endorsed Mike Hatch on June 10, 2006... |
23.70% | 73.46% | 2.84% |
| US Senator | 18.87% | 78.77% | 2.36% | |
| US Representative | 20.10% | 78.47% | 1.44% | |
| State Senator | 20.57% | 79.43% | 0.00% | |
| State Representative | 19.14% | 80.86% | 0.00% | |
| 2004 | President United States presidential election, 2004 The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator... |
32.48% | 67.52% | 0.00% |
| US Representative | 22.48% | 77.13% | 0.39% | |
| State Representative | 21.56% | 76.21% | 2.23% | |
| 2002 | Governor Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2002 The 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002 for the post of Governor of Minnesota. Republican candidate Tim Pawlenty defeated Democratic candidate Roger Moe and Independence Party of Minnesota candidate Tim Penny... |
23.11% | 69.75% | 7.14% |
| US Senator United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2002 The 2002 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone was running for re-election to a third term, but died in a plane crash eleven days before the election. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chose former Vice President... |
23.36% | 72.95% | 3.69% | |
| US Representative | 18.41% | 81.59% | 0.00% | |
| State Senator | 19.57% | 80.43% | 0.00% | |
| State Representative | 20.17% | 79.83% | 0.00% | |
| 2000 | President United States presidential election, 2000 The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President.... |
30.20% | 69.39% | 0.41% |
| US Senator United States Senate election in Minnesota, 2000 The 2000 United States Senate election in Minnesota was held on November 7, 2000 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota. The race pitted incumbent Republican Senator Rod Grams against Minnesota State Auditor Mark Dayton. Dayton won with 48.83% of the vote against Grams’... |
31.85% | 65.32% | 2.83% | |
| US Representative | 17.60% | 80.40% | 2.00% | |
| State Senator | 0.00% | 65.25% | 34.75% | |
| State Representative | 23.98% | 76.02% | 0.00% | |
The city of Floodwood has a mayor-council government
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
and operates under the provisions of state statutes concerning city government (which is true for any city in Minnesota that has not obtained a home-rule charter). The current mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Floodwood is Jeff Kletscher, who presides over meetings of the city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
. The position of City Administrator, created in 2002 to handle the day-to-day operations of the city's administration, is currently held by Jess Rich.
Floodwood, like the rest of Saint Louis County
St. Louis County, Minnesota
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 200,226. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by total area in Minnesota, and the second largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River; in land area alone, after Aroostook...
and neighboring Carlton County
Carlton County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,671 people, 12,064 households, and 8,408 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 13,721 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, was, prior to the 1960s, part of a strong area for co-operative economics
Co-operative economics
Co-operative economics is a field of economics, socialist economics, co-operative studies, and political economy, which is concerned with co-operatives.-History:...
, having a strong worker cooperative
Worker cooperative
A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and democratically managed by its worker-owners. This control may be exercised in a number of ways. A cooperative enterprise may mean a firm where every worker-owner participates in decision making in a democratic fashion, or it may refer to one in which...
(in the form of the Floodwood Creamery Cooperative), a farmers' cooperative and a credit union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
; today all that remains of the cooperative past in Floodwood is the credit union. During the 1930s, this tendency toward cooperative economics led Saint Louis County in general to be a major stronghold of the Farmer-Labor Party
Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party was a political party in the United States state of Minnesota, the most successful and longest-lasting of the constituent elements of the national Farmer–Labor Party movement, which had a presence in other states...
, which aimed to create a cooperative commonwealth in Minnesota. When the Farmer-Labor Party merged with the Minnesota Democratic Party, the area became a stronghold for the resultant Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
(DFL).
For sixty-four years, beginning with the 1947 election of John Blatnik
John Blatnik
John Anton Blatnik was a United States Congressman from Minnesota. He was a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party , which is affiliated with the Democratic Party....
, the area had been constantly represented by Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. This streak was broken with the seating of Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Chip Cravaack
Chip Cravaack
Raymond "Chip" Cravaack is the U.S. Representative for northeastern serving since January 2011. In his first try for political office, he upset 18-term Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar by a margin of 4,400 votes to become the first Republican since 1947 to represent the district...
, after his upset victory of over the normally popular Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar
Jim Oberstar
James Louis "Jim" Oberstar is a former U.S. Representative who served in the U.S. Congress from 1975 until 2011 as a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. He represented northeastern , which included the cities of Duluth, Brainerd, Grand Rapids, International Falls, and Hibbing...
in the 2010 Congressional election
United States House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 United States House of Representatives elections, also known as the 2010 midterm elections, were held on November 2, 2010, at the midpoint of President Barack Obama's first term in office. Voters of the 50 U.S. states chose 435 U.S. Representatives. Voters of the U.S...
. Floodwood is part of Minnesota's 8th congressional district
Minnesota's 8th congressional district
Minnesota's 8th congressional district covers the northeastern part of Minnesota. It is anchored by Duluth, Minnesota which is the fourth largest city in state. It also includes most of the Mesabi and Vermilion iron ranges. The district is best-known for its mining, agriculture, tourism, and...
, having previously been represented by Oberstar in Congress since 1975. In every recent partisan election (President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
, Secretary of State
Minnesota Secretary of State
The Minnesota Secretary of State is the state secretary of state of the state of Minnesota.The Secretary of State is the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota and files and certifies the authenticity of a wide variety of official documents...
, Attorney General, State Auditor
Minnesota State Auditor
The Minnesota State Auditor is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. The State Auditor is charged with overseeing more than $20 billion spent annually by local governments in Minnesota...
, State Treasurer
Minnesota State Treasurer
The Minnesota State Treasurer was an elected officer under the Minnesota Constitution until 2003. Before statehood, the Minnesota Territory had the same office.In 1886, elections were moved from odd years to even years...
, US Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, US House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, State Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
and State House
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
), Floodwood has given a substantial majority, usually a supermajority
Supermajority
A supermajority or a qualified majority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level or type of support which exceeds a simple majority . In some jurisdictions, for example, parliamentary procedure requires that any action that may alter the rights of the minority has a supermajority...
, of its votes to the Democratic or DFL candidate. In the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won the city with 73.49% of the vote to John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
's 23.69%. Floodwood is also part of Minnesota House District 5B
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
, which was represented by former Minnesota House Majority Leader Tony Sertich
Anthony Sertich
Anthony 'Tony' Sertich is a Minnesota politician and the current commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. A Democrat, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011, representing District 5B, which includes portions of the Iron Range in St. Louis...
(DFL-Chisholm
Chisholm, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,960 people, 2,178 households, and 1,287 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,129 people per square mile . There were 2,375 housing units at an average density of 540/sq mi...
) until his resignation from the House following his appointment by Governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
Mark Dayton
Mark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
as Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board is an economic development program of the State of Minnesota, designed to advance growth on Minnesota's Iron Range...
; the seat remains vacant pending a special election to be held on February 15, 2011. Floodwood is also part of Minnesota Senate District 5
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
, which is represented by Dave Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm).
In May 2009, when city leaders from throughout Minnesota made the trek to the State Capitol
Minnesota State Capitol
The Minnesota State Capitol is located in Minnesota's capital city, Saint Paul, and houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Governor...
, Mayor Kletscher made statewide news when he made the comment "My toolbox is empty. We've been facing this for years. We're a very poor city and we can't afford to see tax rates go up." The city leaders were arguing against cuts to state funding for communities in Governor Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
's budget cuts. Kletscher, among others, argued that smaller communities did not have things like libraries that they could close to save funds and that the only way they could continue to function in the face of cuts in state funding would be to raise property taxes, which they did not want to do because residents of these communities are often poor, and they feared the burden would be too much for them to handle.
Notable natives and residents
- John Raymond YlitaloJohn Raymond YlitaloJohn Raymond Ylitalo , also known as J. Raymond Ylitalo, was an American diplomat and the 29th United States Ambassador to Paraguay .-Early years:...
, diplomat and 29th United States Ambassador to ParaguayUnited States Ambassador to ParaguayThe following is a list of United States Ambassadors, or other chiefs of mission, to Paraguay. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...
– was born in Floodwood - Joe PoloJoe PoloJoseph Polo is an American curler. Polo was raised in Floodwood, Minnesota before moving to Cass Lake. He learned to curl in nearby Bemidji at the age of 10 in the Bemidji Curling Club's Sunday Night Junior League. Polo participated in the 2006 Winter Olympics as the second for Pete Fenson's U.S....
, American curlerCurlingCurling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
in the 2006 Winter Olympics2006 Winter OlympicsThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
– spent some of his early childhood years in Floodwood
See also
- U.S. Highway 2U.S. Route 2 in MinnesotaU.S. Highway 2 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from the Red River at East Grand Forks and continues east to Duluth, where the route crosses the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge over the Saint Louis Bay. The route connects the cities of East Grand Forks, Bemidji, Grand...
- State Highway 73Minnesota State Highway 73Minnesota State Highway 73 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 35 in Moose Lake and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
- Savanna Portage State ParkSavanna Portage State ParkSavanna Portage State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, established in 1961 to preserve the historic Savanna Portage, a difficult trail connecting the watersheds of the Mississippi River and Lake Superior...
- Saint Louis RiverSaint Louis RiverThe St. Louis River is a river in the U.S. states of Minnesota and Wisconsin that flows into Lake Superior. The largest U.S. river to flow into the lake, it is 179 miles in length and starts near Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. The river's watershed is in area...
- Floodwood River
- East Savanna RiverEast Savanna RiverThe East Savanna River is a small yet historic stream in Aitkin and Saint Louis counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The stream now rises in Wolf Lake, a small body of water within a spruce bog in Savanna Portage State Park, and flows northeasterly to the Saint Louis River at Floodwood,...