Silver Bay, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Silver Bay is a city in Lake County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 1,887 at the 2010 census. The city was founded on May 1, 1954 after previously being known as the Beaver Bay housing project. The company town was built to process taconite
mined and shipped by train from Babbitt, MN, sixty miles to the northwest.
The city attained widespread publicity in the 1960s when it was discovered that the Reserve Corporation was dumping taconite
tailings into Lake Superior. In 1972 they were forced to stop and charged with violating the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
, which prohibited the dumping of harmful materials into interstate waters. In 1977, after a long trial, a new waste-storage facility was built 7 miles inland.
Outer Drive (County Road 5), Penn Boulevard, and Minnesota Highway 61
are three of the main routes in the city.
, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (5.51%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,068 people, 844 households, and 589 families residing in the city. The population density
was 268.0 people per square mile (103.4/km²). There were 933 housing units at an average density of 120.9 per square mile (46.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.68% White, 0.05% African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population. Germans
comprised 22.2% of the population, 18.1% Norwegian
, 11.5% Swedish, 6.5% Finnish, 6.4% American
, 6.1% Irish
, and 5.2% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 844 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. Individuals comprised 27.6% of all households and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,524, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $40,655 versus $25,809 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,958. About 5.3% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
Lake County, Minnesota
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 10,866. Its county seat is Two Harbors. Lake County was founded on February 20, 1855, as Superior County, though its name was changed on March 3, of that year to St. Louis County. On March 1, 1856, St...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,887 at the 2010 census. The city was founded on May 1, 1954 after previously being known as the Beaver Bay housing project. The company town was built to process taconite
Taconite
Taconite is a variety of iron formation, an iron-bearing sedimentary rock, in which the iron minerals are interlayered with quartz, chert, or carbonate...
mined and shipped by train from Babbitt, MN, sixty miles to the northwest.
The city attained widespread publicity in the 1960s when it was discovered that the Reserve Corporation was dumping taconite
Taconite
Taconite is a variety of iron formation, an iron-bearing sedimentary rock, in which the iron minerals are interlayered with quartz, chert, or carbonate...
tailings into Lake Superior. In 1972 they were forced to stop and charged with violating the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
The Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 is the oldest federal environmental law in the United States. The Act makes it a misdemeanor to discharge refuse matter of any kind into the navigable waters, or tributaries thereof, of the United States without a permit; this specific provision is...
, which prohibited the dumping of harmful materials into interstate waters. In 1977, after a long trial, a new waste-storage facility was built 7 miles inland.
Outer Drive (County Road 5), Penn Boulevard, and Minnesota Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 61 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from the junction of Interstate Highway 35 and Minnesota 61 in Duluth and continues northeast to its northern terminus at the U.S.-Canadian border near Grand Portage...
are three of the main routes in the city.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (5.51%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 2,068 people, 844 households, and 589 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 268.0 people per square mile (103.4/km²). There were 933 housing units at an average density of 120.9 per square mile (46.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.68% White, 0.05% African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population. Germans
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....
comprised 22.2% of the population, 18.1% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, 11.5% Swedish, 6.5% Finnish, 6.4% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 6.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, and 5.2% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 844 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% 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, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. Individuals comprised 27.6% of all households and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,524, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $40,655 versus $25,809 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 $16,958. About 5.3% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.