Virginia, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density
was 486.1 people per square mile (187.7/km²). There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile (96.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.17% White, 0.46% African American, 2.24% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. 21.4% were of Finnish, 13.3% German
, 9.9% Norwegian, 8.8% Italian
and 7.8% Swedish ancestry.
There were 4,333 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 42.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,873, and the median income for a family was $43,419. Males had a median income of $38,834 versus $22,473 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,776. About 10.6% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
. Other area schools include Parkview Learning Center and Roosevelt Elementary. The higher education institution for the city is Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. The Virginia Public Library is also featured as an educational place for people of all ages.
is a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) piece of land in Virginia reserved for the city's enjoyment. It has a fountain in the northern part built during the Great Depression
. Also, there is a bandstand in the center, used mainly for city band performances. To the south, it borders Parkview Learning Center (see education), to the east 9th Avenue West, to the north 9th Street North, and to the west Greenwood Cemetery. The Olcott Park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse
.
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 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 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 486.1 people per square mile (187.7/km²). There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile (96.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.17% White, 0.46% African American, 2.24% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% 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 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. 21.4% were of Finnish, 13.3% 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....
, 9.9% Norwegian, 8.8% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
and 7.8% Swedish ancestry.
There were 4,333 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 42.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,873, and the median income for a family was $43,419. Males had a median income of $38,834 versus $22,473 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 $17,776. About 10.6% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Daniel BerriganDaniel BerriganDaniel Berrigan, SJ is an American Catholic priest, peace activist, and poet. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for their involvement in antiwar protests during the Vietnam war....
– Peace activist - Jack CarlsonJack CarlsonJack Carlson is a retired American ice hockey forward.Carlson played in the World Hockey Association with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Edmonton Oilers and New England Whalers, and in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues...
– Professional hockey player (retired) - Jeff Carlson – Professional hockey player (retired)
- Steve Carlson – Professional hockey player (retired)
- Matt CullenMatt CullenMatthew David Cullen is a professional ice hockey center, who currently is an alternate captain of the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.-Playing career:...
– Professional hockey player - Mark Cullen – Professional hockey player
- John GrudenJohn GrudenJohn D. Gruden is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman.-Playing career:Drafted 168th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, Gruden played for the Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals playing a total of 92 regular season games, scoring one goal and...
– Professional hockey player (retired) - John Harrington – Hockey player; member of the 1980 Miracle on IceMiracle on IceThe "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
team that won the Olympic gold medal - Frank HaegeFrank HaegeFrank Haege is the current head football coach at Augsburg College. He is also a former coach in the Arena Football League....
– Professional and collegiate football coach - Robert MondaviRobert MondaviRobert Gerald Mondavi was a leading California vineyard operator whose technical improvements and marketing strategies brought worldwide recognition for the wines of the Napa Valley in California. From an early period, Mondavi aggressively promoted labeling wines varietally rather than...
– Winemaker - Matt NiskanenMatt NiskanenMatthew Norman Niskanen is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first round, 28th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.-Amateur career:Niskanen attended the University...
– Professional hockey player - Chris PrattChris PrattChristopher Michael "Chris" Pratt is an American actor, best known for his roles as Harold Brighton "Bright" Abbott in the television series Everwood, the recurring character Winchester "Ché" Cook in season 4 of The OC, Andy Dwyer in the television series Parks and Recreation and for portraying...
– Actor
Points of interest
- Olcott Park GreenhouseOlcott Park GreenhouseThe Olcott Park Greenhouse 4,500 square feet is a city-operated greenhouse located in the 40 acre Olcott Park at 9th Avenue W. and 7th Street N. in Virginia, Minnesota. It is open to the public year-round without charge....
- Laurentian DivideLaurentian DivideThe Laurentian Divide or Northern Divide is a continental divide dividing the direction of water flow in eastern and southern Canada and the northern Midwestern United States. Water north of the height of land flows to the Arctic Ocean by rivers to Hudson Bay or directly to the Arctic...
- Mesabi TrailMesabi TrailThe Mesabi Trail is a 132 mile paved bicycle trail running from Ely, Minnesota to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. As of 2008, the trail is still under construction with approximately 97 miles of trail will be complete. The trail goes through the many small towns along it, such as Marble , Keewatin,...
- B'nai Abraham SynagogueB'nai Abraham SynagogueThe B'nai Abraham Synagogue in Virginia Minnesota is a story of loss and reuse. Built in 1909-10, it was the last remaining active synagogue on the Iron Range, and its once-robust congregation dwindled to a handful of members who could no longer maintain the handsome brick structure. It closed its...
Education
The public high school is Virginia High SchoolVirginia High School
Virginia High School, home of Blue Devil Athletics, educates students grades 7-12 in Virginia, Minnesota. It is a public high school with open enrollment located on scenic 5th Avenue across from the courthouse. Virginia High School has a very strong music department. The marching band, known as...
. Other area schools include Parkview Learning Center and Roosevelt Elementary. The higher education institution for the city is Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. The Virginia Public Library is also featured as an educational place for people of all ages.
City Band
Virginia, Minnesota has a city band for people of all ages. They play a range of high school level music each Thursday during the summer in the bandstand in Olcott Park. The conductors are Bob Baldrica and Bill Lavato.Olcott Park
Olcott ParkOlcott Park
Olcott Park is an old, well known addition to Virginia, Minnesota's city attractions.-The Park's History:Olcott Park was named after W. J. Olcott, an officer of the Great Northern Mining Company. In 1905, the company first leased the land to the city for $1 a year if the city would pay taxes on it...
is a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) piece of land in Virginia reserved for the city's enjoyment. It has a fountain in the northern part built during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Also, there is a bandstand in the center, used mainly for city band performances. To the south, it borders Parkview Learning Center (see education), to the east 9th Avenue West, to the north 9th Street North, and to the west Greenwood Cemetery. The Olcott Park is also home to the Olcott Park Greenhouse
Olcott Park Greenhouse
The Olcott Park Greenhouse 4,500 square feet is a city-operated greenhouse located in the 40 acre Olcott Park at 9th Avenue W. and 7th Street N. in Virginia, Minnesota. It is open to the public year-round without charge....
.
See also
- U.S. Highway 53U.S. Route 53U.S. Route 53 is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin to northern Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota...
- U.S. Highway 169U.S. Route 169 in MinnesotaU.S. Route 169 is a major north–south highway in the U.S. state of Minnesota, connecting the Minnesota River valley with the Twin Cities and the Iron Range. Much of the route is built to expressway or freeway standards.-Route description:U.S...
- State Highway 135Minnesota State Highway 135Minnesota State Highway 135 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with U.S. Highway 53 in the city of Virginia and continues northeast to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 1 in Tower....