Chisholm

History

The city was named for its founder, Archibald Mark Chisholm (1862–1933), a mining man and investor from Glengarry County, Ontario, Canada. Chisholm was incorporated in 1901. With a railroad line to Duluth and plenty of mining work available in and near town, Chisholm's population grew rapidly, and by 1908 it had more than 6,000 people and 500 buildings. On September 5, 1908, a fast-moving forest fire obliterated the town due to dry conditions and the wooden construction of nearly all the town's buildings. Many people escaped by going into the lake. No one died in the fire. Afterward, building codes were enhanced, and by the next summer, more than 70 fireproof buildings had been erected. Chisholm became a city in 1934. Chisholm experienced significant change throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, reflecting the booms and busts of the iron mining industry. The 1930s were a challenging time for Chisholm. The Great Depression affected iron ore demand, leading to mine closures and unemployment. Workers faced labor unrest and strikes. World War II brought renewed demand for iron ore, reviving Chisholm's economy. Muralist Elizabeth Carney Pope completed a Works Progress Administration (WPA) mural, Discovery of Ore, in the Chisholm post office in 1941. The 1970s saw a decline in iron ore prices and a shift to foreign competition. Mines in and near Chisholm began closing again, resulting in job losses and population decline. The city grappled with economic diversification efforts.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of ; is land and is water. Chisholm is in the center of the Mesabi Iron Range, one of the four iron ranges in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 (MN 73) are two of Chisholm's main routes.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• HIBBING HIGH
  High · HIBBING · 993 students · 21.1:1 ratio
• LINCOLN ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · HIBBING · 622 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• CHISHOLM SECONDARY
  High · CHISHOLM · 334 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• CHERRY ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · IRON · 307 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• CHERRY SECONDARY
  High · IRON · 250 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• GREENHAVEN ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · HIBBING · 225 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · HIBBING · 222 students · 7.9:1 ratio
• VAUGHAN ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · CHISHOLM · 214 students · 14.3:1 ratio