Editing Iron Range

{{short description|Iron-ore mining districts around Lake Superior in the United States and Canada}}
{{for multi|the locality in Queensland, Australia|Iron Range, Queensland|the National Park and former USAF Bomber base in Queensland, Australia|Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Iron Ranges.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Lake Superior]] Iron Ranges]]

The '''Iron Range''' is collectively or individually a number of elongated [[iron-ore]] mining districts around [[Lake Superior]] in the United States and Canada. Much of the ore-bearing region lies alongside the range of granite hills formed by the Giants Range [[batholith]].<ref name="Allison1925">{{cite journal | last1 = Allison | first1 = Ira S. | title = The Giants Range Batholith of Minnesota | journal = The Journal of Geology | date = July 1925 | volume = 33 | issue = 5 | pages = 488–508 | doi = 10.1086/623215 | hdl = 2027/uc1.$b30134 | s2cid = 140669590 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> These [[chert]]y iron ore deposits are [[Precambrian]] in the Vermilion Range and middle Precambrian in the [[Mesabi Range|Mesabi]] and [[Cuyuna Range|Cuyuna]] ranges, all in [[Minnesota]]. The [[Gogebic Range]] in [[Wisconsin]] and the [[Marquette Iron Range]] and Menominee Range in [[Michigan]] have similar characteristics and are of similar age. Natural ores and concentrates were produced from 1848 until the mid-1950s, when [[taconite]]s and [[jasper]]s were concentrated and [[pelletizing|pelletized]], and started to become the major source of iron production.<ref name=Ridge>{{Cite book |last=Marsden |first=Ralph |title=Geology of the Iron Ores of the Lake Superior Region in the United States, in Volume 1 of Ore Deposits of the United States, 1933–1967 |publisher=The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. |year=1968 |editor=John D. Ridge |pages=490–492}}</ref>

The mining districts are in Minnesota's [[Arrowhead Region]]. The region's far eastern area, containing the [[Duluth Complex]] along the shore of Lake Superior, and the far northern area, along the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–U.S. border]], are not associated with iron ore mining, but deposits of copper, nickel, and cobalt at the northern boundary of the Duluth Complex, where it meets the iron formations, are being considered for mining.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nonferrous Metallic Minerals - Exploration Areas |url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/metallic_nf/exp_areas.html |publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref>

==The Iron Range and its economy==
[[File:Iron Range-20050725.jpg|thumb|Iron ore]]
[[File:Croft Mine Park.jpg|thumb|Croft Mine Historic Park]]
[[File:SoudanMine arf.JPG|thumb|[[Soudan Underground Mine State Park]]]]
From a [[Geology|geological perspective]], Minnesota's Iron Range includes these four major iron deposits:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://events.mnhs.org/Timepieces/EventDetail.cfm?EventID=598 |title=2 Billion Years Ago: Iron Range Beginnings |website=[[Minnesota Historical Society]] |format= Timepieces |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809053412/http://events.mnhs.org/Timepieces/EventDetail.cfm?EventID=598 |archive-date=2011-08-09 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* [[Mesabi Range]], the largest iron range, largely within Itasca and Saint Louis counties;
* [[Vermilion Range (Minnesota)|Vermilion Range]], northeast of the Mesabi, in Saint Louis and Lake counties;
* [[Gunflint Range]], in the extreme northern portion of Cook County and extending into [[Canada]]; and
* [[Cuyuna Range]], southwest of the Mesabi, largely within [[Crow Wing County, Minnesota|Crow Wing County]].

Within Minnesota, "The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation is a State Department, established by the legislature of 1941 to render public service through research and the actual development of all the state's resources both natural and human."<ref name=Gruner>{{Cite book |last=Gruner |first=John |title=The Mineralogy and Geology of the Taconites and Iron Ores of the Mesabi Range, Minnesota |publisher=Office of the Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation |year=1946 |page=Foreword|url=https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/mgs:4983#/image/0}}</ref> The [[Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board]] (IRRRB), known as "the I-triple-R-B" or Iron Range Resources,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mn.gov/irrrb/irrrboard/board-members.jsp| title= IRRR Advisory Board Members | website=Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation |df=mdy-all}}</ref> is an economic development agency funded partly by state taxes on [[taconite]]-producing companies and charged with creating jobs.

There have been attempts to expand mining for other metals to areas near the Iron Range, most notably with the [[Twin Metals mine]], but these have received pushback from the federal government and environmentalists because of environmental concerns resulting from their proximity to national protected lands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feds issue draft assessment that could doom northern Minnesota mine |url=https://www.kare11.com/article/tech/science/environment/twin-metals-mine-boundary-waters-minnesota-us-forest-service/89-44fc51bd-8fdd-4da3-a639-8c8cbdc63749 |date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=2022-12-10 |publisher=KARE-TV}}</ref>

==History==
Geologically, the Mesabi, Gunflint, and Cuyuna Ranges in Minnesota belong to the [[Paleoproterozoic]] [[Animikie Group]], while the Vermilion Range is [[Neoarchean]].<ref>Lodge et al., 2013, New U–Pb geochronology from Timiskaming-type assemblages in the Shebandowan and Vermilion greenstone belts, Wawa subprovince, Superior Craton: Implications for the Neoarchean development of the southwestern Superior Province, Precambrian Research 235, p. 264-277</ref> The geologic history of the [[formation (geology)|formations]] containing iron are typical of [[banded iron formation]]s worldwide.<ref name="Ridge">{{Cite book |last=Marsden |first=Ralph |title=Geology of the Iron Ores of the Lake Superior Region in the United States, in Volume 1 of Ore Deposits of the United States, 1933–1967 |publisher=The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. |year=1968 |editor=John D. Ridge |pages=490–492}}</ref>{{rp|502–504}}

Before the 19th century, Native American groups mined [[native copper]] on the [[Keweenaw Peninsula]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Timeline of Michigan Copper Mining Prehistory to 1850 |url=https://www.nps.gov/kewe/learn/historyculture/copper-mining-timeline.htm |publisher=National Park Service |date=May 28, 2022 |access-date=October 26, 2022}}</ref> [[William Austin Burt]] discovered iron ore in the Marquette Range near [[Negaunee, Michigan]] in 1844. Iron ore was discovered on the Menominee Range in 1867 and on the Gogebic Range in 1884. It was first discovered in Minnesota on the Vermilion Range in 1885, the Mesabi Range in 1890, and the Cuyuna Range in 1903.<ref name=Ridge/>

Underground mines were developed to remove the valuable ore of most ranges. But on the Mesabi and Cuyuna Ranges, iron mining operations evolved into enormous [[open pit mines]], where steamshovels and other industrial machines could remove massive amounts of ore. "Large-scale commercial production of magnetite taconite ore on the Mesabi Range started in 1956 at the Peter Mitchell Mine near [[Babbitt, Minnesota]]."<ref name=Ridge/>

==Cities and towns==
Some of the more significant communities in the region include:
* [[Aitkin, Minnesota|Aitkin]] (pop. 2,165) is on the [[Cuyuna Range]]'s eastern edge.
* [[Aurora, Minnesota|Aurora]] (pop. 1,853) is on the Eastern Mesabi Range. The former St. James, Meadow, Miller and Stephens mines lie within the city limits.
* [[Babbitt, Minnesota|Babbitt]] (pop. 1,475)
* [[Biwabik, Minnesota|Biwabik]] (pop. 969)
* [[Bovey, Minnesota|Bovey]] (pop. 804) is along [[U.S. Highway 169]] between [[Coleraine, Minnesota|Coleraine]] and [[Taconite, Minnesota|Taconite]].
* [[Buhl, Minnesota|Buhl]] (pop. 1,000) is along U.S. Highway 169 between [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]] and [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]].
* [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]] (pop. 4,976) is the Mesabi Range's geographic center.
* [[Coleraine, Minnesota|Coleraine]] (pop. 1,970) has been called the "start place of the Iron Range."
* [[Crosby, Minnesota|Crosby]] (pop. 2,386) is an old mining [[boomtown]] on the Iron Range's southwestern edge.
* [[Deerwood, Minnesota|Deerwood]] (pop. 529) Mining engineer Cuyler Adams discovered the Cuyuna Range near Deerwood in 1895.
* [[Ely, Minnesota|Ely]] (pop. 3,460), in the Vermillion Range, the most popular entry point for the [[Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness]].
* [[Eveleth, Minnesota|Eveleth]] (pop. 3,718) Home of the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame|U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame]]
* [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]] (pop. 10,869) is named for the local rapids in the [[Mississippi River]].
* [[Gilbert, Minnesota|Gilbert]] (pop. 1,799) is the location of [[Lake Ore-be-gone]], an artificial lake created by flooding three open-pit iron ore mines.
* [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]] (pop. 16,361) is the largest city by area in the state of Minnesota. It is home to the [[Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine]], one of the world's largest open pit iron mines.
* [[Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota|Hoyt Lakes]] (pop. 1,888) is in the eastern Mesabi Range. Erie Mining Company previously mined ore and testing to mine new minerals is ongoing.
* [[Keewatin, Minnesota|Keewatin]] (pop. 1,068) is between Nashwauk and Hibbing. It is home to U.S. Steel's KeeTac taconite mining and processing plant.
* [[Kinney, Minnesota|Kinney]] (pop. 169) is an old mining boomtown on the Iron Range, between [[Buhl, Minnesota|Buhl]] and [[Mountain Iron]].
* [[Mountain Iron]] (pop. 2,869) is home to Minntac, the world's largest taconite processing plant.
* [[Nashwauk, Minnesota|Nashwauk]] (pop. 983) is a small town between Grand Rapids and Hibbing, 4 miles from Keewatin.
* [[Soudan, Minnesota|Soudan]] is an unincorporated community in Breitung Township, Saint Louis County immediately east of the city of [[Tower, Minnesota|Tower]] on Minn.Highway 169 / Minn.Highway 1. It is the home of the [[Soudan Underground Mine State Park]], which contained the University of Minnesota's Soudan Underground Laboratory, which housed detectors, including MINOS, over 700 meters below the Earth's surface.<ref>[https://www.soudan.umn.edu/MINOS/index.shtml Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS)], Soudan Underground Laboratory</ref>
* [[Taconite, Minnesota|Taconite]] (pop. 360), named after the taconite pellets from iron ore, was a town many miners lived in.
* [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]] (pop. 8,712) is next to the [[Rouchleau Mine|Rouchleau mine pit]], which is nearly three miles long, half a mile wide and 450 feet deep. The state's [[Thomas_Rukavina_Memorial_Bridge |tallest bridge]] crosses the pit.
* [[Winton, Minnesota|Winton]] (pop 172). Once several times larger than Ely, Winton sits just 3 miles north of Ely, and was once home to a very large lumber mill and a lumber boomtown.

Nearby communities important to the Iron Range:
* [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] (pop. 86,265) The fourth largest city in the state, is a destination for much of the ore shipped via the DM&IR railroad and loaded onto [[Lake freighter]]s. A large part of the Iron Range is also included in the [[Twin Ports|Duluth MN-WI MSA]].
* [[Grand Marais, Minnesota|Grand Marais]] (pop. 1,351) The area was a bustling fur trading station since the 1700s, and the French [[voyageurs]] called the settled village Grand Marais ("Great Marsh"), referring to a marsh that in early fur-trading times was 20 acres (8.1 ha) or less in area, nearly at the level of Lake Superior, and situated at the head of the little bay and harbor that led to the settlement of the village. The town comprises much of the Gunflint Trail, which extends to the former [[Paulson Mine]] site.
* [[Silver Bay, Minnesota|Silver Bay]] (pop 1,857) is home to the plant that processes taconite from Babbitt.
* [[Two Harbors, Minnesota|Two Harbors]] (pop. 3,745) is the county seat of Lake County, along the shore of Lake Superior. It was historically an important port for loading and shipping iron ore from the Range.

==Culture==
Immigrants from over 23 countries settled the area, drawn to the [[mining industry]]. By 1910 the Finns were the largest immigrant group, followed by Slovenes and Croats from the Austrian Empire, and Italians and Swedes.<ref name="LaVigne2020">{{cite web |last=LaVigne |first=David |title=Immigration to the Iron Range, 1880–1930 |url=https://www.mnopedia.org/immigration-iron-range-1880-1930 |work=MNpedia |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |date=November 10, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2022}}</ref> Over time the area developed a strong "Ranger" culture and accent. This northern Minnesota [[Accent (sociolinguistics)|accent]] is still present in the area, especially among older people; hence the popular nickname "da Range".<ref name="BinghamGansler2003">{{cite book | author1 = Clara Bingham | author2 = Laura Leedy Gansler | date = 14 October 2003 | title = Class Action: The Landmark Case that Changed Sexual Harassment Law | publisher = Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group | pages = 29–34 | isbn = 978-0-385-49613-1 | oclc = 1005478412 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=N4xIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA31}}</ref> 

The regional culture is strongly linked to former periods of steady, usually well-paid mining employment, although in recent decades, the region's outdoor recreation and relative remoteness has attracted new residents unconnected to the industry.<ref>Erik Kojola. 2020. Divergent memories and visions of the future in conflicts over mining development. Journal of Political Ecology 27: 898-916. https://doi.org/10.2458/v27i1.23210</ref> There are tensions between supporters and detractors of mining, especially over the potential reuse of ironworks to exploit copper ores. [[Bob Dylan]], who grew up in [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]],<ref name=EDLIS>{{cite book| title =Bob Dylan's Hibbing| publisher =EDLIS Café Press| year =2019| location =Hibbing, Minnesota| isbn =9781091782891}}</ref> memorialized the Iron Range in the 1963 song "[[North Country Blues]]", a lament portraying hard times in the region. Presented in his 1964 album ''[[The Times They Are a-Changin' (album)|The Times They Are a-Changin']]'', it includes such lines as:

:''So the mining gates locked and the red iron rotted''
:''And the room smelled heavy from drinking''
:''When the sad, silent song made the hour twice as long
:''As I waited for the sun to go sinking'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/north-country-blues-lyrics-bob-dylan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802070522/http://www.metrolyrics.com/north-country-blues-lyrics-bob-dylan.html|archive-date=2016-08-02|url-status=dead |title=Bob Dylan - North Country Blues Lyrics |website=Metro Lyrics }}</ref>

The [[Iron Range cuisine]] is known for [[Cornish pasties]] stuffed with a combination of beef, rutabaga, onion, carrots, and potatoes. Pasties were an easy lunch for those working deep in the iron mines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/12/02/appetites-iron-range-recipes|title=Appetites: Preserving Iron Range recipes|website=MPRNews|author1=Pease, Krystyna | date=December 2, 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio}}</ref> [[Slovenian cuisine|Slovenian]] and [[Croatian cuisine|Croatian]] immigrants brought the honey-nut bread [[potica]] to the Iron Range; it is still served on Easter and Christmas in northern Minnesota.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-02-21-0702200295-story.html |title=Memories of potica |author1=Ostman, Eleanor | date=2007-02-21 |work=Chicago Tribune|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[Ice hockey]] is a predominant sport in the region, which has produced several [[NHL]] players as well as the three members of the "Iron Range line" from the 1980 [[United States men's national ice hockey team]] that defeated the [[Soviet Union men's national ice hockey team|Soviet Union team]] in the "[[Miracle on Ice]]" game.<ref>{{cite web | title=The 1980 U.S. Olympic Team | website=U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame | url=https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/page/show/831562-the-1980-u-s-olympic-team | access-date=January 16, 2024}}</ref> In 2022, [[Hockeyland]], a documentary focusing on high school hockey in the Iron Range and Duluth area was released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Minnesota documentary looks to be the 'Friday Night Lights' of hockey |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/09/09/new-minnesota-documentary-looks-to-be-the-friday-night-lights-of-hockey |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Inside the making of 'Hockeyland' |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34585835/inside-making-hockeyland-bringing-minnesota-high-school-hockey-big-screen |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Politics==
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ '''Presidential election results (seven core counties)'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/|title=Our Campaigns|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! Others
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2024|2024]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.7%''' ''98,646''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.2% ''91,715''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|2.1% ''4,152''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2020|2020]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.9%''' ''100,997''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.8% ''89,032''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|2.3% ''4,387''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2016|2016]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.6%''' ''85,673''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.8% ''78,884''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|8.6% ''15,465''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2012|2012]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.7%''' ''111,518''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.7% ''67,422''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|2.6% ''4,747''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2008|2008]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''62.0%''' ''116,749''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.6% ''67,027''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|2.3% ''4,411''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.7%''' ''116,856''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.0% ''70,024''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|1.3% ''2,521''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 2000|2000]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.2%''' ''94,923''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.5% ''61,581''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|7.3% ''12,277''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1996|1996]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.1%''' ''91,333''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.5% ''43,194''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|14.5% ''22,749''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1992|1992]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.7%''' ''90,464''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.3% ''40,901''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|22.0% ''37,034''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1988|1988]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.0%''' ''102,348''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.0% ''53,552''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|1.0% ''1,631''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1984|1984]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.2%''' ''112,105''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.0% ''58,455''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|0.9% ''1,497''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1980|1980]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.2%''' ''102,952''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.2% ''56,925''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|9.6% ''16,975''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1976|1976]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''64.6%''' ''110,411''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.2% ''55,064''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|3.2% ''5,518''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1972|1972]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.4%''' ''87,367''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.0% ''64,982''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|1.6% ''2,550''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1968|1968]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''69.2%''' ''104,151''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|26.9% ''40,457''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|3.9% ''5,806''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1964|1964]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''75.3%''' ''116,567''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.4% ''37,734''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|0.3% ''520''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[U.S. presidential election, 1960|1960]]'''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''62.0%''' ''99,703''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.5% ''60,283''
|align="center" {{Party shading/None}}|0.5% ''801''
|}

The area has remained a [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] stronghold despite its predominantly white and rural population because of its history of a largely unionized workforce in the mining industry, the mainstay of the economy of the Iron Range. In 2004, [[John Kerry]] carried most of the [[County (United States)|counties]] in the region by a comfortable margin over [[George W. Bush]]. [[Barack Obama]] outperformed McCain in 2008, carrying every county in the Range. The area was the largest rural Democratic stronghold in Minnesota outside of the urban centers in Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

In 2016, [[Donald Trump]]'s economic policies changed the Range's electoral profile. He won multiple counties, reduced past Democratic winning margins and received endorsements from local Democratic mayors.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McGreal|first=Chris|date=2020-10-16|title='The Democratic party left us': how rural Minnesota is making the switch to Trump|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/16/minnesota-democrat-switch-trump-election|access-date=2020-10-16|work=the Guardian|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Endorsements">{{cite news |author1=Slater, Brady |title=Some Iron Range mayors surprised, disapproving of Trump endorsement |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/government-and-politics/6640777-Some-Iron-Range-mayors-surprised-disapproving-of-Trump-endorsement |work=Duluth News Tribune |date=2020-09-04|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In the [[2022 midterm elections]], the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party lost more ground on the Iron Range, with Republican candidates running for lower-profile statewide offices flipping [[Carlton County]]. In the state legislature, Republicans picked up several seats on the Range despite losing both chambers overall. Nevertheless, the Range as a whole still votes slightly in favor of Democratic presidential nominees due to their high margins in [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], the range's most populous city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wdio.com/front-page/election-news/changing-political-landscape-on-the-range/ | title=Changing political landscape on the Iron Range | date=November 10, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2022/11/11/iron-range-seething-at-the-twin-cities-continues-right-turn/ | title=Iron Range, seething at the Twin Cities, continues right turn | date=November 11, 2022 }}</ref>

==Climate==
The region is known for harsh winters and pleasant summers. The average year-round temperature is in the 30s °F (between about 2&nbsp;°C and 4&nbsp;°C). Temperatures below −40&nbsp;°F/°C occur somewhere in the region during most winters. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center climate summaries<ref name="MRCC">{{cite web |title=Midwest Climate: Climate Summaries |url=https://mrcc.illinois.edu/mw_climate/climateSummaries/climSumm.jsp |website=Midwestern Regional Climate Center |access-date=1 November 2020|df=mdy-all}}</ref> record that [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]] has a mean annual temperature of 38&nbsp;°F, with an average January low temperature of −6.2&nbsp;°F (about −21&nbsp;°C) and July high of 77.4&nbsp;°F (25&nbsp;°C). Precipitation there averages 27 in (690&nbsp;mm) annually and snowfall 53.2 in (135&nbsp;cm).

==See also==
* [[Geology of Minnesota]]
* [[Mesaba Railway]]
* [[Stromatolite]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | first= Marvin G. |last= Lamppa | date = 2004 | title = Minnesota's Iron Country: Rich Ore, Rich Lives | publisher = Lake Superior Port Cities | isbn = 978-0-942235-56-2 | oclc = 54826192 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=88VVAAAACAAJ}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Iron Range}}
* [http://www.rb-29.net/graa/wowork/exhibit/chart4.html Mining Communities in Northeastern Minnesota] with a map
* [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/education/geology/digging/history.html Mn DNR]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070405071834/http://nrhp.mnhs.org/iron_range.html Minnesota Historical Society]
* [http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/irrc Iron Range Research Center Digital Collection] Minnesota Reflections

{{Minnesota}}

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[[Category:Regions of Minnesota]]
[[Category:Iron]]
[[Category:Geography of Aitkin County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Geography of Carlton County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Geography of Cook County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Geography of Itasca County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Geography of Koochiching County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Geography of Lake County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Geography of St. Louis County, Minnesota]]