Duluth, MN

Situated along the west end of Lake Superior near the mouth of the Saint Louis River, Duluth was a fur-trading hub before it became a permanent mining settlement during the mid-1800s. As one of the major commercial and industrial hubs of northern Minnesota, Duluth is both a processing center and a port for shipping lumber, coal, petroleum, iron ore, and grain. While Duluth's population has declined since the 1960s from more than 100,000 to around 84,000, its thriving tourism industry has helped to stabilize both its population and its economy.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Although it does not have quite the economic prestige of its early fur-trading days or even of the more recent steel industry days of the 1970s, Duluth is still a major exporter of raw materials. The city's main shipping center is the Port of Duluth-Superior, which provides more than 2,000 jobs, ships an average of 40 million tons of cargo, and contributes $200 million to the local economy annually. Grain is the port's primary export, and Duluth-Superior's grain-handling facility is one of the largest in the world. The port's other main domestic exports consist of taconite and iron ore, as well as metal products, cement, coal, newsprint, lumber, and salt.

Tourism is an additional and vital source of economic prosperity in Duluth. Other major industries include health care, communications, and education. Major employers located in Duluth include several health care and hospital systems: St. Mary's Duluth Clinic, St. Luke's Hospital, and Uniprise (United Health Care).

EDUCATION

Duluth offers several institutions of higher learning:

• Founded in 1912 by a group of Benedictine sisters and overlooking Lake Superior, the College of St. Scholastica enrolls students in a variety of degree programs.
• Lake Superior College offers liberal arts and science programs, as well as technical training for those interested in nursing, massage therapy, fire protection technology, and respiratory science.
• Duluth Business University features programs for students interested in medical assistance, veterinary assistance, business management, and accounting technology.
• Duluth also houses a campus for the University of Minnesota and has programs in psychology, biology, communication studies, criminology, marketing, finance, and business management.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Duluth includes several distinct communities:

• Identified mainly as a recreation district of Central Duluth, Canal Park is situated along the Interstate 35 freeway near downtown Duluth and is linked by the Aerial Lift Bridge to the Park Point neighborhood. Once an old warehouse district associated with the industries of Duluth's prosperous past, Canal Park is now populated with hotels, restaurants, cafés, and antique shops. The area also contains the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, which is the setting for the annual Bayfront Blues Festival.
• Also in Central Duluth and situated uphill from the downtown area is the neighborhood of Central Hillside, one of the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. Considered by residents to be one of the rougher areas of town, the community has a very high poverty rate.
• Downtown Duluth is located between Mesaba Avenue and Fourth Avenue East. This urban center features many of the city's main tourist attractions as well as a library, museum, and several local restaurants and bars. The downtown area provides easy access to the Canal Park district.

Other notable communities include:

• Eastern Duluth, which contains the University of Minnesota Duluth and the gateway to the North Shore of Lake Superior
• Above the Hill, which contains Miller Creek and smaller business districts
• West Duluth, which features residential neighborhoods and school districts as well as Spirit Valley
• West of West Duluth, which contains the old Hudson's Bay Company trading post and the Willard Munger State Trail
• West End/Lincoln Park, which features one of Duluth's older neighborhoods and is a prominent trucking district

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Duluth has a thriving arts community and there are many options for those whose interests include music, dance, theater or architecture:

• The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) houses Broadway in Duluth, as well as concerts and other corporate and public events such as the Duluth Superior Symphony, Minnesota Ballet, and men and women's hockey. The center is also conveniently located near hotels and restaurants.
• Established in 1914, the Duluth Playhouse features both local and professional theatrical performances as well as the children's theater arts program.
• Constructed in the early 1900s for Chester and Clara Congdon, the Glensheen Historic Estate is a masterpiece of architectural design. The exquisite 39-room mansion depicts Duluth culture at the turn of the 20th century.

FOR VISITORS

Duluth has a rich history that is preserved throughout the city:

• Located on the corner of Second Avenue East and First Street, the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial is dedicated to the memory of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie, three young African Americans who were murdered in 1920. The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial is a focal point for annual memorial events.
• Situated near West Michigan Street in the downtown waterfront district, the Duluth Children's Museum features a novelty medieval castle, blacksmith shop, and stable.
• Located in West Duluth, the Duluth Heritage Sports Center features a National Hockey League-size ice rink as well as facilities for football and softball. The center also showcases hockey memorabilia that celebrates Duluth winter sports.
• The Edgewater Resort & Waterpark offers Polynesian-themed water activities, including two 4-story slides and a splash pool.
• The Fond-du-Luth Casino, located in downtown Duluth features full-video slot machines, blackjack tables, and a Player's Club rewards program.
• The Great Lakes Aquarium offers the opportunity for visitors to explore the splendor of Lake Superior and observe fish and otters. The aquarium provides visitors with the chance to explore the history and culture of the lake and learn something about the freshwater fish and fowl that have inhabited the Great Lakes area for centuries.