Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth
Official seal of Duluth
Nickname(s): 
Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City
Location of the city of Duluth within St. Louis County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Duluth
within St. Louis County, Minnesota
Duluth is located in Minnesota
Duluth
Duluth
Location in Minnesota
Duluth is located in the United States
Duluth
Duluth
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 46°47′13″N 92°05′53″W / 46.78694°N 92.09806°W / 46.78694; -92.09806
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountySt. Louis
Founded1878
Incorporated1857
Named forDaniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut
Government
 • TypeMayor–council[1]
 • BodyDuluth City Council
 • MayorRoger Reinert (DFL)
Area
 • City80.16 sq mi (207.60 km2)
 • Land71.66 sq mi (185.59 km2)
 • Water8.50 sq mi (22.02 km2)  22.46%
Elevation
705 ft (215[3] m)
Population
 • City86,697
 • Estimate 
(2022)[5]
86,619
 • RankUS: 404th
MN: 4th
 • Density1,209.91/sq mi (467.15/km2)
 • Urban
119,411 (US: 281st)
 • Metro
280,384 (US: 178th)
 • Demonym
Duluthian
GDP
 • Metro$16.822 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
55801–55808, 55810–55812
Area code218
FIPS code27-17000
GNIS feature ID661145[3]
Websiteduluthmn.gov

Duluth (/dəˈlθ/ də-LOOTH) is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of St. Louis County. Located on Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead Region, the city is a hub for cargo shipping. The population was 86,697 at the 2020 census,[4] making it Minnesota's fifth-largest city. Duluth forms a metropolitan area with neighboring Superior, Wisconsin, called the Twin Ports. It is south of the Iron Range and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It is named after Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut, the area's first known European explorer.

Duluth is on the north shore of Lake Superior at the westernmost point of the Great Lakes. It is the largest metropolitan area, the second-largest city, and the largest U.S. city on the lake. Duluth is accessible to the Atlantic Ocean, 2,300 miles (3,700 km) away, via the Great Lakes Waterway and St. Lawrence Seaway.[7] The Port of Duluth is the world's farthest inland port accessible to oceangoing ships[8] and is the largest and busiest port on the Great Lakes.[9] It is also among the top 20 U.S. ports by tonnage. Common items shipped from Duluth include coal, iron ore, grain, limestone, cement, salt, wood pulp, steel coil, and wind turbine parts.

Duluth is a popular Midwest tourist destination. The city is home to the Great Lakes Aquarium, a freshwater aquarium. The Aerial Lift Bridge, next to Canal Park, crosses the Duluth Ship Canal into the Duluth–Superior harbor. Minnesota Point, known locally as Park Point, is the world's longest freshwater baymouth bar, stretching 6 miles (10 km).[10] The city is also the starting point for road trips along the North Shore of Lake Superior to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

  1. ^ Duluth Charter, Chapter II §2
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Duluth, Minnesota
  4. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  6. ^ "Total Gross Domestic Product for Duluth, MN-WI (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  7. ^ "Duluth Seaway Port Authority". Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  8. ^ Circle, Twelve Mile (March 20, 2014). "Farthest Inland Port". Twelve Mile Circle. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "Duluth Seaway Port Authority". www.duluthport.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "Scientific and Natural Areas: Minnesota Point Pine Forest: Minnesota DNR". Dnr.minnesota.gov. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2011.