Ely, Minnesota

Ely
Location of the city of Ely within Saint Louis County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Ely
within Saint Louis County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 47°54′8″N 91°51′21″W / 47.90222°N 91.85583°W / 47.90222; -91.85583
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountySaint Louis
Area
 • Total
2.93 sq mi (7.59 km2)
 • Land2.92 sq mi (7.57 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation1,434 ft (437 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,268
 • Density1,117.65/sq mi (431.51/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
55731
Area code218
FIPS code27-19142[3]
GNIS feature ID0661205[2]
Websitewww.ely.mn.us

Ely (/ˈli/ EE-lee)[4] is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,268 at the 2020 census.[5]

Located on the Vermilion iron range, Ely once had several iron ore mines. It is an entry point for campers and canoers into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Canada's Quetico Provincial Park wilderness area. The International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center are nearby.

Ely's main street has nature outfitters, outdoor clothing stores, and restaurants. State Highway 1 (MN 1), State Highway 169 (MN 169) and County Road 21 (Central Avenue) are Ely's main routes. The city is 16 mi (26 km) south of the Canada–United States border and is within the Superior National Forest.

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ely, Minnesota
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2022.