Aurora, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Aurora is a city in Saint Louis County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 1,682 at the 2010 census.
State Highway 135
, County Highway 100, and County Highway 110 are three of the main arterial routes in the community.
, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.56%) is water. It is surrounded by mixed coniferous/deciduous forest and is near many lakes.
.
of northeastern Minnesota. Formerly this area produced a large quantity of the nation's iron
and taconite
ore, but recently they have been depleted or become too expensive to mine. Recently a Blue Cross Blue Shield call center and a Family Dollar
store have been built in Aurora, and it is hoped that more jobs will come to the area
, and is located two miles (3 km) from Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort. Popular recreational activities of the residents of Aurora and nearby area include hunting, fishing
, boating, four-wheeling, skiing
, and snowboarding
. There are many ATV
and snowmobile
trails on the outskirts of Aurora, and many of these go far, some all the way to Lake Superior
.
was born in Aurora in 1918. Jeno Paulucci is famous for inventing the brands Chun King, Jeno's Pizza, Jeno's Pizza Rolls, Michelina's, Bundino's and many others. Olympic curler Jeff Isaacson
is from Aurora. Actress Francine York was born in Aurora to Sophie and Frank Yerich and grew up to move to Hollywood California to star in countless movies such as The Doll Squad, Lost in Space
and many films.
of 2000, there were 1,850 people, 812 households, and 495 families residing in the city. The population density
was 487.4 people per square mile (188.0/km²). There were 893 housing units at an average density of 235.3 per square mile (90.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.38% White, 0.05% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population. 17.4% were of Finnish, 13.2% German
, 10.5% Norwegian
, 9.1% Slovene, 7.3% Swedish, 6.6% Italian and 5.4% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 812 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,094, and the median income for a family was $43,095. Males had a median income of $41,413 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,442. About 8.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
St. Louis County, Minnesota
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 200,226. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by total area in Minnesota, and the second largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River; in land area alone, after Aroostook...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,682 at the 2010 census.
State Highway 135
Minnesota State Highway 135
Minnesota State Highway 135 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with U.S. Highway 53 in the city of Virginia and continues northeast to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 1 in Tower....
, County Highway 100, and County Highway 110 are three of the main arterial routes in the community.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.56%) is water. It is surrounded by mixed coniferous/deciduous forest and is near many lakes.
History
The area was settled during a period dating back as early as 1892, primarily by Finnish immigrant families, some of whom were still arriving in the area just before the outbreak of the first World WarWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Economy
Aurora is located on the Mesabi RangeMesabi Range
The Mesabi Iron Range is a vast deposit of iron ore and the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. Discovered in 1866, it is the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. The deposit is located in northeast Minnesota, largely in...
of northeastern Minnesota. Formerly this area produced a large quantity of the nation's iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
and taconite
Taconite
Taconite is a variety of iron formation, an iron-bearing sedimentary rock, in which the iron minerals are interlayered with quartz, chert, or carbonate...
ore, but recently they have been depleted or become too expensive to mine. Recently a Blue Cross Blue Shield call center and a Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
store have been built in Aurora, and it is hoped that more jobs will come to the area
Recreation
Aurora is located on the edge of the Superior National ForestSuperior National Forest
Superior National Forest, part of the United States National Forest system, is located in the Arrowhead Region of the state of Minnesota between the Canada – United States border and the north shore of Lake Superior...
, and is located two miles (3 km) from Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort. Popular recreational activities of the residents of Aurora and nearby area include hunting, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, boating, four-wheeling, skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
. There are many ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
and snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
trails on the outskirts of Aurora, and many of these go far, some all the way to Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
.
Notable residents
Frozen Food Magnate Jeno PaulucciJeno Paulucci
Jeno F. Paulucci was an American businessman and entrepreneur famous for starting over seventy companies during his long career. Paulucci's most well-known ventures included his frozen food company, Michelina's Inc., and food products such as Jeno's Pizza Rolls and the Chun King line of Chinese food...
was born in Aurora in 1918. Jeno Paulucci is famous for inventing the brands Chun King, Jeno's Pizza, Jeno's Pizza Rolls, Michelina's, Bundino's and many others. Olympic curler Jeff Isaacson
Jeff Isaacson
Jeff Isaacson is an internationally elite curler from the United States. He graduated in 2001 from Mesabi East High School in Aurora, Minnesota....
is from Aurora. Actress Francine York was born in Aurora to Sophie and Frank Yerich and grew up to move to Hollywood California to star in countless movies such as The Doll Squad, Lost in Space
Lost in Space
Lost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
and many films.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,850 people, 812 households, and 495 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 487.4 people per square mile (188.0/km²). There were 893 housing units at an average density of 235.3 per square mile (90.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.38% White, 0.05% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population. 17.4% were of Finnish, 13.2% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 10.5% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, 9.1% Slovene, 7.3% Swedish, 6.6% Italian and 5.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 812 households out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,094, and the median income for a family was $43,095. Males had a median income of $41,413 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,442. About 8.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.