Grand Marais, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Grand Marais is a city in Cook County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 1,351 at the 2010 census
. It is also the county seat
of Cook County. Grand Marais is French for “Great Marsh,” referring to a marsh, which in early fur-trading times was 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) 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 there. Another small bay on the east, less protected from storms, is separated from the harbor by a slight projecting point and a short beach. In allusion to the two bays, the Ojibwe
name for the area is Gichi-biitoobiig which means "great duplicate water," "parallel body of water" or "double body of water" (like a bayou
), a reference to the two bays which form the large harbor off Lake Superior
.
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land. Grand Marais is located on the northwestern shore
of Lake Superior
in northeastern Minnesota
, and is well known as an entry point for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
, being at the beginning of the Gunflint Trail. The Superior Hiking Trail
passes near Grand Marais and Judge C. R. Magney State Park
is nearby with the peculiar Devil's Kettle waterfalls.
Road access to Grand Marais is by Minnesota Highway 61
, which generally heads northeast following the shore of Lake Superior and is known as the North Shore Scenic Drive. The Gunflint Trail
(Cook County 12) begins in Grand Marais and heads northwest away from the lake and into the Boundary Waters
region.
of 2000, there were 1,353 people, 645 households, and 341 families residing in the city. The population density
was 506.7 people per square mile (195.7/km²). There were 722 housing units at an average density of 270.4 per square mile (104.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.97% White, 2.81% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races
, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population. 23.3% were of Norwegian
, 20.2% German
, 11.8% Swedish, 7.0% Irish
and 6.1% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 645 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,493, and the median income for a family was $46,563. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $23,393 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,863. About 7.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Radio
Cook County, Minnesota
Northern Minnesota offers extreme winter weather. While the averages are low, the extremes provide more details. A third of the year is below freezing . Of those days, 21 are below zero degrees Fahrenheit .-External links:...
, 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 1,351 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. It is also the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Cook County. Grand Marais is French for “Great Marsh,” referring to a marsh, which in early fur-trading times was 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) 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 there. Another small bay on the east, less protected from storms, is separated from the harbor by a slight projecting point and a short beach. In allusion to the two bays, the Ojibwe
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
name for the area is Gichi-biitoobiig which means "great duplicate water," "parallel body of water" or "double body of water" (like a bayou
Bayou
A bayou is an American term for a body of water typically found in flat, low-lying areas, and can refer either to an extremely slow-moving stream or river , or to a marshy lake or wetland. The name "bayou" can also refer to creeks that see level changes due to tides and hold brackish water which...
), a reference to the two bays which form the large harbor off 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...
.
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 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land. Grand Marais is located on the northwestern shore
North Shore (Lake Superior)
The North Shore of Lake Superior runs from Duluth, Minnesota, United States, at the southwestern end of the lake, to Thunder Bay and Nipigon, Ontario, Canada, in the north to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the east...
of 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...
in northeastern 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...
, and is well known as an entry point for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , is a wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service...
, being at the beginning of the Gunflint Trail. The Superior Hiking Trail
Superior Hiking Trail
The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as The “SHT,” is a 275-mile long footpath in Northeastern Minnesota, which for most of its length follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior. The path is 18-inches wide and is set in the middle of a 4 foot clearing. The footpath travels through forests of...
passes near Grand Marais and Judge C. R. Magney State Park
Judge C. R. Magney State Park
Judge C. R. Magney State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It was named for Clarence R. Magney, a former mayor of Duluth and judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court, who was instrumental in getting 11 state parks and scenic waysides established along the...
is nearby with the peculiar Devil's Kettle waterfalls.
Road access to Grand Marais is by Minnesota Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 61
Minnesota State Highway 61 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from the junction of Interstate Highway 35 and Minnesota 61 in Duluth and continues northeast to its northern terminus at the U.S.-Canadian border near Grand Portage...
, which generally heads northeast following the shore of Lake Superior and is known as the North Shore Scenic Drive. The Gunflint Trail
Gunflint Trail
Cook County Road 12, also known as the Gunflint Trail, is a paved roadway that begins in Grand Marais, Minnesota and ends at Saganaga Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , near the US border with Ontario, Canada.-Route description:...
(Cook County 12) begins in Grand Marais and heads northwest away from the lake and into the Boundary Waters
Boundary Waters
The Boundary Waters — also called the Quetico-Superior country — is a region of wilderness straddling the Canada–United States border between Ontario and Minnesota, in the region just west of Lake Superior. This region is part of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, and in Canada...
region.
Climate
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 1,353 people, 645 households, and 341 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 506.7 people per square mile (195.7/km²). There were 722 housing units at an average density of 270.4 per square mile (104.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.97% White, 2.81% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.07% 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 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population. 23.3% were of 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...
, 20.2% 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....
, 11.8% Swedish, 7.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 6.1% 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 645 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,493, and the median income for a family was $46,563. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $23,393 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 $21,863. About 7.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Festivals
Several major festivals take place over the summer in Grand Marais, Including:- The Dragon Boat Festival is held during the last weekend in July. It entails, along with a lot of street vendors and fried food, teams, both local and from far away places, racing boats shaped like dragons. Each Boat has 20 oarsman, a Drummer, a Steer's Person, and something to prove. The proceeds raised during the festival go to ensure the continued growth and vibrancy of three intregal North Shore Non-profit organizations: WTIP RADIO, the NORTH SHORE HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION, And the NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL.
- Fisherman's Picnic occurs in Grand Marais during the first weekend in August, and East Bay Suites on their website have much to say about it including that it is a "quintessential small town celebration... hearkening back to the days when much of the area's economy was based on logging and commercial fishing." East Bay Suites goes on to talk about what they call "the early years", when "the entire community gathered for a shoreline potluck picnic featuring a fish fry of fresh Lake Superior herring... [a] tradition [that] continues with the Lions Club's Famous Fishburger Stand. Herring, still provided by local commercial fisherman, is dipped in coating, fried golden brown and served piping hot on a hot dog bun. Tartar sauce is up to you."
Historic Lodges And Resorts
- Naniboujou LodgeNaniboujou Club LodgeThe Naniboujou Club Lodge, now a resort and restaurant open to the public, was built as part of an exclusive private club on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Cook County, Minnesota, about east of Grand Marais. Named after Nanabozho, a character from the Ojibwa traditional stories, the lodge's...
- Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior
Media
Newspapers- Cook County News-Herald
- Northern Wilds
Radio
- WMLSWMLSWMLS is a radio station licensed to Grand Marais, Minnesota. The station is owned by Minnesota Public Radio , and airs MPR's "Classical Music Network", originating from KSJN in Minneapolis/St. Paul.*See also Minnesota Public Radio...
FM 88.7 (MPR Classical) - WLSNWLSNWLSN is a radio station licensed to Grand Marais, Minnesota. The station is owned by Minnesota Public Radio , and airs MPR's "News and Information" network, originating from KNOW in Minneapolis/St. Paul.*See also Minnesota Public Radio...
FM 89.7 (MPR News & Talk) - WTIP FM 90.7 "North Shore Community Radio"
- WXXZ FM 95.3 (rebroadcast of KQDS-FMKQDS-FMKQDS-FM is a classic rock music formatted radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota. It is owned by Red River Broadcasting, and follows a format similar to that of the well-known KQRS-FM in the Twin Cities....
in Duluth)
Outdoor recreation
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area
- Isle Royale National ParkIsle Royale National ParkIsle Royale National Park is a U.S. National Park in the state of Michigan. Isle Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior, is over 45 miles in length and 9 miles wide at its widest point. The park is made of Isle Royale itself and approximately 400 smaller islands, along with any submerged...
- Superior Hiking Trail Association
- Cascade River State ParkCascade River State ParkCascade River State Park is a state park near the northeastern tip of Minnesota, USA, on the north shore of Lake Superior. The park is in a rocky and rugged location, and has many different types of wildlife....
- Eagle Mountain
- Judge C. R. Magney State ParkJudge C. R. Magney State ParkJudge C. R. Magney State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It was named for Clarence R. Magney, a former mayor of Duluth and judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court, who was instrumental in getting 11 state parks and scenic waysides established along the...
- The Border Route Trail
- Gunflint TrailGunflint TrailCook County Road 12, also known as the Gunflint Trail, is a paved roadway that begins in Grand Marais, Minnesota and ends at Saganaga Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , near the US border with Ontario, Canada.-Route description:...
- The Kekekabic Hiking Trail
- Pincushion Mountain Cross Country Ski Trail
- Grand Marais Recreation Area
- Devil's Kettle
- Lutsen MountainsLutsen MountainsLutsen Mountains is a downhill and cross-country ski and snowboard area located on the North Shore region in Cook County, Minnesota, USA.Lutsen is one of the northernmost ski areas in the United States outside of Alaska. It is located in the rugged Sawtooth Mountains, part of the Superior...
Culture
- The Grand Marais Art Colony
- The Grand Marais Playhouse
- The North Shore Music Association
- Grand Portage National MonumentGrand Portage National MonumentGrand Portage National Monument is a United States National Monument located on the north shore of Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota that preserves a vital center of fur trade activity and Anishinaabeg Ojibwe heritage....
See also
- Grand Marais LightGrand Marais LightGrand Marais Light is located on the outer end of a breakwater on the shore of Lake Superior in the city of Grand Marais in Cook County, Minnesota. It is located in USCG District 9.The existing historic tower was first lit in 1922 and is still operational....
- Grand Marais/Cook County AirportGrand Marais/Cook County AirportGrand Marais/Cook County Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Grand Marais, a city in Cook County, Minnesota, United States...
- Grand Marais/Cook County Seaplane BaseGrand Marais/Cook County Seaplane BaseGrand Marais/Cook County Seaplane Base is a county-owned, public-use seaplane base located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Grand Marais, a city in Cook County, Minnesota, United States....