Hibbing

Mesabi Range, Minnesota

Hibbing, city, St. Louis county, northeastern Minnesota, U.S. It lies on the Mesabi Range, in a forest and lake region, about 70 miles (115 km) northwest of Duluth. Settled in 1892 when iron ore was discovered, it was laid out the following year and named for its founder, Frank Hibbing, a timber cruiser. When rich deposits of hematite iron ore were discovered under the streets, most of the community was moved 2 miles (3.2 km) south, beginning in 1919. Old Hibbing became an extension of the Hull Rust Mahoning Mine, the world’s largest open-pit iron-ore mine, 535 feet (163 metres) deep, more than 3 miles (5 km) long, and up to 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. The mine began shipping ore in 1895, and, although production diminished significantly, mining activities continued into the 21st century. The hematite was mostly exhausted by the 1950s, and Hibbing turned successfully to the processing of magnetic taconite. The city manufactures electronics and heavy-equipment parts and is a regional retail, transportation, and health care centre. Tourism also contributes to the local economy. The original Greyhound bus line was established at Hibbing by Carl Eric Wickman in 1914 as a commuter service between the old and new sites; a museum traces its development. The city is the site of Hibbing Community College (founded 1916). The Minnesota Museum of Mining and the Ironworld Discovery Center, both in nearby Chisholm, preserve the area’s mining history and ethnic heritage. An overlook allows views of the Hull Rust Mahoning Mine. McCarthy Beach State Park is to the north; Hill Annex Mine State Park, to the southwest, offers tours of an open-pit mine. Superior National Forest is northeast. Hibbing is the birthplace of baseball star Roger Maris, and singer-songwriter Bob Dylan spent much of his early life in the city. Inc. 1893. Pop. (2000) 17,071; (2010) 16,361.