Tower, Minnesota

The city was incorporated March 13, 1889,Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia. Minnesota Historical Society website. {{cite web |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/index.cfm |title=Minnesota Place Names - Home Page |access-date=2007-06-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620200046/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/index.cfm |archive-date=2007-06-20 }} which makes it the oldest city in the Arrowhead region. It owes its establishment to the Soudan Mine, and was named after mining financier Charlemagne Tower.{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n507 490]}} Tower is home to the Tower Train Museum; near the museum is McKinley Monument, the first erected in honor of former U.S. president William McKinley shortly after his assassination in 1901. President McKinley was in office from 1897 to 1901.

Tower set the Minnesota record for coldest temperature on February 2, 1996, when the temperature dropped to -60 °F (-51 °C). This was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States east of the Great Plains. Tower and the Embarrass Valley to the south are the coldest inhabited locations in the Lower 48 states, based on average winter temperatures.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|3.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, {{convert|3.00|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}

Tower has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dwb), with long, bitterly cold, dry winters and warm summers. January averages {{convert|4.9|F|1|disp=or}}, and lows reach {{convert|0|F|1|disp=or}} on 67 nights annually. Highs only reach the freezing point 18–19 days during December to February, and in combination with a seasonal snowfall of {{convert|68.7|in|m|2|disp=or}}, snow cover is thick and long−lasting. Spring, and more especially autumn, are short but mild transition seasons. July averages {{convert|64.0|F|1|disp=or}}, with highs reaching {{convert|90|F|1|disp=or}} on only 3.2 days annually, with only about four-fifths of all years seeing temperatures that high. Summer nights are cool despite the warm days, with the average window for freezing temperatures August 25 thru June 22. Precipitation averages about {{convert|28.18|in|1|disp=or}} per year, and is concentrated in the warmer months. The all−time record high temperature is {{convert|101|F|1}}, while the all−time record low is {{convert|−60|F|1}}, a range of {{convert|161|F-change}}, the second highest temperature variation in the state behind Federal Dam, Minnesota.{{Cite web|title=Federal Dam, Minnesota Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=256412&cityname=Federal-Dam-Minnesota-United-States-of-America|access-date=2021-01-21|website=Weatherbase}} Tower is slightly colder than International Falls, but a half of a degree warmer overall than Embarrass.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Tower, Minnesota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 52

|Feb record high F = 59

|Mar record high F = 77

|Apr record high F = 87

|May record high F = 95

|Jun record high F = 101

|Jul record high F = 101

|Aug record high F = 98

|Sep record high F = 95

|Oct record high F = 88

|Nov record high F = 75

|Dec record high F = 57

|year record high F = 101

|Jan avg record high F = 38.2

|Feb avg record high F = 44.9

|Mar avg record high F = 58.3

|Apr avg record high F = 71.7

|May avg record high F = 83.9

|Jun avg record high F = 86.8

|Jul avg record high F = 89.4

|Aug avg record high F = 88.0

|Sep avg record high F = 83.7

|Oct avg record high F = 74.4

|Nov avg record high F = 55.1

|Dec avg record high F = 40.6

|year avg record high F = 91.4

|Jan high F = 16.8

|Feb high F = 23.1

|Mar high F = 36.3

|Apr high F = 49.6

|May high F = 63.3

|Jun high F = 72.7

|Jul high F = 77.1

|Aug high F = 75.5

|Sep high F = 66.6

|Oct high F = 51.4

|Nov high F = 35.0

|Dec high F = 22.0

|year high F = 49.1

|Jan mean F = 4.9

|Feb mean F = 9.1

|Mar mean F = 22.7

|Apr mean F = 37.0

|May mean F = 49.9

|Jun mean F = 59.7

|Jul mean F = 64.0

|Aug mean F = 61.9

|Sep mean F = 54.0

|Oct mean F = 41.0

|Nov mean F = 26.4

|Dec mean F = 12.5

|year mean F = 36.9

|Jan low F = −7.0

|Feb low F = −4.9

|Mar low F = 9.2

|Apr low F = 24.3

|May low F = 36.4

|Jun low F = 46.7

|Jul low F = 51.0

|Aug low F = 48.3

|Sep low F = 41.5

|Oct low F = 30.6

|Nov low F = 17.9

|Dec low F = 3.1

|year low F = 24.8

|Jan avg record low F = -36.0

|Feb avg record low F = -32.4

|Mar avg record low F = -21.3

|Apr avg record low F = 4.2

|May avg record low F = 20.1

|Jun avg record low F = 29.0

|Jul avg record low F = 36.3

|Aug avg record low F = 33.3

|Sep avg record low F = 23.9

|Oct avg record low F = 14.7

|Nov avg record low F = -7.1

|Dec avg record low F = -27.4

|year avg record low F = -38.3

|Jan record low F = −57

|Feb record low F = −60

|Mar record low F = −42

|Apr record low F = −22

|May record low F = 10

|Jun record low F = 18

|Jul record low F = 24

|Aug record low F = 12

|Sep record low F = 11

|Oct record low F = −7

|Nov record low F = −39

|Dec record low F = −52

|year record low F = -60

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76

|Feb precipitation inch = 0.75

|Mar precipitation inch = 0.91

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.85

|May precipitation inch = 3.01

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.96

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.31

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.46

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.92

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.75

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.55

|Dec precipitation inch = 0.95

|year precipitation inch = 28.18

|Jan snow inch = 13.4

|Feb snow inch = 10.8

|Mar snow inch = 7.9

|Apr snow inch = 8.0

|May snow inch = 0.4

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 2.4

|Nov snow inch = 11.0

|Dec snow inch = 14.8

|year snow inch = 68.7

|Jan snow depth inch = 19.5

|Feb snow depth inch = 22.5

|Mar snow depth inch = 17.9

|Apr snow depth inch = 8.9

|May snow depth inch = 0.3

|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0

|Oct snow depth inch = 1.9

|Nov snow depth inch = 8.3

|Dec snow depth inch = 13.1

|year snow depth inch = 24.7

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 7.3

|Feb precipitation days = 6.5

|Mar precipitation days = 6.3

|Apr precipitation days = 7.9

|May precipitation days = 12.4

|Jun precipitation days = 13.1

|Jul precipitation days = 12.6

|Aug precipitation days = 10.2

|Sep precipitation days = 11.8

|Oct precipitation days = 10.4

|Nov precipitation days = 8.9

|Dec precipitation days = 8.1

|year precipitation days = 115.5

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 7.6

|Feb snow days = 6.7

|Mar snow days = 4.4

|Apr snow days = 3.1

|May snow days = 0.2

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 1.3

|Nov snow days = 6.2

|Dec snow days = 8.1

|year snow days = 37.6

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dlh

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 23, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00218311&format=pdf

| title = Station: Tower 2S, MN

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 23, 2021}}

}}

File:St Louis county MN IMG 1247 tower Korea War Veterans.JPG

Fortune Bay Resort and Casino is located a few miles west of Tower.

It is near Lake Vermilion, a well-known lake which attracts tourists and locals alike. The casino is owned and operated by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

Tower has a simple sports ground with bleacher stands, close by the Tower School. At Lake Vermillion, a run tournament named after the lake is staged every year.

Tower is part of the St. Louis County school district based in Virginia, Minnesota. In town there is the Tower-Soudan Elementary School that serves students K–6. Students 7–12 are transported to other secondary schools nearby as Tower-Soudan does not have a secondary school at this point.

Outside of the district, Tower has a public charter school that serves students 7–12, called Vermilion Country School. Based in the old PowerRain building, this project-based secondary school was set up by parents and townspeople who advocated for a local secondary school. Opened in 2013, VCS graduated their first 6 seniors in May 2014.

{{US Census population

|1890= 1110

|1900= 1366

|1910= 1111

|1920= 706

|1930= 801

|1940= 820

|1950= 773

|1960= 878

|1970= 699

|1980= 640

|1990= 502

|2000= 479

|2010= 500

|2020= 430

|align-fn=center

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]

}}

As of the 2020 census, there were 430 people living in an estimated 240 households in Tower.{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2765272 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=data.census.gov}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-13}} of 2010, there were 500 people, 265 households, and 126 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|166.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 331 housing units at an average density of {{convert|110.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.6% White, 2.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 265 households, of which 20.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.5% were non-families. 45.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.61.

The median age in the city was 48.4 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.6% were from 25 to 44; 30% were from 45 to 64; and 24% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

As of the 2000 census, there were 479 people in the city, organized into 233 households and 137 families. The population density was {{convert|176.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 295 housing units at an average density of {{convert|108.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.70% White, 1.46% Native American, 0% Asian, 0% African American, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.4% were of Finnish, 13.7% Norwegian, 11.1% Swedish, 8.6% German, 6.6% Slovene and 5.8% Italian ancestry.

There were 233 households, out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,429, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,169. 10.7% of the population and 3.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.5% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Tower is served by an award-winning newspaper, the Timberjay.{{Cite web |title=Timberjay brings home eight awards in newspaper contest |url=http://www.timberjay.com/stories/timberjay-brings-home-eight-awards-in-newspaper-contest,18625 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The Timberjay |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2020-2021 BNC Winners {{!}} Minnesota Newspaper Association |url=https://mna.org/services/better-newspaper-contest/2020-2021-bnc-winners/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=mna.org}} The Timberjay is published weekly, with a circulation of over 1000.{{Cite web |title=The Timberjay – Minnesota Newspapers Directory |url=http://mnnews.com/index.php/newspapers-in-minnesota-cities-starting-with-the-letter-c/the-timberjay/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |language=en-US}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.cityoftower.com/}}
• [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/fsaall:@FILREQ(@field(SUBJ+@band(Minnesota--Tower+))+@FIELD(COLLID+fsa)) Photos taken in Tower] – photos taken during August 1937 – from the Library of Congress
• [http://www.lakevermilioncommerce.com/ Lake Vermilion Chamber of Commerce website]

{{St. Louis County, Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tower, Minnesota}}

Category:Cities in St. Louis County, Minnesota

Category:Cities in Minnesota