Duluth-Superior

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Duluth–Superior
Duluth, MN–WI MSA
Twin Ports
MSA
Duluth skyline (top) and Downtown Superior (bottom)
Map of Duluth–Grand Rapids, MN–WI CSA
  Duluth, MN–WI MSA
  Grand Rapids, MN µSA
  City of Duluth
  City of Superior

Country United States
State Minnesota
Wisconsin
Principal citiesDuluth, Minnesota
Superior, Wisconsin
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Area
 • Urban
80 sq mi (208 km2)
Population
 • MSA
291,638
GDP
[1]
 • Metro$16.822 billion (2022)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area codes218, 715, 320

The Duluth MN–WI Metropolitan Area,[2] commonly called the Twin Ports, is a small metropolitan area centered around the cities of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The Twin Ports are located at the western part of Lake Superior (the westernmost part of North America's Great Lakes) and together are considered one of the larger cargo ports in the United States.[3] The Twin Ports are close to many natural attractions such as the North Shore, the North Country National Scenic Trail, the Apostle Islands, and the Superior National Forest.

The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

The area is home to two long bridges: the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge (carrying U.S. Route 2) and the John Blatnik Bridge (carrying Interstate 535 and U.S. Route 53).[4] Each bridge reaches across more than 1.5 miles (2.5 km) across the mouth of the Saint Louis River.[4] The Aerial Lift Bridge was constructed in 1905 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It must be raised each time a vessel enters or leaves Duluth's harbor; the inlet on the Wisconsin side is not similarly obstructed.

Together, the cities rank as the 19th-busiest port in the country overall (44.2 million short tons [40.1 million tonnes] per year) as of 2002, though the area is the 7th-busiest port (13.8 million short tons [12.5 million tonnes] per year) when measured on foreign exports alone.

The census bureau's Twin Ports metropolitan statistical area, an area much larger than the Duluth metropolitan area includes all of Wisconsin's Douglas County, and Minnesota's Carlton and Saint Louis counties. With a 2020 census population of 291,638, the Duluth MSA ranked as the 170th largest metropolitan area in the United States. A tourist location that boasts many scenic natural amenities, approximately 6.7 million tourists visit The City of Duluth each year.

Communities

The following is a list of places in the three-county Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Area categorized based on the United States Census Bureau 2025 population estimates.[5] This list includes census-designated places (CDPs) and villages in Wisconsin, but excludes unincorporated towns in Wisconsin, known as civil townships in other states. No population estimates are released for CDPs, which are marked with an asterisk (*) and categorized based on their 2020 Census population.

Principal city

Places with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

Places with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants

Infrastructure

The four tallest buildings are in Duluth, the Alworth Building, Historic Old Central High School, Maurices Headquarters, Medical Arts Building. The Bong Bridge leads to from Duluth to Superior. The Bong bridge was built in 1985 and is 11,800 ft (3,600 m) long. The Blatnik Bridge also leads to from Duluth to Superior. The Blatnik Bridge was built in 1965 and is 7,975 feet (2,431 m) long. Canal Park is a heavy tourist area in Downtown Duluth. In Virginia the tallest bridge in Minnesota (Hwy 53 Bridge) connecting Eveleth to Virginia. The Hwy 53 Bridge covers the Rouchleau Mine. The bridge opened in 2017 and is 204 ft. high in the air and spans 1,125 ft.

Hospitals

  • Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center - Duluth - (Level 1 Trauma Center)
  • St. Luke's Hospital - Duluth - (Level 2 Trauma Center)
  • Essentia Health St. Mary's Hospital - Superior - (Level 4 Trauma Center)
  • Community Memorial Hospital - Cloquet - (Level 4 Trauma Center)

Shopping

Attractions

Education

Colleges and universities

Transportation

Major highways

Interstates

U.S. Highways

Minnesota Highways

St. Louis County Highways

Transit

Airports

MSA

The Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area covers an area much larger than the Twin Ports urban area. The MSA includes 3 counties, of which two are in Minnesota and one is in Wisconsin.[6] St. Louis County is Minnesota's largest county by area.

Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area

County Seat 2025 Estimate 2020 Census Change Area Density
St. Louis Duluth 200,518200,231+0.14% 6,860 sq mi (17,800 km2) 29/sq mi (11/km2)
Douglas, WI Superior 43,99044,295−0.69% 1,480 sq mi (3,800 km2) 30/sq mi (11/km2)
Carlton Carlton 36,71136,207+1.39% 875 sq mi (2,270 km2) 42/sq mi (16/km2)
Total 281,219280,733+0.17% 9,215 sq mi (23,870 km2) 31/sq mi (12/km2)

The Duluth–Grand Rapids, MN–WI Combined Statistical Area is made up of three counties in Minnesota and one county in Wisconsin. The statistical area includes the Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Grand Rapids, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Statistical Area 2025 Estimate 2020 Census Change Area Density
Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 281,219280,733+0.17% 9,215 sq mi (23,870 km2) 31/sq mi (12/km2)
Grand Rapids, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area 45,40445,014+0.87% 2,668 sq mi (6,910 km2) 17/sq mi (7/km2)
Total 326,623325,747+0.27% 11,883 sq mi (30,780 km2) 27/sq mi (11/km2)

See also

References

  1. "Total Gross Domestic Product for Duluth, MN-WI (MSA)". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
  2. Minnesota
  3. Duluth Seaway Port Authority. "Port of Duluth-Superior". Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  4. "Bong Bridge facts". Duluth News Tribune. October 11, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  5. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  6. "OMB BULLETIN NO. 23-01" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. Retrieved June 17, 2026.