Finland, Minnesota Explained

Finland, Minnesota
Settlement Type:Census-designated place
Pushpin Map:Minnesota#USA
Pushpin Label:Finland
Pushpin Label Position:right
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lake
Subdivision Type3:Townships
Subdivision Name3:Beaver Bay, Crystal Bay
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:17.46
Area Land Km2:17.40
Area Water Km2:0.06
Area Total Sq Mi:6.74
Area Land Sq Mi:6.72
Area Water Sq Mi:0.02
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:215
Population Density Km2:12.36
Population Density Sq Mi:32.00
Timezone:CST
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:1329
Coordinates:47.4147°N -91.2492°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:55603
Area Code:218
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:656231

Finland is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Crystal Bay and Beaver Bay townships, Lake County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 195.[2]

Geography

The community of Finland is located 6miles inland from Lake Superior's North Shore and northeast of the city of Two Harbors. State Highway 1, County Road 6, and County Road 7 are three of the main routes in the community. State Highway 1 continues northwest from Finland to Ely.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Finland CDP has a total area of 13.9sqkm, of which 0.06sqkm, or 0.41%, are water.[3] The Baptism River flows through the community. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is located 7miles northeast of Finland.

The community is located within the Finland State Forest in Lake County.

History

A post office called Finland has been in operation since 1915,[4] and a cooperative general store was established in 1913, which is Minnesota's longest continuously operated store. The name of the town comes from the fact that a large portion of the early settlers were Finns.[5] The 1931 book ('The Finland Swedes in America') describes the town's founding: "Two Finns, a Lindström and a Pelto, went out to the forest 40 miles north of Two Harbors a few years ago. They set about clearing forest and breaking ground. Later, a railroad was built through the new community and the place was named Finland."[6]

The visitor center is the former home of forest ranger and longtime Finland resident O. M. Eckbeck, who built it in 1927.[7]

The Lutheran church was struck by lightning on July 6, 2013, burning down as a result.[8] It was later rebuilt.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: Explore Census Data . . August 9, 2022.
  3. Web site: U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Minnesota. U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. March 19, 2020.
  4. Web site: Lake County . Jim Forte Postal History . July 17, 2015.
  5. Book: Warren Upham. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 294.
  6. Book: Silfversten, Carl J. . Finlandssvenskarna i Amerika . 1931 . Duluth . sv . 1153916396., cited in News: November 14, 1939 . Finland . sv . 3 . . 129 . National Library of Finland.
  7. Web site: February 16, 2015 . Visitor Center . March 14, 2022 . Finland Minnesota Historical Society . en.
  8. Web site: Fire destroys Finland's only church. .