Bruce Mine Headframe · National Register of Historic Places
Balkan’s story
Balkan in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →BalkanMN
A town of 843. Nearly 26.2% of it is conserved land.
Population
843
−2.9% since 2010
Median home value
$219K
Census ACS
Household income
$80K
median
Median age
48.9
years
Jobs based here
51
A commuter town
What makes Balkan stand out
The thing Balkan does most differently from other towns.
Small town
843 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
ChisholmGreat ScottHibbingBalkan
Balkan’s report card
Now in Balkan
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Balkan? Is a C+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Balkan’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Balkan. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a quarter of Balkan is conserved land
31 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves.
26.2%conserved
26.2%
conserved · 11,014 of 42,065 acres
31 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Superior National Forest | 6.6 mi | 8,526 |
| 2. Redhead Mountain Bike Park | 0.4 mi | 74 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Balkan
Most working residents leave Balkan for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Hibbing (26%), Virginia (10%) and Cook (8%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Balkan2%
Hibbing26%
Virginia10%
Cook8%
Chisholm7%
15 mi
median commute distance
51
jobs based in Balkan
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Balkan has cold winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to -2°.
78°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter1–21°
Spring27–51°
Summer52–76°
Fall32–51°
Sep 8
typical first frost
Jun 5
typical last frost
+2.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
78°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Balkan is
Balkan beats the Minnesota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better13 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Balkan | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17% | 8.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.5% | 5.4% |
| More smokers | 19.8% | 13.1% |
Cook Hospital
23.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Balkan’s public schools outperform 42% of Minnesota districts
The public schools Balkan’s kids attend trail 58% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
C+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughan-Steffensrud Elementary | PK–3 | 207 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state testsAll 1 schools →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities.
53risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Balkan for work
Where Balkan’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
51jobs based in Balkan
2%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Balkan
Township in Minnesota, United States
Balkan Township is a township in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The township was named after the Balkan Mountains. The population was 808 at the 2020 census. U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 (MN 73) are two of the main routes in the township. The city of Chisholm is located within the south–central portion of Balkan Township geographically but is a separate entity.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 808
- Area
- 65 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,499 ft