Soudan Iron Mine · National Register of Historic Places
Breitung’s story
Breitung in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 2 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →BreitungMN
A town of 651. Nearly 20.1% of it is conserved land.
Population
651
−12.4% since 2010
Median home value
$246K
Census ACS
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
59.4
years
Jobs based here
24
A commuter town
What makes Breitung stand out
The thing Breitung does most differently from other towns.
Small town
651 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
TowerGreenwoodEagles NestKuglerBreitung
Breitung’s report card
Now in Breitung
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Breitung. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Breitung
Most working residents leave Breitung for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Tower (17%), Virginia (11%) and Greenwood (10%). Half commute less than 24 miles.
3%work in town
Where working residents work
In Breitung3%
Tower17%
Virginia11%
Greenwood10%
Duluth8%
24 mi
median commute distance
24
jobs based in Breitung
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Outdoors
20.1% of Breitung is conserved land
21 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves.
20.1%conserved
20.1%
conserved · 5,021 of 24,973 acres
21 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lake Vermillion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park | 10.9 mi | 4,075 |
| 2. Superior National Forest | — | 122 |
| 3. Pine Island Wildlife Management Area | — | 41 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Breitung has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to -5°, and about 69 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
69″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter-1–21°
Spring25–51°
Summer51–76°
Fall31–51°
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Breitung
11 crimes were reported in Breitung in 2024: 10 property and 1 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Breitung is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
1
violent crimes reported in 2024
10
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Breitung is
Breitung beats the Minnesota average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
32 measures vs. Minnesota
5 better18 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Breitung | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.9% | 76.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.1% | 5.9% |
Ely - Bloomenson Community Hospital
18.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 43% of U.S. communities.
43risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Breitung for work
Where Breitung’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
24jobs based in Breitung
3%of working residents work in town
24 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
2 places in Breitung on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Breitung
Township in Minnesota, United States
Breitung Township is a township in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 530 at the 2020 census. State Highway 1 (MN 1) and State Highway 169 (MN 169) serve as the main route in the township. The unincorporated community of Soudan is located within Breitung Township. Breitung Township is located along part of Lake Vermilion. The city of Tower is nearby.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 530
- Area
- 39 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,358 ft