Independence Minnesota

In the headlines

CD8 covers the northeastern part of the state, stretching from the northern exurbs of the Twin Cities all the way to the Canadian border.  Some of the top industries include mining, timber, agriculture, shipping, and tourism.  The Mesabi, Vermilion and Cuyuna iron ranges -- which once produced 80% of the world's iron ore -- all lie within CD8's borders.  The Mesabi range mines continue to produce taconite, an important commodity in today's global economy.  The city of Duluth is home to the largest freshwater port in the world, where much of that taconite is shipped to steel mills near Lake Erie, or to Europe or Asia.

CD8 is home to some of the most beautiful scenic areas in the Upper Midwest: Voyageurs National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the North Shore of Lake Superior, Lake Vermilion and the Brainerd Lakes recreation area.  More than 800,000 boats are registered in Minnesota and on any given summer weekend, you'll find many of those roaming the thousands of lakes within CD8.  Minnesota is also known for having more golfers per capita than any other state, and many of the best courses can be found in CD8.


Fishing at sunset on South Sturgeon Lake, near Hibbing, MN.
Photo © Lars Hammar:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/7603557@N08/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0