Explore Our Region
Northeast Minnesota & Northwest Wisconsin
The Northland is expansive and complex, but it can be divided into four main regions: the Twin Ports, the Iron Range, the North Shore of Minnesota, and Northwest Wisconsin. All four territories are distinguished by remarkable qualities that set them apart as places where people live, work, and thrive.
Twin Ports
Intricate highways and railroad lines trace the #NorthByChoice region like veins and the Twin Ports serve as the area’s beating heart. The two most populous cities of the Northland, Duluth and Superior, link Minnesota and Wisconsin together at the tip of Lake Superior — the largest freshwater lake in the world. Hubs for business, retail, and tourism, the Twin Ports are also a strategic point for industry conducted worldwide. Due to shipping, an astounding amount of resources filters through the Twin Ports every year. Perfect Duluth Day offers a periscope into Duluth culture, and if you’re looking for assistance in making a move, consult Destination Duluth.
Minnesota’s Iron Range
Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Hoyt Lakes, Ely — spanning from west to east, the Iron Range covers a vast inland tract of Northeastern Minnesota. Crowned by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the region is known for rugged wilderness waiting to be explored, as well as a strong work ethic that has built up around a diverse variety of industries. Much economic activity here goes hand-in-hand with the environment, from timber and mining to outdoors recreation. Major economic drivers also include a bustling service industry and robust healthcare sector. High-paying jobs in manufacturing are available alongside opportunities in education, retail, government and professional services. The Iron Range is legendary for dramatic economic cycles fueled by enterprising individuals. There are many economic indicators that this resilient part of the state is experiencing a modern renaissance propelled by networking groups like ReGen and Connect Committee’s Young Professional Network. Find more Iron Range info and resources here.
Minnesota’s North Shore
The North Shore of Lake Superior draws visitors from around the world with thick forests and pristine waters. For those who choose to return again and again — or stay for good — it’s about more than clean air and fresh water. It’s also about the unparalleled quality of life that this region has to offer, and always having the option to “get away” from the day-to-day. For some, that might mean heading down to the shore over lunch break. For others, it might involve a trip into one of the vibrant towns that branch off from Highway 61 and the North Shore Scenic Highway. Two Harbors and Silver Bay anchor the coastline. Further north, just 40 miles short of the Canadian border, Grand Marais is home to a lively Art Colony and Folk School. Visit Cook County is an excellent resource with information on the upper Arrowhead region, including the storied Gunflint Trail. Visit The Cook County Chamber of Commerce and CookCountyWorkforce.com for local job postings and employment resources throughout Northeast Minnesota, and read more here.
Northwest Wisconsin
Across the water, Northwest Wisconsin encompasses the South Shore of Lake Superior, stretching from the City of Superior at the very tip of the lake and wrapping around the Apostle Islands to the Greater Chequamegon Bay area. To the east, Ashland is home to premiere research centers including the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. Nearby Bayfield is famous for its annual Apple Festival in autumn and astounding Ice Caves in the winter. Blending the serene and the spectacular, Northwest Wisconsin is an ideal place to “get away from it all” and stay in touch with what you truly care about. Nurture a garden in the pastoral farmlands of Port Wing and Oulu. Raise a family in Brule River. Cultivate your life’s work in the quaint village of Solon Springs. Read more about all that Northwest Wisconsin has to offer here, or visit the Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation and the City of Superior and Douglas County’s Development Association for relocation resources.