How's the general economy in Duluth? (moving, buildings, live)

[Mark S.]

Finding a good job in Marquette would definitely be hard. But I never found it any more "conservative" than Duluth. Some of the smaller towns in the U.P. are definitely very conservative, but I didn't see that in Marquette. University towns tend to help balance that out a bit.

Northern Minnesota is definitely the place to be if you're looking for wilderness and winter. Best success on your move!

[guinness1]

There are a few old brick store fronts being converted into loft apartments downtown Duluth. The Bridgeman Russell Building on First and the old Gas and Water Building across from the Federal Building and Court House is being redone with rooftop gardens. There is the Old Marshall Wells buliding that has loft apartments and it is also the Hawthorne Suites. There is a new 11 story Sheraton being built downtown with condos on the top floor. No, the economy is boom and bust up here-mostly bust, but there are a few bright spots. Cirrus design and United Health employ around about a thousand people. I have friends who work at UnitedHealth who are winter camping freaks and ice climbers. Duluth is a great place to live and a beautiful city.

[AMJD12131987]

Even though this topic is a little bit old. I went to Duluth in April of this year (Im going to be going to college in Ashland, WI) I thought Duluth was awesome. I really didn't see anything too run-down. If you compare it to the major city near me, Cincinnati, Ohio-no comparison what so ever haha! I had to drive thru Superior and I agree that is a bit run-down. But Duluth, no way! I got to talk with a few people and all were very welcoming.

We went up around the airport and went to Gander Mountain, seemed to be a very nice area. I love the elevation, climate is what brought me up to the Duluth area

[danarchy]

i think everything about duluth is terrific, except for the west side of town and the fact that there are very little decent jobs.

[jill]

I live in a small town by Duluth. We go to Duluth for shopping and to go out sometimes. I find that the streets are very scary in Duluth. I would never go to West Duluth or Downtown with just a group of women to go out. The weather is something else to be desired. The lake effect in the spring and summer keeps Duluth very cool. Lake Superior is very cold and somewhat dangerous. I would never go there for a vacation when there are 9,999 other lakes to choose from. I am pretty much stuck in my town i live in but if I could move anywhere in Minnesota I think I would choose a city like Rochester. People are generally healthier there, the economy seems to be doing well. I know they have some gang problems there too, but so does almost every city. The best part is that you have a few more weeks of the mild in the 60-70 degree range in the spring and fall, it makes a big change when we already have such long cold winters. Another big trend seems to be the people in there 30-40's moving to the norhten subs of the twin cities, then it is only a couple hours to get the the great lakes up north.

[Sadida021]

Originally Posted by jill

I find that the streets are very scary in Duluth. I would never go to West Duluth or Downtown with just a group of women to go out.

I wouldn't go as far as to say they are "very scary". Any town or city that has a population over 500 is going to have some bad parts of town. If you know the parts of Duluth to avoid as a group of women out on the town, it is a great place to live... especially if you like skiing, boating, camping or anything outdoors. Stay away from the Central Hillside, and Lincoln Park areas.

Originally Posted by JILL

The weather is something else to be desired. The lake effect in the spring and summer keeps Duluth very cool. Lake Superior is very cold and somewhat dangerous. I would never go there for a vacation when there are 9,999 other lakes to choose from.

I would take a 55 degree summer day in Duluth over ANY temperature in the Twin Cities. And Lake Superior is not any more dangerous than any other lake in Minnesota. It's not typically a swimming lake, so who cares about the water temp.

If you want the outdoors activities available in Duluth, don't move to the Twin Cities or Rochester, St. Cloud or Mankato. In the Twin Cities, it's overcrowded, the roads are very poorly planned and upkept, the people are rude and selfish, and you have to deal with the traffic of 500,000 other people trying to get out of town on every weekend of the year. The economy is just as slow in Duluth as it is in any moderately sized city in the Midwest. Check out http://www.visitduluth.com for info on local activities.


One of the best

[katie8471]

West Duluth is not a dangerous place. It has a bad reputation and has for years, going back to my grandfather's time. I grew up on Raleigh Street, home of the infamous Raleigh Street Gang in the cities early years. There were "working girls" there then. I would and have walked down the streets of West Duluth, day and night. If you were looking for a place to party, the bars are all close together in one area so you should not have to walk far. The streets are well lit in that area, as well as most others. My family still lives there. I go there often. West Duluth is no more dangerous than any other part of town. My brother lives in WD, my parents do, have friends there, and at one point I lived there as well. Every city has its problems but I would move back to Duluth in a hearbeat if I could get my husband to agree. he likes his job too much though. Duluth has a lot of cultural events and city sponsored events. There is always something to do. College town too. If you are bored in Duluth, you are not even trying. It is a fabulous place, and raising kids there is great too. The economy is a little depressed there I would say but not as much as on the range, where the only industry is the mines.

[Kaspari]

If you dont like the weather, why visit northern minnesota?

9 out of 12 months are cold.

Why are adults arguing over there being "dangerous streets"? There is in every city, but Duluth is not as bad as most towns of its size in Mn. Duluth does have a great park system. My fathers best friend works for Park and Recreation and so does my Godmother. The city does quite a lovely job.

And in response to MARK, you claim you havent been there enough to reccomend it. So, if you havent been there alot, you dont really have the right to slam it, either.

Good posts everyone!

[Seri]

Everyone is entitled to his/her opionion, which is usually based upon life experiences. In my experiences I have found it interesting that most often the natives are dying to get out, just positive there is something so much better out there, and the newbies are in constant awe of the nature and raw beauty that abounds. I moved around constantly as a child, adolescent and young adult. I figured Duluth would be yet another temporary wild hair; that was ten years ago. To this day at several times a week I will be just going about my life and I will look out my car window out upon some beautiful horizon over the hills by Hawk Ridge, or be coming down off miller hill with the sky and lake just some awesome color and a couple ships some unique formation, or driving down London right after one of those sticky snow storms where the Lake is that midnight blue and all the Pines and bluffs are freshly covered with that lovely layer of snow, and I think to myself, "How lucky am I to live in such a beautiful place."

I visit the cities alot, as that is where most of my family is, and I grew up there. Perhaps it is the same phenomenon as I mentioned previously about why native Duluthians don't usually see anything special about Duluth. Nonetheless, when I return "home" I just see a lot of cement, chaos, traffic, and cookie cutter developments, and I think to myself, "Thanks, but NO THANKS."

Oh and about the horrible winters eveyone scares one with, perhaps they used to be a reality, but in the ten years I have lived here, they have been no worse than any winter I ever experienced in the cities! NO LIE!!

[Seri]

PS: There are "gangs" everywhere these days. The violence here is nothing compared to major metropolitan areas and per capita. Honestly, the news here is almost laughable (no offense to anyone intended). It took me a while to get used to it. I feel like I live in Pleasantville! When I stay at my parents in the cities and watch the news now, I'm downright horrified!