Ely, MN information needed, move in my future! (Duluth, Hibbing: motels, homes)

[Snowmon]

Hello All,

I would love to hear from anyone who lives in Ely, or used to. My wife has a job offer there and we are seriously thinking of moving. We both are very into outdoor activities, and well, Ely seems to have that at least....but doesn't seem to have a thriving economy from what I have researched. I'm a teacher, any chance of any type of educational employment, or is it fiercely local?

We come from Montana and Maine so we're OK with cold, bugs, all that is no problem. Just want to know what it is really like to live there...

Thanks!

[demtion35]

Ely is a small town as you may well know. It is loaded with the outdoor theme being on the edge of the Boundry Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, BWCAW, used mainly for canoe type travel and camping, but there are also remote hiking, dog sledding cross country skiing snowshoe type camping or day trips as well.

The economy like other towns may not be the best. There is alot of tourism up there as well, along with many festivals, local folks are friendly.

The winters may not be the same as Maine or Montana but you are aware of that sounds like, so good.
Minnesota's record low tempreature -60F was set near there, and has not been broken yet. -60F is cold.

Have you ever visited Ely before?

THere are many tourist shops along several of the streets, as well as several outfitter type stores as well. There is a small selection of restaurants, and several smaller diners, several motels, grocery store. There is a radio station there as well as newspaper, alot of photography shops, local stuff and artists of various gifts. Well kept up, a few clubs, but not wild. There are in town bike paths along the lake which is an old mine pit now filled with water, and fishing is good.

But if you like the outdoors and that sort of activty which sounds like you do, then you would enjoy the town, but perhaps try to visit it first if you have not done so, not saying you wont like it though, but it is on wilderness, small and busy in the summertime.

Ely is one of my personal top five favorite towns.

Cant comment of the teaching postions.

[demtion35]

Ely Adds Another Award to their Collection | Northland's NewsCenter: News, Weather, Sports | NBC, CBS, MyNetworkTV, and The CW for Duluth MN / Superior WI | Iron Range

Boundary Waters Blogger: Ely, MN - The Coolest Small Town in America

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Snowmon

Hello All,

I would love to hear from anyone who lives in Ely, or used to. My wife has a job offer there and we are seriously thinking of moving. We both are very into outdoor activities, and well, Ely seems to have that at least....but doesn't seem to have a thriving economy from what I have researched. I'm a teacher, any chance of any type of educational employment, or is it fiercely local?

We come from Montana and Maine so we're OK with cold, bugs, all that is no problem. Just want to know what it is really like to live there...

Thanks!

My folks grew up in Ely. That was our family vacation spot every single summer as we loaded up in the station wagon and headed north.

If you are looking for teaching opportunities, I would do some intense research before you decide to leave. The community is very mature with lots of seniors. The town got a re-birth of growth specifically because of tourism and big dollar lake homes. A lot of that new money is coming from the Chicago area that wants the Boundary water experience. Lake lots are selling for $150K-$350K (just the land) so this new money is nearly all 2nd home buyers.

The "Iron Range" area which Ely is part of has struggled for decades. The taconite plants got a re-birth when steel was climbing fast based off of China's manufacturing consumption. In 2005, it looked as though the area was heading for some big growth but it soon fizzled with the slowing economy.

Do realize that it is pretty spread out on the Iron Range. Silver Bay and Hibbing still have taconite plants. I suspect that is where the teaching jobs are. If you moved in between Hibbing and Ely for instance, then you both could have a 35 minute hour commute.

Good luck.

[golfgal]

If you want a rural, remote area that is very outdoor activity oriented, Ely is a great choice. Teaching jobs are going to be few and far between but substitute teaching opportunities, maybe some coaching, will probably be plentiful, especially if you sign up to sub in a few districts. There is a good chance your license won't automatically transfer to MN. MN doesn't take automatic transfers of teaching licenses so you may want to look up the requirements here and get started on any classes you might need to add, just in case. Rural districts have a bit more leeway with hiring, especially in need areas like math, science and special education. There is a program they can use that will give you 2 years to get your license updated if you need to.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Rural districts have a bit more leeway with hiring, especially in need areas like math, science and special education. There is a program they can use that will give you 2 years to get your license updated if you need to.

I was talking with a teacher at the high school last night. Pine City had a special ed opening and 250 people applied. So rural areas are also becoming competitive.

I don't think I would want to be graduating as an educator right now. From what I understand there is more supply that demand.

[Clifford63]

Ely is a very different place. It actually draws a lot of people for the excellent outdoor activities such as paddling, winter sports, and of course hunting and fishing. I owned a cabin up there for some years and truly enjoy the area. The local economy is tight and depends on tourism a great deal. Both for BWCA visitors and other activities. The culture is sort of divided between the "bark eaters" and the "locals". That is oversimplified a great deal but there is a lot of polarization on environmental type issues and the city politics are always a bit messy. Schools up there are not in great shape at all, so finding a teaching job is probably going to be difficult. Any job is a good jop, but government job with bennies is the holy grail there. Cost of living is low, so that is a big plus. Most people make monthly trek to Virginia or Duluth to do shopping to save money, but they do have a few decent grocery stores and such.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

Most people make monthly trek to Virginia or Duluth to do shopping to save money, but they do have a few decent grocery stores and such.

Also, don't forget to learn about the various food groups in Ely. They are: porketta, pasties, Mock Chicken Legs, patitsa, and smoked bologna. They all can be had at Zups Online .

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Also, don't forget to learn about the various food groups in Ely. They are: porketta, pasties, Mock Chicken Legs, patitsa, and smoked bologna. They all can be had at Zups Online .

Zups is the bomb. You walk into that place and it smells like yummy smoked meat.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Also, don't forget to learn about the various food groups in Ely. They are: porketta, pasties, Mock Chicken Legs, patitsa, and smoked bologna. They all can be had at Zups Online .

I'm almost afraid to ask but what are mock chicken legs