Ely Minnesota Map

About Ely, Minnesota

Ely is a locality in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. It has a population of approximately 3,240. The population density is 427.7 people per km². Ely is located at 47.9032°N, 91.8671°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. ZIP code: 55731.

Ely is a place where the scent of pine needles and damp earth hangs perpetually in the air. It lies 78.2 miles north of Duluth, MN (from Duluth, MN: bearing 8°T), and is situated 13.9 miles north-north-east of Babbitt. The town is cradled by a vast expanse of boreal forest, a sea of dark green spruce and fir broken only by the shimmering blues and blacks of countless lakes and the occasional granite outcrop. The terrain here is a rugged, ancient landscape, sculpted by glaciers into a topography of rolling hills, steep escarpments, and deep, water-filled basins. Even in the heart of summer, the air carries a crispness, a reminder of the powerful northern winters, and the quality of light, especially in the late afternoon, softens the edges of the world, casting long, ethereal shadows that seem to deepen the mysteries of the surrounding wilderness. The history of Ely is inextricably linked to the iron ore that lay buried beneath its rugged surface, a wealth that drew miners and their families to this remote corner of the Iron Range. The echoes of that industrial past, though less dominant now, still resonate in the town's character, a blend of hardy self-reliance and a deep respect for the natural world that surrounds it. Today, while mining still plays a role, Ely has found a new identity as a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a world-renowned sanctuary of pristine lakes and forests. This shift has fostered a vibrant local economy built on tourism, outfitting, and a genuine appreciation for the outdoor pursuits that draw visitors from across the globe, creating a unique cultural rhythm that balances the quiet solitude of the wilderness with the friendly buzz of a community sustained by its natural bounty.

About This Ely Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Ely, Minnesota — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 47.903237, -91.867087. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Ely and St. Louis County.

Detailed location data for Ely includes the ZIP code (55731), telephone area code (218), county seat of St. Louis County (Duluth), and school district assignment (Ely Public School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Ely is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.