Cook, a city in section 18, Owens Township, platted in
1903, was named in honor of Wirth H. Cook, a lumber dealer of Duluth, chief
promoter of the construction of Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway, who
became its president. The city was incorporated as a village on May 13,
1926; it had a station of the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad and
the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway. The post office was formerly at
Ashawa, 1903-8, a Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg Railway station in section
19 of Field Township, moving to Cook in 1908.
Cook (1,320 alt., 470 pop.), to the north
of the iron-ore belt and beyond the Great Laurentian Highland Divide, lies
in the fertile valley of the Little Fork River and, at one time, was covered
with dense forests.
Lumber companies were responsible for the
opening of this vast region north of Virginia. The Virginia Lumber Company,
eventually absorbed by the Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Company, began
to lay a logging road through the district in 1902 and, by 1906-07, offered
services to the Canadian border. The first settlers, arriving in February,
1902, were 18 Finnish and Scandinavian homesteaders who came from the iron
ranges, where they had worked in mines and woods. Mining had not been to
their liking, so they had left for the Little Fork Valley, probably attracted
by the similarity of its climate and countryside to their native lands.
They settled by squatters' rights, but soon many abandoned their claims
because most of the town site was swamp.
The site was accessible only by way of Tower and Lake
Vermilion. In winter, travelers could go direct by stage across the lake
and through the timber. In summer, however, though two steamboats
operated from Tower to Joyce's Landing, a distance of 30 miles, the rest
of the trip to the settlement had to be made either on foot or
horseback.
The town site was not surveyed until
1904-05. It first was called Ashawa, Chippewa for "across the river." Since
this name was similar to that of a community in southern Minnesota, it was
changed in 1910 to Cook, in honor of a partner in an early lumber firm,
the Cook and O'Brien Company. As the land was cleared, agriculture developed.
The Little Fork Valley has proved to be one of the best clover lands in
the country. More farmers came to the community, but it was not until 1926
that Cook
was incorporated as a village.
Dairying is the leading industry. The Little
Fork Creamery Association, a cooperative, has constructed a $10,000 plant.
Diversified farming is carried on in the surrounding region, with hay and
small grains the leading crops. The Cook-Marvel Flour Mill grinds home-grown
wheat into flour and middlings. The Cook seed cleaning plant is one of the
best of its kind in the State.
From Cook, evergreen trees are shipped to
all parts of the United States for Christmas use. The Christmas tree industry
is carried on in other parts of the Arrowhead, but Cook is its headquarters.
The A. J. Thomas Company, employing approximately 75 men during the holiday
season, sprays the trees with green or silver paint to prevent the needles
from falling. In one year, this concern shipped about 80 carloads. The Northern
Evergreen Company ships more wreaths and roping than trees, farmers supplying
cedar and balsam boughs and ground pine.
MacDonald's Quarry (US 53, seven miles south)
is one of two known deposits of green granite in the world. Anderson's Quarry
(Co. Rd. 75, 1.5 miles west) produces a dark, grayish-blue granite (see
Ely; Mountain Iron).
Cook is an outfitting point for sportsmen,
being near Lake Vermilion and several other popular resort lakes, including
those on the international boundary.
St. Louis County School 114 (junction State
1 and 3rd Ave.), completed in 1932 and supervised by the St. Louis County
Board of Education, is one of the largest and most modern rural schools
in the State.
There are 275 households
out of which 27.3% have children under the
age of 18 living with them, 38.9% are
married couples living together, 13.1%
have a female householder with no husband
present, and 42.5% are non-families. 39.3%
of all households are made up of individuals
and 24.4% have someone living alone who
is 65 years of age or older. The average
household size is 2.11 and the average family
size is 2.82.
In the city the population
is spread out with 21.5% under the age of
18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to
44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.5% who are
65 years of age or older. The median age
is 42 years. For every 100 females there
are 80.8 males. For every 100 females age
18 and over, there are 80.1 males.
The median income for
a household in the city is $21,607, and
the median income for a family is $34,643.
Males have a median income of $30,833 versus
$22,232 for females. The
per capita income for the city is $15,848.
13.0% of the population and 9.5% of families
are below the
poverty line. Out of the total population,
18.8% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2%
of those 65 and older are living below the
poverty line.
The
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely
and intersects with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake
Vermillion. Portions are paved for biking and in-line skating. The
remainder of the natural surface trail is used primarily for snowmobiling
in the winter. The trail goes through a few areas that have standing
water in the summer, however portions of the trail are suitable
for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking.
The Taconite Trail winds through forests of birch
and aspen intertwined with pine, leading the visitor by many isolated
lakes and streams. From Grand Rapids heading north, you see the
impact of the taconite and iron mining industry. The northern portion
of the trail terrain is rolling and tree covered as it winds through
state and national forest land.
Eight trail waysides and picnic facilities offer
scenic vistas of the hills, lakes and rivers of this area. The trail
also links three state parks: Bear Head Lake, Soudan Underground
Mine, and McCarthy Beach. The landscape in and around Bear Head
Lake State Park is very rolling and rocky.
On Sunday, September
3, 2005, the Lake Vermilion Resort Association will host the 15th
Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show. Meet and visit with boat owners
and enthusiasts to share interests and knowledge of wooden and classic
boats. Vote for your favorite. Show, food and voting are from 1-4
PM. Awards are presented for People's Choice and Skipper's Choice.
Contact the Association for registration information.
Timber Days recognizes
the impact the timber industry has on Cook and the surrounding area.
The festival includes logging history and educational displays.
It will demonstrate the use of forest products, forest resources
and various forest-based art forms. There will also be performing
artists such as musicians and a professional Puppeteer. Other highlights
will be the mud run on Saturday and the giant parade on Sunday,
along with many other activities throughout the weekend.
Independent School
District 2142 is the largest school district geographically in the
state of Minnesota, encompassing just over 4,000 square miles of
the St. Louis County. It maintains seven K-12 school buildings located
at Orr, Cook, Tower-Soudan, Babbitt-Embarrass, Cherry, Cotton, and
Albrook. Over 2350 students are educated in facilities that are
designed, maintained, and equipped to provide the best learning
environment possible to meet their needs. ISD #2142 currently employs
over 380 teachers and support staff who make it their mission to
offer every child the personal attention they need to realize their
individual goals.
Secluded wilderness
resort featuring four charming lakeshore cabins, lodge,
sauna, hilltop gazebo, tent camping, hiking and mountain
biking trails. The perfect northwoods getaway! Black Bay
Wilderness Resort & Camps is a true Northwoods resort, and
your stay with us will give you the opportunity to experience
all the nature has to offer! Our remote setting is on 1/2
mile of private shoreline, with 80 acres of woodland. Glacial
bedrock ridges up to 100 feet and towering white pine are
just part of the splendor of our setting. You're sure to
see plenty of wildlife and enjoy the tranquility of our
unique, picturesque setting.
All of us at Borderland
Lodge & Outfitters invite you to come with us and explore
northern Minnesota's most diverse and interesting resort
vacation area. Our unique location. . .only five minutes
from Voyageurs National Park, 10 minutes from the Canadian
border-and customs-and 15 minutes from the western entry
points of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) offers our
guests the opportunity to explore some of north America's
most spectacular scenery.
Welcome to Minnesota's
Most Beautiful Lake... Be our guests as you browse through
these pages for information on some of the best lodging,
recreation, and relaxation Northern Minnesota has to offer!
Minnesota, Lake Vermilion area Cabin Rentals, Hotels and
Resort Lodging.
The Lake Vermilion area
is surrounded by one-of-a-kind attractions. Get up close
and personal with wolves and bears, travel a half mile
underground, stand next to a dump truck two stories
tall, learn about the areas rich heritage through tours
and historical sites. Do anything from day time sightseeing
to enjoying an exciting night life including concerts
and casino gaming.
You are welcome
to enjoy our quiet resort setting and our comfortable cabins
set on the waters edge of Minnesota's beautiful Lake Vermilion.
The quality of the accommodations have a lot to do with
how restful a vacation you have. Head-O-Lake Resort is open
year round, catering to fishermen, families, and snowmobilers
who want to get away from their regular schedules. Our guests
enjoy the peace and quiet, the great fishing, the restful,
relaxing accommodations, and the beautiful natural environment
surrounding Lake Vermilion. We're located 8 miles from Cook
on blacktopped Highway #24. The resort sits on the northwest
shore of Lake Vermilion - Minnesota's most beautiful fishing
destination.
The resort is
located on the northwest part of Lake Vermilion in a deep
inlet known as Norwegian Bay. It is on the north shore where
the full benefit of the sun may be had from sunrise until
sunset, yet there are beautiful trees all about our cottages
insuring shade, comfort and rest.
This is a resort where you may enjoy a
comfortable vacation - boating, bathing, water skiing, playing
numerous games, fishing and other pastimes or relax and
rest in comfort - enjoy living the "LIFE OF RILEY" in the
most beautiful spot in the north country.
Ludlows Minnesota
family resort would be exceptional anywhere. Here in this
magnificent Minnesota wilderness it is extraordinary. Overlooking
Lake Vermilion with it's 40,000 acres of friendly navigable
waters and 365 islands and nearly 1200 miles of shoreline.
A Lake Vermilion resort that is perfect for your family
vacation or Minnesota fishing vacation.
With a unique blend of full-service resort
amenities, personalized service, world-class recreation,
natural beauty, and the Northern Minnesota ambiance, Ludlows
Lake Vermilion Resort offers a unique vacation experience
for all ages.
Muskego Point Resort is
named after the Muskego tribe of Chippewa who once occupied
the site on the sunbathed peninsula of the north shore on
Vermilion's Wake-em-up Narrows. Muskego has been renowned
for generations as an exceptional family and fishing resort.
While inaccessible by road, the resort is just a 2 minute
boat ride from our south shore parking area. Isolated --
Yes! -- but readily accessible.
Enjoy Lake Vermilion's own
music as waves gently lap the shore. Investigate the mystery
of nature. Picnic on your private sundeck and hear the gleeful
voices of children's beach-play. Discover the adventure
of windsurfing or the peace of an afternoon kayak trip.
Observe the awe-inspiring majesty of eagles soaring overhead
as you fish the bountiful waters of Lake Vermilion. Enjoy
the camaraderie of friends and family at an evening cook-out.
Witness a magnificent Minnesota sunset by the lakeside fire
ring as a loon makes its evening call. Put another log on
the crackling fire as you wait for the Aurora Borealis to
begin its dance.
Retreat Lodge is located
off the beaten path for most traffic. We have a 1.2 mile
road (Retreat Lodge Road) coming into the resort that our
guests enjoy walking. Come and enjoy the many trees, wildflowers,
birds, butterflies and an occasional rabbit and whitetailed
deer. Retreat Lodge has two beautiful, safe sandy beaches
to enjoy. Lake Vermilion is spring fed and has soft water.
Spring Bay Resort
is nestled among towering Norway Red Pine, along a protected
bay, on the most beautiful lake in all of Minnesota. You'll
like the fact that we have only six cabins which means there
are only 15-20 guests at the resort at any one time.
We take great pride
in providing you with a relaxing, quiet getaway -- a place
with warm hospitality and friendly old-fashioned service.
Like our other guests, we think you'll like what you find
at Spring Bay!
Art Unlimited
- Progressive Design, Internet Hosting, Website Design, Graphic
Design, and Photography. Art Unlimited, brings progressive website
and graphic design. Targeted advertising campaigns, such as mailers,
e-mail flyers, web sites, and logos.
Our
Group of Real Estate Professionals Represents Over 100 Years of
Combined Real Estate Experience. All our agents are specialists
in waterfront, resort, commercial and residential properties.
It
is the mission of the Cook Area Credit Union to offer to its members
the widest possible range of services for the lowest possible price;
to offer the lowest loan interest rates and the highest dividend
rates while maintaining a strong basis for operations. This will
be accomplished through diligent planning, budgeting and frugal
decision-making, while remaining sensitive to the needs of our membership.
When
you host your web site with Eagle One Productions, you have available
a whole host of options to support additional features to your site.
They not only add the latest in technology to the front end of your
site (what viewers see) but allow you to see what's happening on
the back end as well (what kind of use your site is getting).
Great
Northern Lending was founded by John and Jeff Chaulklin in May 1996.
We have offices in Duluth, MN and Cook, MN which serve the states
of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Colorado. We’re a small
company with access to some of the largest lenders in the world.
By tapping into the wholesale side of lending we are able to pass
the savings onto you our clients.
After
over 60 years of listening to customers and their needs and wants,
our name in the wood products industry has become synonymous with
Problem Solving and Customer Satisfaction. If a product has been
made from birch, aspen, or ash, we've probably been involved in
one way or another at one time or another. And now, with our expanding
business in thin-sawn veneers and laminates, an array of other species
is evolving. Our core strength is in Manufacturing, so Partnering
with OEM accounts and with marketing-oriented firms has worked well
to our mutual advantage. Currently we produce wood-joining biscuits
for two internationally-branded power tool manufacturers and, since
1984, have been the sole wood-fuel supplier to a Fortune 500 heavy
industrial corporation using dehydrated sawdust as an alternative
to natural gas.
Homestead Mills provides specialty flours,
cereals, gourmet crepes, pancakes, waffles, muffin mixes
& specialty/ethnic mix gift boxes. The Mill provides specialty
products not listed on the order form & fundraising product
kits. Products are available in packages up to 50 lbs. Private
labeling is offered for all our products. Stock up your
pantry, or order your favorite backpacking meals & treats.
Commercial Accounts Call us with your needs!
KGM
Contractors, Inc. is a second-generation heavy highway grading contractor
completing projects ranging in size from $10,000 to $10 million.
Our workload ranges between $15 million and $20 million per year.
Enjoy
the comfort of a home on the Lake at Moosebirds Bed and Breakfast.
Imagine time spent on the large deck overlooking Spring Bay of Lake
Vermilion reading a book or watching an eagle fly. Our B&B has a
wonderful living room with fireplace and a big screen T.V. for your
enjoyment. Hearty Breakfasts made by Sue include a Skillet breakfast
with fresh salsa featured in "Minnesota Mornings", a cookbook of
Minnesota B&B's. Our guest rooms are privately arranged upstairs.
We invite you to our home - to come and enjoy in Winter, Spring,
Summer or Fall.
Pete
Niska has been involved with racing for many years... Starting out
helping his brothers, and then finally driving a WISSOTA Superstock.
After a few years out dirt-track racing, he rented a WISSOTA Modified
from a friend, and the "bug" bit again! This gave him the idea to
BUY a WISSOTA modified.....
From
traditional, rustic and country home furnishings to Whirlpool, Kitchen
Aid and Thermadore appliances, Spaces Off Main offers everything
-and we do mean EVERYTHING- you need for your home, cabin or cottage.
In
the 1940's, the National Geographic Society declared Lake Vermilion
one of the top ten most scenic lakes in the U.S. And it still is
today. With its 40,557 acres of water, 365 islands and 313 miles
of shoreline it stretches 24 beautiful miles across the heart of
Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. Come join us and help guarantee that
our Lake will always remain a beautiful Lake. Get involved with
us in actively preserving Lake Vermilion -- the lake of the red
sunsets.
What do you need moved on the Lake? Lumber and construction
materials? Furniture and appliances? Cars, trucks & RV's? Bulk groceries
for when the whole family comes up? Salvage items? Al Borland's
mother? How about a whole building? Call or e-mail for an estimate!
Our
goal at Wilson Marine is to make your boating experience as enjoyable
and trouble-free as possible. We accomplish this through the personalized
sales and service of new and used boats, motors, docks, lifts, canopy
boathouses and marine parts and accessories. We offer Premier Pontoons
and MirroCraft fishing boats. We are authorized service providers
for Suzuki, Johnson/Evinrude, and MerCruiser motors. We stock a
large inventory of part and accessories, so stop in or call us today!
We are located on County Road 24, or Vermilion Drive, right outside
Cook, Minnesota.
Ely
may be the Canoe Capitol of the World but it also has the world's
finest sausages! Zup's was founded on family tradition, the spirit
still lives within the organization.
The friendly greetings, the welcoming smiles and always
an extended hand of help. Zup's popularity is well known and quite
apparent; just take a look at the Guest book
and see for yourself!
The
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely
and intersects with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake
Vermillion. Portions are paved for biking and in-line skating. The
remainder of the natural surface trail is used primarily for snowmobiling
in the winter. The trail goes through a few areas that have standing
water in the summer, however portions of the trail are suitable
for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. 
Our
Group of Real Estate Professionals Represents Over 100 Years of
Combined Real Estate Experience. All our agents are specialists
in waterfront, resort, commercial and residential properties.
It
is the mission of the Cook Area Credit Union to offer to its members
the widest possible range of services for the lowest possible price;
to offer the lowest loan interest rates and the highest dividend
rates while maintaining a strong basis for operations. This will
be accomplished through diligent planning, budgeting and frugal
decision-making, while remaining sensitive to the needs of our membership.
When
you host your web site with Eagle One Productions, you have available
a whole host of options to support additional features to your site.
They not only add the latest in technology to the front end of your
site (what viewers see) but allow you to see what's happening on
the back end as well (what kind of use your site is getting).
Great
Northern Lending was founded by John and Jeff Chaulklin in May 1996.
We have offices in Duluth, MN and Cook, MN which serve the states
of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Colorado. We’re a small
company with access to some of the largest lenders in the world.
By tapping into the wholesale side of lending we are able to pass
the savings onto you our clients. 
After
over 60 years of listening to customers and their needs and wants,
our name in the wood products industry has become synonymous with
Problem Solving and Customer Satisfaction. If a product has been
made from birch, aspen, or ash, we've probably been involved in
one way or another at one time or another. And now, with our expanding
business in thin-sawn veneers and laminates, an array of other species
is evolving. Our core strength is in Manufacturing, so Partnering
with OEM accounts and with marketing-oriented firms has worked well
to our mutual advantage. Currently we produce wood-joining biscuits
for two internationally-branded power tool manufacturers and, since
1984, have been the sole wood-fuel supplier to a Fortune 500 heavy
industrial corporation using dehydrated sawdust as an alternative
to natural gas. 
KGM
Contractors, Inc. is a second-generation heavy highway grading contractor
completing projects ranging in size from $10,000 to $10 million.
Our workload ranges between $15 million and $20 million per year.
Seasonal
dock lifting
Enjoy
the comfort of a home on the Lake at Moosebirds Bed and Breakfast.
Imagine time spent on the large deck overlooking Spring Bay of Lake
Vermilion reading a book or watching an eagle fly. Our B&B has a
wonderful living room with fireplace and a big screen T.V. for your
enjoyment. Hearty Breakfasts made by Sue include a Skillet breakfast
with fresh salsa featured in "Minnesota Mornings", a cookbook of
Minnesota B&B's. Our guest rooms are privately arranged upstairs.
We invite you to our home - to come and enjoy in Winter, Spring,
Summer or Fall.
Pete
Niska has been involved with racing for many years... Starting out
helping his brothers, and then finally driving a WISSOTA Superstock.
After a few years out dirt-track racing, he rented a WISSOTA Modified
from a friend, and the "bug" bit again! This gave him the idea to
BUY a WISSOTA modified.....
From
traditional, rustic and country home furnishings to Whirlpool, Kitchen
Aid and Thermadore appliances, Spaces Off Main offers everything
-and we do mean EVERYTHING- you need for your home, cabin or cottage.
In
the 1940's, the National Geographic Society declared Lake Vermilion
one of the top ten most scenic lakes in the U.S. And it still is
today. With its 40,557 acres of water, 365 islands and 313 miles
of shoreline it stretches 24 beautiful miles across the heart of
Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. Come join us and help guarantee that
our Lake will always remain a beautiful Lake. Get involved with
us in actively preserving Lake Vermilion -- the lake of the red
sunsets.
Our
goal at Wilson Marine is to make your boating experience as enjoyable
and trouble-free as possible. We accomplish this through the personalized
sales and service of new and used boats, motors, docks, lifts, canopy
boathouses and marine parts and accessories. We offer Premier Pontoons
and MirroCraft fishing boats. We are authorized service providers
for Suzuki, Johnson/Evinrude, and MerCruiser motors. We stock a
large inventory of part and accessories, so stop in or call us today!
We are located on County Road 24, or Vermilion Drive, right outside
Cook, Minnesota. 
Ely
may be the Canoe Capitol of the World but it also has the world's
finest sausages! Zup's was founded on family tradition, the spirit
still lives within the organization. 
