Soudan, Minnesota | |
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Census-designated place (CDP) and Unincorporated community | |
Location of the community of Soudan within Breitung Township, Saint Louis County |
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Coordinates: 47°48′57″N 92°14′16″W / 47.81583°N 92.23778°WCoordinates: 47°48′57″N 92°14′16″W / 47.81583°N 92.23778°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Minnesota |
County | Saint Louis |
Township | Breitung Township |
Area | |
• Total | 0.680 sq mi (1.76 km2) |
• Land | 0.680 sq mi (1.76 km2) |
• Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
Elevation | 1,434 ft (437 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 446 |
• Density | 660/sq mi (250/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP codes | 55782 |
Area code(s) | 218 |
GNIS feature ID | 662492 |
Soudan is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Breitung Township, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 446.
The community is located immediately east of the city of Tower on State Highway 1 (MN 1) and State Highway 169 (MN 169).
It is the home of McKinley Park, a park and campground operated by Breitung Township, named in honor of former President of the United States, William McKinley, who was in office from 1897 to 1901.
The Soudan Underground Mine State Park is located nearby. The park contains the University of Minnesota's Soudan Underground Laboratory which houses detectors, including MINOS, over 700 meters below the surface of the Earth. Both the mine and the underground laboratory are open for tours.
Although it is unincorporated, Soudan has a post office, with the ZIP code of 55782.
The village of Soudan was established March 3, 1885. Soudan obtained its name from D. H. Bacon, general manager of the Soudan Underground mine. Bacon said that the severe winter cold is a strong contrast with the tropical heat of the Soudan (or Sudan) region in Africa, according to the online resource "Minnesota Place Names" from the Minnesota Historical Society. The village had a post office, established as Tower Mines in 1887 and changed to Soudan in 1888; associated with Tower Junction. Soudan has since returned to being an unincorporated community.