Grand Rapids travel guide

Grand Rapids is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,764 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Itasca County. Mayor Jim Millis was elected in 2006 and began a four year term in January 2007.
The city of Grand Rapids is named for the local rapids in the Mississippi river, which was the uppermost limit of practical steamboat travel during the late 1800s. Today, those rapids are hidden underneath the dam of the Blandin Paper Mill.
Historically, the local economy was based on timber harvesting, and to this day, Blandin Paper Mill, now owned by the Finnish based UPM paper company, has its papermaking facilities in downtown Grand Rapids, while Ainsworth (formerly Potlach) located just outside of the city limits, produced oriented strand board until its doors were closed recently. The Mesabi or Iron Range region of Minnesota begins with iron mines north and northeast of the city. Although technically a member of the Iron Range, Grand Rapids and its historic economy was based on paper manufacturing and other wood products. Its current economy also has a large tourist footing, with many local resorts, golf courses, and excellent regional hunting and fishing. It also is the service center for a large seasonal and weekend population with summer residences on surrounding lakes. (...) more....