Editing International Falls, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = International Falls
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Icebox of the Nation,<br />Frostbite Falls
| motto              = 
<!-- Images --------------->
| image_skyline      =International Falls, Minnesota 1.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = International Falls
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
| image_map          = Koochiching_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_International_Falls_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of International Falls<br />within [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]] and the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
<!-- Location ------------->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Minnesota]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching]]
| pushpin_map        = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the [[United States]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
<!-- Government ----------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Drake Dill
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1870
<!-- Area ----------------->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 16.63
| area_land_km2      = 16.60
| area_water_km2     = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.42
| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.41
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
<!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 5603
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="UScensus2023"/>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
| population_total   = 5802
| population_density_km2 = 349.55
| population_density_sq_mi = 905.29
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|Central]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = -CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/>
| elevation_m        = 345
| elevation_ft       = 1131
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|35|30|N|93|24|19|W|region:US-MN_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS">[http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:645435 Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for International Falls, Minnesota; United States Geological Survey (USGS); January 11, 1980.]</ref>
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 56649, 56679
| area_code          = [[Area code 218|218]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 27-31040<ref name="GNIS"/>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0645435<ref name="GNIS"/>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.ci.international-falls.mn.us/|ci.international-falls.mn.us}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord={{Coord|48.6127|-93.401}}| zoom=10
| width=275| height=320| nolabels=1
| mark-coord1= {{coord|48.5917|-93.4053}}| label1=International |labela1=Falls, MN |mark-size1=9| label-pos1=right| label-size1=11| label-color1=#887777| mark-title1=[[International Falls, MN]]
| mark-coord2={{Coord|48.649|-93.295}}| mark-size2=0| mark-title2=[[Rainy Lake]]
| arc-coordA={{coord|48.631|-93.28}}| arc-textA=RAINY LAKE 
| arc-angleA=-105| arc-gapA=3.2| arc-radiusA=0.6| arc-text-sizeA = 11| arc-text-colorA= soft blue
| label3=Fort Frances, |labela3=Ontario |mark-coord3= {{coord|48.6107|-93.397}}| label-pos3=top|mark-title3=[[Fort Frances]]
| mark-coord4= {{coord|48.5333|-93.5221}}| mark-size4=0| mark-title4=[[Rainy River (Minnesota–Ontario)]]
| arc-coordB={{coord|48.530|-93.561}}| arc-textB=Rainy River 
| arc-angleB=-27| arc-gapB=1.07| arc-radiusB=0.8| arc-text-sizeB = 11| arc-text-colorB= soft blue
|mark-coord5= {{coord|48.5273|-93.3748}}|mark5=US 53.svg| mark-size5=14|mark-title5=none
|mark-coord6={{coord|48.6178|-93.5774}}|mark6=Ontario 71.svg| mark-size6=14|mark-title6=none
|mark-coord7={{coord|48.609|-93.2973}}|mark7=MN-11.svg| mark-size7=16|mark-title7=none
| caption=International Falls, on the south bank of Rainy River, which serves as the U.S.–Canada border.}}

'''International Falls''' (sometimes referred to as '''I-Falls''') is a [[List of cities in Minnesota|city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]], [[Minnesota]], United States.<ref name="GNIS" /> The population was 5,802 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2731040 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 2, 2022}}</ref>

International Falls is located on the [[Rainy River (Minnesota-Ontario)|Rainy River]] directly across from [[Fort Frances]], [[Ontario]], Canada. The two cities are connected by the [[Fort Frances–International Falls International Bridge]]. [[Voyageurs National Park]] is located 11 miles east of International Falls. There is a major U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry on the International Falls side of the toll bridge and a Canadian Customs entry point on the north side of the bridge.

International Falls is nicknamed the "[[Icebox]] of the Nation,” with an average of 109.4 days per year with a high temperature below {{convert|32|F|C}}.

==History==
The area now known as International Falls was inhabited by many indigenous peoples. The International Falls area was well known to explorers, missionaries, and voyagers as early as the 17th century. It was not until April 1895 that the community was [[plat]]ted by L. A. Ogaard, a teacher and preacher for the Koochiching Company, and named Koochiching. The word “Koochiching” comes from either the [[Ojibwe language|Ojibwe]] word ''Gojijiing'' or the [[Cree language|Cree]] ''Kocicīhk'', both meaning “at the place of inlets,” referring to the neighboring [[Rainy Lake]] and [[Rainy River (Minnesota-Ontario)|River]]. The European inhabitants gave the names Rainy Lake and Rainy River to the nearby bodies of water because of the mist-like rain present at the falls where the lake flowed into the river.

On August 10, 1901, the village was incorporated and two years later its name was changed to International Falls in recognition of the river's role as a border between the United States and Canada. It was incorporated as a city in 1909.<ref name="Upham1920">{{cite book|author=Warren Upham|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n302 283]}}</ref>

Realizing the potential for water power and mills in the area, industrialist [[Edward Wellington Backus|E.W. Backus]], president of the Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company in the early 20th century, built a dam on the Rainy River to power the company's mills. Purchased by [[Boise Cascade]] Corporation in 1965, and sold to an investment group in 2003, the company remains the largest business and employer in the area. In 2013 Boise laid off 394 employees and closed down a paper machine. It then sold to [[Packaging Corporation of America]] (PCA).

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.53|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|6.42|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.11|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - International FallsArea, MN (ThreadEx).svg|thumb|left|Climate chart for International Falls]]
International Falls, with its relatively central position in the North American continent, has a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfb''), with long, bitterly cold winters and humid, warm summers and is part of USDA Plant [[hardiness zone]] 3a.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|publisher=Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University|access-date=January 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|archive-date=February 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> January averages {{convert|5.0|°F|1}}, and lows reach {{convert|0|°F|0}} on an average of 57.2 nights annually.<ref name = NCDC /> Highs only reach the freezing point or above an average of 16.7 days in the months of December, January, and February, and the temperature often stays below freezing for weeks at a time during the winter. In the winter of 1978 to 1979, the temperature stayed below freezing for 101 days, from November 17 to February 25.<ref name = NCDC /> Seasonal snowfall averages {{convert|73.0|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}; due to the cold typically preventing significant melting for much of the winter, snow depths of {{convert|5|in|cm|abbr=on}} or more are seen on a majority of days from December through March.<ref name = "NCDC TXT KINL"/> Spring, and more especially autumn, are short but mild transition seasons. July averages {{convert|64.9|°F|1}}, with highs reaching {{convert|90|°F|0}} an average of only 2 days annually, and in close to 40% of years, the temperature does not rise that high. Precipitation averages about {{convert|25.37|in|mm|abbr=on}} per year, and is concentrated in the warmer months. The average window for freezing temperatures is September 14 through May 26, allowing a frost-free period of 110 days; however, the all-time record for the latest first freeze was set relatively recently on October 17, 2021, being over a month late.<ref name = NCDC /> Measurable snowfall (≥{{convert|0.1|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=or}}) arrives on average on October 18 and departs April 22.<ref name = NCDC /> The all-time record high temperature is {{convert|103|°F|0}}, set on July 22, 1923, while the all-time record low is {{convert|-55|°F|0}}, set on January 6, 1909, a range of {{convert|158|F-change}}; the record cold maximum is {{convert|-29|°F|0}}, set on the same day as the record low, while, conversely, the record warm minimum is {{convert|79|°F|0}} on July 16, 1898.<ref name = NCDC />

{{Weather box
|location = International Falls, Minnesota ([[Falls International Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1897–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 53
|Feb record high F = 58
|Mar record high F = 79
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 96
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 88
|Nov record high F = 74
|Dec record high F = 56
|year record high F = 103
|Jan avg record high F = 38.5
|Feb avg record high F = 42.9
|Mar avg record high F = 56.1
|Apr avg record high F = 72.5
|May avg record high F = 83.7
|Jun avg record high F = 86.7
|Jul avg record high F = 88.7
|Aug avg record high F = 87.4
|Sep avg record high F = 83.6
|Oct avg record high F = 74.0
|Nov avg record high F = 54.7
|Dec avg record high F = 39.7
|year avg record high F = 90.7
|Jan high F = 15.7
|Feb high F = 21.7
|Mar high F = 35.4
|Apr high F = 50.1
|May high F = 64.2
|Jun high F = 73.5
|Jul high F = 77.7
|Aug high F = 76.0
|Sep high F = 66.4
|Oct high F = 51.2
|Nov high F = 34.4
|Dec high F = 20.8
|year high F = 48.9
|Jan mean F = 5.0
|Feb mean F = 9.5
|Mar mean F = 23.6
|Apr mean F = 38.1
|May mean F = 51.1
|Jun mean F = 60.8
|Jul mean F = 64.9
|Aug mean F = 62.8
|Sep mean F = 54.2
|Oct mean F = 41.1
|Nov mean F = 26.3
|Dec mean F = 11.8
|year mean F = 37.4
|Jan low F = −5.8
|Feb low F = −2.6
|Mar low F = 11.8
|Apr low F = 26.1
|May low F = 38.1
|Jun low F = 48.2
|Jul low F = 52.0
|Aug low F = 49.7
|Sep low F = 42.0
|Oct low F = 31.1
|Nov low F = 18.1
|Dec low F = 2.7
|year low F = 26.0
|Jan avg record low F = -33.0
|Feb avg record low F = −28.7
|Mar avg record low F = −16.4
|Apr avg record low F = 10.7
|May avg record low F = 24.4
|Jun avg record low F = 33.4
|Jul avg record low F = 40.1
|Aug avg record low F = 37.0
|Sep avg record low F = 26.8
|Oct avg record low F = 16.9
|Nov avg record low F = -3.2
|Dec avg record low F = −25.2
|year avg record low F = −36.2
|Jan record low F = −55
|Feb record low F = −48
|Mar record low F = −38
|Apr record low F = −14
|May record low F = 8
|Jun record low F = 23
|Jul record low F = 32
|Aug record low F = 27
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = 2
|Nov record low F = −32
|Dec record low F = −41
|year record low F = −55
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.79
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.69
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.02
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.64
|May precipitation inch = 3.06
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.78
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.97
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.82
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.00
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.22
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.39
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.99
|year precipitation inch = 25.37

|Jan snow inch = 15.7
|Feb snow inch = 12.6
|Mar snow inch = 7.9
|Apr snow inch = 7.0
|May snow inch = 0.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.1
|Oct snow inch = 1.6
|Nov snow inch = 12.1
|Dec snow inch = 15.8
|year snow inch = 73.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.1
|Feb precipitation days = 9.0
|Mar precipitation days = 8.3
|Apr precipitation days = 9.4
|May precipitation days = 12.7
|Jun precipitation days = 13.8
|Jul precipitation days = 12.5
|Aug precipitation days = 11.0
|Sep precipitation days = 12.2
|Oct precipitation days = 12.6
|Nov precipitation days = 10.2
|Dec precipitation days = 11.1
|year precipitation days = 132.9
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 13.6
|Feb snow days = 11.4
|Mar snow days = 6.9
|Apr snow days = 4.0
|May snow days = 0.4
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 2.5
|Nov snow days = 10.0
|Dec snow days = 12.5
|year snow days = 61.4
|Jan humidity = 70.8
|Feb humidity = 67.4
|Mar humidity = 65.7
|Apr humidity = 61.1
|May humidity = 61.3
|Jun humidity = 68.6
|Jul humidity = 71.2
|Aug humidity = 74.8
|Sep humidity = 77.1
|Oct humidity = 74.2
|Nov humidity = 78.8
|Dec humidity = 77.1
|year humidity = 70.7
|Jan dew point C = -20.8
|Feb dew point C = -17.9
|Mar dew point C = -10.8
|Apr dew point C = -3.8
|May dew point C = 3.1
|Jun dew point C = 9.8
|Jul dew point C = 13.4
|Aug dew point C = 12.4
|Sep dew point C = 7.4
|Oct dew point C = 1.0
|Nov dew point C = -7.1
|Dec dew point C = -16.4
|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity 1961–1990)<ref name= NCDC >{{cite web
|url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dlh
|title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 23, 2021
|archive-date = May 9, 2021
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210509024006/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dlh
|url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name="NCDC TXT KINL">
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014918&format=pdf
|title = Station: INTL Falls INTL AP, MN
|work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 23, 2021
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240118135109/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014918&format=pdf
|archive-date = 2024-01-18}}</ref><ref name="WMO 1961–90 KINL">
{{cite web 
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72747.TXT 
|title = WMO Climate Normals for INTERNATIONAL FALLS/INT'L ARP, MN 1961–1990 
|access-date = January 15, 2018 
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240118134436/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72747.TXT
|archive-date = 2024-01-18}}</ref>
}}
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/International Falls, Minnesota.tab
| title=International Falls monthly weather statistics
}}

===Icebox of the Nation===
International Falls has long promoted itself as the "Icebox of the Nation"; however, the [[trademark]] for the slogan has been challenged on several occasions by the small town of [[Fraser, Colorado]]. Officials from Fraser claimed usage since 1956, International Falls since 1948. The two towns came to an agreement in 1986, when International Falls paid Fraser $2,000 to relinquish its "official" claim. However, in 1996, International Falls inadvertently failed to renew its [[U.S. federal law|federal]] trademark, although it had kept its [[Law of the United States#State and territory law|state]] trademark up to date. Fraser then filed to gain the federal trademark.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22649329|title=Towns face off over claim to be nation's 'icebox'|date=January 14, 2008|work=msnbc.com|access-date=September 22, 2018|language=en}}</ref> International Falls submitted photographic proof that its 1955 [[Minor hockey|Pee Wee hockey]] team traveled to [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] with the slogan.<ref name=ST020808>Curt Brown, [http://www.startribune.com/local/15453806.html International Falls says it loud: We're cold, and we're proud], ''Star Tribune'', February 8, 2008.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012154420/http://www.startribune.com/local/15453806.html |date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref> After several years of legal battles, the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] officially registered the slogan with International Falls on January 29, 2008, Registration Number 3375139.<ref name=USPTOsearch>[http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77124629&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch Trademark Status & Document Retrieval], United States Patent and Trademark Office, ''Accessed May 1, 2015.''</ref> Only a few days after announcing its success in the trademark battle, International Falls had a daily record low temperature of {{convert|-40|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, beating a previous record of {{convert|-37|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in 1967.<ref name=CNN021108>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/02/11/minnesota.cold.ap/index.html Nation's 'Icebox' hits record 40 below zero], Associated Press, February 11, 2008.  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611074133/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/02/11/minnesota.cold.ap/index.html |date=June 11, 2008 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1487
|1920= 3448
|1930= 5036
|1940= 5626
|1950= 6269
|1960= 6778
|1970= 6439
|1980= 5611
|1990= 8324
|2000= 6703
|2010= 6424
|2020= 5802
|estyear=2022
|estimate=5665
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 3, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 3, 2023}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,908, and the median income for a family was $41,458. Males had a median income of $41,584 versus $20,053 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,171. About 10.0% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 6,424 people, 2,903 households, and 1,645 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1001|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|0}}. There were 3,157 housing units at an average density of {{convert|492|/sqmi|/km2|0}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 2,903 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.3% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 42.4 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 6,703 people, 2,959 households, and 1,751 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 2,959 households, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.8% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the city was 40.5 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.3% were from 45 to 64; and 20.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

==Politics==
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff|title=Presidential election results}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="margin:auto; float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ '''2020 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2020/2020-general-election-results/2020-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=2020 Precinct Results Spreadsheet}}</ref>
|+ '''2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2016/2016-general-election-results/2016-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet}}</ref>
|+ '''2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2012/2012-general-election-results/2012-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet}}</ref>
|+ '''2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2008/2008-general-election-results/2008-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet}}</ref>
|+ '''2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2004/2004-general-election-results/2004-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet}}</ref>
|+ '''2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2000/2000-general-election-results/2000-precinct-results-spreadsheet/|title=2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.2%''' ''1,660''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.9% ''1,343''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.9% ''59''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.0%''' ''1,451''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.6% ''1,106''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.4% ''234''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.2% ''1,106''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.9%''' ''1,703''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.9% ''83''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.2% ''1,190''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.4%''' ''1,771''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.4% ''73''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.0% ''1,442''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.7%''' ''1,866''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.3% ''44''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.1% ''1,383''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.3%''' ''1,481''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.6% ''270''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

== Local media ==

===FM===
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[FM radio]] stations
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|88.3<br /> 88.3 HD-2||[[KITF]]||MPR News<br />Classical MPR||[[NPR]]<br />[[European classical music|Classical]]||[[Minnesota Public Radio]]
|-
|91.9||[[KXBR]]||The Bridge||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||Heartland Christian Broadcasters, Inc.
|-
|95.3||[[KGHS (AM)|W237EX]]<br /><small>([[KGHS (AM)|KGHS-AM]] Translator)</small>|| ||[[Oldies]]||R & J Broadcasting
|-
|97.7||[[KITF|K249BK]]<br /><small>([[KITF|KITF HD-2]] Translator)</small>||Classical MPR||[[European classical music|Classical]]||[[Minnesota Public Radio]]
|-
|99.5||[[KBHW]]||Psalm 99:5||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||Heartland Christian Broadcasters, Inc.
|-
|104.1||[[KSDM]]||K-104||[[Country music|Country]]||R & J Broadcasting
|}

The local Icebox Radio Theater produces [[radio drama]] broadcasts on 106.9 FM, with a power output of one watt.

===AM===
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[AM radio]] stations
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|1230||[[KGHS (AM)|KGHS]]|| ||[[Oldies]]||R & J Broadcasting
|}

===Television===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Channel
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Callsign
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Affiliation
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Branding
! style="background:#ccf;" colspan="2"|Subchannels
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Owner
|-
! style="background:#fcc;"| (Virtual)
! style="background:#fcc;"| Channel
! style="background:#fcc;"| Programming
|-
| 9.1
| [[Lakeland PBS|K18MB-D]]<br /><small>([[Lakeland PBS|KAWE]] Translator)</small>
| [[PBS]]
| ''Lakeland PBS''
| 9.2<br />9.3<br />9.4<br />9.5<br />9.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[First Nations Experience]]<br />[[PBS Kids]]<br />[[Create (TV network)|Create]]<br />PBS Encore<br />[[Minnesota Channel]]
| style="text-align:left" | County of Koochiching
|-
| 11.1
| [[KBJR-TV|K22MZ-D]] <br /><small>([[KRII]] Translator)</small>
| [[NBC]]
| ''KBJR 6''
| 11.2<br />11.3
| style="text-align:left" | [[CBS]]<br />[[Heroes & Icons|H&I]]/[[MyNetworkTV]]
| style="text-align:left" | County of Koochiching
|-
| 13.1
| [[WDIO-DT|K24MT-D]] <br /><small>([[WDIO-DT|WIRT]] Translator)</small>
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| 
| 13.2<br />13.3
| style="text-align:left" | [[MeTV]]<br />[[Ion Television]] 
| style="text-align:left" | County of Koochiching
|-
| 21.1
| [[KQDS-TV|K20NR-D]] <br /><small>([[KQDS-TV|KQDS]] Translator)</small>
| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
| ''FOX 21''
| 21.2
| style="text-align:left" | [[Antenna TV]] 
| style="text-align:left" | [[Red River Broadcasting]]
|-
| 39.1
| [[Three Angels Broadcasting Network|K38MM-D]]
| [[Three Angels Broadcasting Network|3ABN]]
| 
| 39.2<br />39.3<br />39.4<br />39.5<br />39.6<br />39.7
| style="text-align:left" | 3ABN Proclaim<br />3ABN Dare to Dream<br />3ABN Latino<br />3ABN Radio<br />3ABN Radio Latino<br />[[Radio 74]]
| style="text-align:left" | Edge Spectrum, Inc.
|}
Local cable television service is offered by [[Midcontinent Communications]].

=== Newspaper ===

==== The Journal ====
Since 1911 the local newspaper was The Journal which announced its closure on June 3, 2021, with June 24, 2021 being its last edition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-25 |title=Minnesota loses another newspaper as International Falls Journal ceases publication |url=https://www.minnpost.com/twin-cities-business/2021/06/minnesota-loses-another-newspaper-as-international-falls-journal-ceases-publication/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Rainy Lake Gazette ====
On Friday, July 16, 2021, [[CherryRoad Media|CherryRoad Media Inc.]] distributed Volume 1, Issue 1 of its newest publication, the [https://www.rainylakegazette.com/ ''Rainy Lake Gazette''.]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-26 |title=CherryRoad Media Inc. Launches New Newspaper in International Falls, Minnesota |url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/cherryroad-media-inc-launches-new-newspaper-the-rainy-lake-gazette-located-in-international-falls,198531 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Editor and Publisher |language=en}}</ref>

==Culture==
*Icebox Radio Theater<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iceboxradio.org |title=The Icebox Radio Theater |publisher=Iceboxradio.org |date= |accessdate=July 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/a7sevhTfhFA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160317054510/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7sevhTfhFA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7sevhTfhFA| title = Icebox Radio on Fox-21 | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The Backus Community Center opened in 2002 and serves as one of the cultural centers of International Falls. Each year, the Backus Performing Arts Series presents a number of musical and stage productions to the local community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifallsjournal.com/news/entertainment/series-features-seven-shows/article_597c8be8-4f23-535c-b6bc-ae1e0fbbd6ea.html|title=Series features seven shows|access-date=October 19, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626231159/https://www.ifallsjournal.com/news/entertainment/series-features-seven-shows/article_597c8be8-4f23-535c-b6bc-ae1e0fbbd6ea.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Borealis Bards community theatre group has staged a number of productions since its founding in 2014, including 2015's production of Alice In Wonderland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifallsjournal.com/news/entertainment/community-theater-group-to-present-alice-in-wonderland/article_5b75c741-3968-597f-a93a-a6496dbc92a8.html|title = Community theater group to present 'Alice in Wonderland'| date=March 30, 2023}}</ref>

The International Falls post office contains a mural, ''Early Lodging in Koochichin Falls'', painted by [[Lucia Wiley]]. Federally commissioned murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the [[United States]] through the [[Section of Painting and Sculpture]], later called the [[Section of Fine Arts]], of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]]. The [[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] was the largest and most ambitious American [[New Deal agency]], employing individuals to carry out [[public works]] projects.<ref>{{cite book |last=Arnesen |first=Eric |date=2007 |title=Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-Class History |volume=1 |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |page=1540 |isbn=9780415968263}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[Falls International Airport]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|IATA code]]: INL, [[International Civil Aviation Organization airport code|ICAO code]]: KINL) is a public airport located just south of the city. The airport has two runways. It is mostly used for [[general aviation]] but is also served by [[Delta Air Lines]] which has two daily flights to [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport]] using the Bombardier CRJ-700 jet airliner.

The [[Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway]] operates a {{convert|4|mi|km|abbr=on}} line between International Falls and [[Ranier, Minnesota|Ranier]].<ref name="Lewis1996">{{cite book|author=Edward A. Lewis|title=American Shortline Railway Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3i6K_Nf9e2EC&pg=PA200|year=1996|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing, Co.|isbn=978-0-89024-290-2|page=200}}</ref>

===Major highways===
The following routes are located within the city of International Falls.
* [[Image:US 53.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 53 (Minnesota)|U.S. Highway 53]]
* [[Image:US 71.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 71 (Minnesota)|U.S. Highway 71]]
* [[Image:MN-11.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 11]]

Port Code : 3604

==References in popular culture==
A Sears Diehard car battery commercial was filmed in International Falls in the 1970s, playing on the city's extremely cold winter climate to promote the longevity and effectiveness of the product. It led to a parody ad – aired several times in the first (1975) season of [[Saturday Night Live]] – promoting a geriatric product.

The fictional Minnesota small town of [[Frostbite Falls]], which was the hometown of cartoon characters [[Rocket "Rocky" J. Squirrel]] and [[Bullwinkle J. Moose]] of [[The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show]], was a spoof of the real-life International Falls. The fictional town was located in Koochiching County as well.

The 2019 dark comedy film [https://www.internationalfallsmovie.com/ International Falls], starring [[Rachael Harris]], [[Rob Huebel|Rob Heubel]], and [[Matthew Glave]], is set and filmed in International Falls.

==Notable people==
*[[Edward Wellington Backus|Edward Backus]], industrialist
*[[Tammy Faye Messner|Tammy Bakker]], [[The PTL Club|PTL]] [[The 700 Club]]
*[[Dean Blais]], hockey coach, [[University of Nebraska, Omaha]], [[National Collegiate Hockey Conference|NCHC]]
*[[Bill Borcher]], [[University of Oregon]] head basketball coach 1951–1956
*[[Keith Christiansen (ice hockey)|Keith Christiansen]], hockey player, United States Hockey Hall of Fame, silver medalist and co-[[captain (ice hockey)|captain]] of 1972 USA Team in Winter Olympics Sapporo, Japan
*[[Kevin Constantine]], hockey coach, [[NHL]], [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL]]
*[[Jim Crotty]], pro football player, [[Washington Redskins]]
*[[Mike Curran]], hockey player, United States Hockey Hall of Fame, [[1972 Winter Olympics]] silver medal
*[[Richard Dougherty]], Minnesota Gopher Hall of Fame hockey, silver medal [[1956 Winter Olympics|1956 Olympic Games]]
*[[Constance Edith Fowler]], artist, printmaker, author, educator
*[[Arlys Johnson-Maxwell]], weightlifter Senior World Champion 1987
*[[Bob Mason (ice hockey)|Bob Mason]], Goalie [[NHL]] 1984–1991, goaltending coach of [[Minnesota Wild]]
*[[Jack McDonald (ice hockey goaltender)|Jack McDonald]], ice hockey goaltender for [[Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey|Michigan]]
*[[Bronko Nagurski]], football player, member of the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
*[[Bronko Nagurski Jr.]], football player for [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] and in [[Canadian Football League]]
*[[Bob Neuenschwander]], Minnesota state legislator and businessman
*[[Ernest Oberholtzer]], explorer, author, conservationist
*[[Gary Sampson (ice hockey)|Gary Sampson]], hockey player, [[Washington Capitals]]
*[[Neil Sheehy]], hockey player, [[Calgary Flames]] [[Hartford Whalers]] and [[Washington Capitals]] NHL Hockey Agent
*[[Timothy Sheehy (ice hockey)|Timothy Sheehy]], hockey player, United States Hockey Hall of Fame, silver medalist and co-[[captain (ice hockey)|captain]] of 1972 USA Team in Winter Olympics Sapporo, Japan
*[[Frank Youso]], [[NFL]] player, [[New York Giants]], [[Oakland Raiders]], [[Minnesota Vikings]]
*[[Larry Ross (ice hockey)|Larry Ross]], International Falls High School hockey coach 1954–1985, won 6 Minnesota High school state championships

==See also==
* [[Voyageurs National Park]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|International Falls, Minnesota}}
* [http://www.ci.international-falls.mn.us/ City of International Falls]
* [https://www.co.koochiching.mn.us/ Koochiching County, Minnesota]
* [https://fortfrances.ca/ Fort Frances, Ontario]
* [https://internationalfallsairport.com/ Falls International Airport]

{{Koochiching County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:International Falls, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Koochiching County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:County seats in Minnesota]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in Minnesota]]