$276,506Average Value$201Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
Wood City is where industry and nature meet in northern Minnesota
Cloquet is nicknamed Wood City, and that's no hollow claim. The timber industry’s presence is clear-cut in this northern Minnesota city of about 12,500 residents some 20 miles southwest of Duluth. The high school mascot is the Lumberjacks, and Cloquet’s version of a traffic jam is created when logging trucks line up to deliver felled trees at the paper mill that’s long been one of the city’s largest employers.
That blend — heavy industry surrounded by a forested setting near the rolling waters of the St. Louis River — gives Cloquet its distinct identity. The other major element that defines the city is the 154-square-mile Fond du Lac Reservation, part of which carries into Cloquet’s west side.
Logging trucks line up daily to deliver trees to the Sappi Paper Mill.
The Fond du Lac Reservation occupies 154 square miles on the west side of Cloquet.
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Industry, casino play heavy roles in the local economy
The last matchstick factory in the United States was here until it closed in 2017, but Cloquet withstood the blow thanks to a solid base of major employers. The Sappi paper mill is the most noticeable, by sight and scent, and about a mile upriver, a USG plant produces ceiling tiles. Though industry remains vital to the economy, Black Bear Casino Resort, which sits on tribal land in neighboring Carlton, is also a major economic player. Community Memorial Hospital is another prominent employer. Interstate 35, which leads 20 miles east to Duluth and 140 miles south to the Twin Cities, provides key infrastructure. Duluth International Airport is 25 miles from Cloquet.
The Sappi paper mill processes around 5,500 tons of wood each day and is a major employer in Cloquet.
The USG plant is a major employer in Cloquet since 1918.
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Homes reflect rapid rebuild following 1918 wildfire
In October 1918, the third-deadliest wildfire in recorded history swept through Carlton County, destroying every structure in Cloquet save for those on Dunlap Island. The rebuild was rapid, and today, Craftsman homes and bungalows from the first decade following the fire make up most homes in the city.
Except for some new homes built on established lots, houses constructed more recently than the 1970s are unusual here. Since the Fond du Lac Reservation is the sovereign land of the Lake Superior Chippewa, Cloquet has less room to expand than may appear. “We have a housing shortage, like most every place,” says Cloquet mayor Roger Maki, who also has a 55-year career as a Realtor. “There’s some infill, but the subdivisions we do have are full.”
Cloquet’s median home price of around $240,000 is well below the national median and around $50,000 below the median price in Duluth.
Most homes in Cloquet were built prior to 1970.
The median home price in Cloquet is around $240,000.
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Cloquet High carries a proud hockey tradition
Cloquet Public School District has two elementary, one middle and one high school. The district earns a B-plus rating from Niche. Cloquet Senior High’s athletic options include sports with a decidedly Minnesota flavor: alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and boys' and girls' ice hockey. “Hockey is very big in Cloquet. It is definitely No. 1,” Maki says.
Students living on the reservation can attend unrated Fond du Lac Ojibwe School and continue their studies at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College.
Cloquet Senior High is located in Cloquet MN.
Cloquet Middle School sits on a large campus that is shared with the Cloquet High School.
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Residents embrace the outdoors year-round
Locals can’t avoid the frigid blast of northern Minnesota winters, so most find ways to embrace it. Carlton County has more than 500 miles of snowmobiling trails, many of which cut through Cloquet. In addition to having one of the two ski jump hills in northern Minnesota, Pine Valley Recreational Area offers cross-country skiing courses and outdoor hockey rinks.
Summer ushers in new outdoor options, including the Beach at Pinehurst Park, a public swimming pool with a sandy bottom. Golfers can hit the links at Black Bear Resort’s 18-hole course or join Cloquet Country Club. Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton is popular year-round, from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter to hiking and camping in summer and fall.
The 6,560-yard, par-72 Black Bear Golf Course is located south of Cloquet adjacent to Black Bear Casino.
Visitors can hike the Ogantz Trail to the scenic overlook at Jay Cooke State Park.
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Gordy's Hi-Hat is a summertime dining favorite
Residents travel to Duluth for shopping malls and higher-end dining options, but Cloquet has the essentials. From spring through fall, few restaurants are as beloved as Gordy’s Hi-Hat, a local institution serving burgers, fried fish and onion rings since 1960 and was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Cloquet’s other iconic location is a gas station — and for good reason. The R.W. Lindholm Service Station, which remains in operation, is the only gas station ever designed by iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Gordy's Hi-Hat is a family-run local restaurant offering burgers, fried fish, malts & other American classics.
The R.W. Lindholm Service Station in Cloquet was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Hockey tournaments are a regular weekly event
Hockey isn’t just a pastime in Cloquet; it helps drive the economy. Maki notes that every hotel room in the city is usually booked on weekends during the winter, thanks to youth hockey tournaments at Northwoods Credit Union Arena and Pine Valley Ice Arena.
The Fourth of July and Labor Day parades are Cloquet’s biggest annual events, culminating in fireworks. Notably, Cloquet is so far north that it doesn’t get dark enough for the July Fourth fireworks show until around 10:30 p.m.
Take in a hockey game at the North Woods Credit Union Arena at Pine Valley Recreation Area.
The Pine Valley Ice Arena is the home of the Cloquet Boys and Girls Lumberjacks hockey programs and the Cloquet youth hockey association.
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Winter brings a cold bite and plenty of snow
In 2023, some violent crime rates in Cloquet were above the national and statewide averages, but property crimes were well below.
Cloquet’s winters are not to be trifled with. The city’s record-low temperature is 45 degrees below zero, and Maki says one of the biggest challenges he dealt with as mayor was a winter storm so severe that the city’s snowplows got stuck in the streets and needed to get towed out. On average, Cloquet receives 71 inches of snow a year.
Written By
Alex Hickey
Video By
Amon Parson
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On average, homes in Cloquet, MN sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Cloquet, MN over the last 12 months is $273,000, down 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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This property is simply put one of the most remarkable properties I've ever been on! This is a large acreage property located only minutes from Duluth, Hermantown and Cloquet! This "Option B" the timber has many areas of gorgeous red pine plantations! Also a black spruce plantation. The other areas consist of aspen and other tree species creating a beautiful property with excellent potential for
It’s time to love where you live! At 14th St Apartments, and 14th Street Apartments II, you’ll have access to top amenities and features including key-less entry, onsite laundry, and plenty of parking. Your new home will be close to everything you could need, such as shopping, dining, schools, churches, parks, and activities. Duluth is only a short drive away, which makes commuting to work or
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