Per Cook County’s Assessor’s Office, our county now has as many seasonal and vacation homes as exists for permanent residents. An estimate from that same office is that 30,000-50,000 tourists visit our county each year.
Is this because, as my Norwegian cousins claim, Lake Superior is the biggest fjord in the world? Maybe because Lake Superior keeps Grand Marais warmer than the Twin Cities during the winter? Maybe because of our wonderful, inclusive Ojibwe heritage?
Because the federal and Minnesota governments own approximately 90 percent of Cook County land, we receive funding toward a “critical access” hospital and laboratory. All of this is accompanied by a medical clinic fully staffed by professionals including half a dozen MDs.
Look at and listen to the activity on our popular WTIP, News-Herald, and Boreal Community Media. Each also has a huge countrywide subscription or audience.
Finally, of the 73 Minnesota county historical societies listed on Minnesota Historical Society’s web site, our own Cook County Historical Society ranks number 6 in admitted land and building assets, higher than position 7 occupied by Ramsey County Historical Society, which includes St. Paul City!
Bravo to “Historic Cook County.”
Douglas O. Sanders, Jr., retired actuary
Grand Marais
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