Located in Northeastern Minnesota, St. Louis County with total area of 6,860 square miles is the largest county east of the Mississippi. St. Louis County is known for its spectacular natural beauty, including Voyageurs National Park, Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, four state parks including Minnesota’s newest park on Lake Vermilion and 1000 lakes, hundreds of miles of rivers including many trout streams and it is the gateway to Lake Superior’s North Shore. St. Louis County is the home of 200,500 people, living in small mining towns, farm communities, and in busy cities. Population is concentrated along the Mesabi and Vermilion Iron Ranges and in the Duluth area on the western tip of Lake Superior. The major industries in St. Louis County are mining, wood and paper products, aviation, higher education, shipping and transportation, health care, and tourism. Duluth, the largest city, is an international seaport and also the county seat. St. Louis County also maintains courthouses in Hibbing and Virginia and a Government Services Center in Ely to serve its citizens.