Minnesota State Highway 135
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 135 is a highway
in northeast Minnesota
, which runs from its interchange
with U.S. Highway 53
in the city of Virginia
and continues northeast to its northern terminus at its intersection
with State Highway 1
in Tower
.
The route is also known as the historic Vermilion Trail from Biwabik
to Tower
.
Highway 135 was originally designated 35 until it was re-numbered to avoid confusion with Interstate Highway 35
.
Between Virginia
and Gilbert
, the highway twice crosses the Laurentian Divide
.
Minnesota State Highway 135 is 36 miles (57.9 km) in length.
, Gilbert
, Biwabik
, Aurora
, and Tower
in northeast Minnesota.
The route changes direction to north–south as it approaches Aurora
and continues as north–south to its northern terminus in Tower
.
The highway is officially marked as a north–south route by its highway shields from beginning to end.
The route is legally defined as Constitutional Route
35 in the Minnesota Statutes.
Originally, this highway was designated State Highway 35. However, it was re-numbered as 135 during the 1960s to avoid duplication with Interstate Highway 35
that was being built in Minnesota
during that time.
The route was paved south of Aurora by 1942 and paved south of Embarrass by 1953. The highway was paved completely by 1960.
A section of this route formerly ran through the city of Virginia as a business route to U.S. 53
after construction of the U.S. 53 bypass in the 1970s. This business route had followed 2nd Avenue and 9th Street North in Virginia during the 1970s and 1980s.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in northeast Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which runs from its interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
with U.S. Highway 53
U.S. Route 53
U.S. Route 53 is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin to northern Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota...
in the city of Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
and continues northeast to its northern terminus at its intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 1 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 54 at the North Dakota state line and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 61 at the unincorporated town of Illgen City in Beaver Bay...
in Tower
Tower, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 479 people in the city, organized into 233 households and 137 families. The population density is 176.8 people per square mile . There are 295 housing units at an average density of 108.9 per square mile...
.
The route is also known as the historic Vermilion Trail from Biwabik
Biwabik, Minnesota
Biwabik is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 969 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highway 135 and Vermilion Trail are two of the main routes in the city....
to Tower
Tower, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 479 people in the city, organized into 233 households and 137 families. The population density is 176.8 people per square mile . There are 295 housing units at an average density of 108.9 per square mile...
.
Highway 135 was originally designated 35 until it was re-numbered to avoid confusion with Interstate Highway 35
Interstate 35 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 35 is a highway in southeast, east-central, and northeast Minnesota. The route runs north–south from the Iowa state line through the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; where it splits into Interstates 35E and 35W; and ends in the city of...
.
Between Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
and Gilbert
Gilbert, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,847 people, 842 households, and 495 families residing in the city. The population density was 156.7 people per square mile . There were 900 housing units at an average density of 76.3 per square mile...
, the highway twice crosses the Laurentian Divide
Laurentian Divide
The Laurentian Divide or Northern Divide is a continental divide dividing the direction of water flow in eastern and southern Canada and the northern Midwestern United States. Water north of the height of land flows to the Arctic Ocean by rivers to Hudson Bay or directly to the Arctic...
.
Minnesota State Highway 135 is 36 miles (57.9 km) in length.
Route description
Highway 135 serves as an east–west and north–south route between the cities of VirginiaVirginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
, Gilbert
Gilbert, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,847 people, 842 households, and 495 families residing in the city. The population density was 156.7 people per square mile . There were 900 housing units at an average density of 76.3 per square mile...
, Biwabik
Biwabik, Minnesota
Biwabik is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 969 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highway 135 and Vermilion Trail are two of the main routes in the city....
, Aurora
Aurora, Minnesota
Aurora is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,682 at the 2010 census.State Highway 135, County Highway 100, and County Highway 110 are three of the main arterial routes in the community.-Geography:...
, and Tower
Tower, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 479 people in the city, organized into 233 households and 137 families. The population density is 176.8 people per square mile . There are 295 housing units at an average density of 108.9 per square mile...
in northeast Minnesota.
The route changes direction to north–south as it approaches Aurora
Aurora, Minnesota
Aurora is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,682 at the 2010 census.State Highway 135, County Highway 100, and County Highway 110 are three of the main arterial routes in the community.-Geography:...
and continues as north–south to its northern terminus in Tower
Tower, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 479 people in the city, organized into 233 households and 137 families. The population density is 176.8 people per square mile . There are 295 housing units at an average density of 108.9 per square mile...
.
The highway is officially marked as a north–south route by its highway shields from beginning to end.
The route is legally defined as Constitutional Route
Constitutional route
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, a legislative route is a highway number defined by the Minnesota State Legislature. The routes from 1 to 70 are constitutional routes, defined as part of the Babcock Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution, passed November 2, 1920. All of them were listed in...
35 in the Minnesota Statutes.
History
The highway was authorized on November 2, 1920.Originally, this highway was designated State Highway 35. However, it was re-numbered as 135 during the 1960s to avoid duplication with Interstate Highway 35
Interstate 35 in Minnesota
In the U.S. state of Minnesota, Interstate 35 is a highway in southeast, east-central, and northeast Minnesota. The route runs north–south from the Iowa state line through the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul; where it splits into Interstates 35E and 35W; and ends in the city of...
that was being built in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
during that time.
The route was paved south of Aurora by 1942 and paved south of Embarrass by 1953. The highway was paved completely by 1960.
A section of this route formerly ran through the city of Virginia as a business route to U.S. 53
U.S. Route 53
U.S. Route 53 is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin to northern Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota...
after construction of the U.S. 53 bypass in the 1970s. This business route had followed 2nd Avenue and 9th Street North in Virginia during the 1970s and 1980s.