Posted 12/15/2023, 1:26:46 PM
Duluth Devastated by Mass Layoffs and Base Closure as Population Plunges
- Duluth's 3 largest employers (U.S. Steel plant, Jeno Paulucci's frozen pizza plant, U.S. Air Force base) closed down within a decade, eliminating over 5,000 jobs
- U.S. Steel plant closed due to declining steel demand, high costs, and environmental violations
- Paulucci moved his frozen pizza plant to Ohio due to transportation costs
- Politicians tried but failed to keep U.S. Air Force base open as it had declining operations
- Population plunged from 107,000 in 1960 to 87,000 as people left seeking jobs