 saint louis county (abbreviated st. louis county) is a county located in the u.s. state of minnesota. as of the 2010 census, the population was 200,226. its county seat is duluth. it is the largest county by total area in minnesota, and the second largest in the united states east of the mississippi river by land area, after aroostook county, maine.duluth news tribune september 22, 2004, p. 2b. according to the u.s. census bureau, arostook county has a smaller overall area but a greater land area. saint louis county is included in the duluth, mn-wi metropolitan statistical area. major industries include pulpwood production and tourism. surface mining of high-grade iron-ore remains an important part of the economy of the iron range. parts of the bois forte and fond du lac indian reservations are in the county. ==history== saint louis county was founded on february 20, 1855, as doty county, and had its name changed to newton county on march 3, 1855. it originally consisted of the area east and south of the saint louis river, while the area east of the vermilion river and north of the saint louis river was part of superior county. superior county was renamed saint louis county. then on march 1, 1856, that saint louis county became lake county, and newton county was renamed saint louis county and had that eastern area added to it; it was also expanded westward by incorporating parts of itasca county, which then also included most of carlton county. on may 23, 1857, saint louis county took its current shape when carlton county was formed from parts of saint louis and pine counties. ==geography== according to the u.s. census bureau, the county has 
1855_establishments_in_Minnesota_Territory Minnesota_counties Populated_places_established_in_1855 St._Louis_County,_Minnesota