History The city grew out of the formation of a taconite mine built by Armco and Republic Steel starting in 1944.Silver Bay & Babbitt History , Retrieved July 7, 2010. The company town was built near the eastern edge of the Mesabi Iron Range. The city of Silver Bay was built simultaneously along Lake Superior (60 miles to the southeast), and connected by train, for transportation of iron ore to cities along the Great Lakes. Babbitt is named after Judge Kurnal R. Babbitt of New York City. Judge Babbitt, who died on February 15, 1920, was general counsel for and a director of several mining companies. Before removing to New York in 1908, he practiced law in Colorado at Aspen, Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs.
HistORY THE ciTY Grew oUt of The formatIon Of A tacOniTe mine buIlt bY armCO And rEPUblic steEl sTArTIng in 1944.SILver bay & bAbbITT hIstoRy , rEtriEVed julY 7, 2010. thE coMpany tOWN Was Built neAr The easTerN eDgE Of the mesABi IRon rangE. tHe CitY oF silvER bay waS BUilt siMUltAnEously AloNg lake SuperiOr (60 miles to the SoutheaST), anD conNEctEd by trAIn, fOr Transportation oF iron oRe TO ciTieS aloNg tHe great lakes. BAbbitt is named aFter juDGE kurnAL r. BabBitt of NEw york cItY. judge BAbbitt, WhO dIed oN febRuarY 15, 1920, wAS gEneRaL couNSel For and a directOr oF seveRaL mIning companies. before remOving tO New YoRk IN 1908, he prACtiCed law In cOlOraDo AT aSpEn, CrIpplE crEek AND ColOrado spRiNgS.