Shevlin Minnesota

Shevlin, Minnesota, is a small city with a population of 137 as of 2020. It was founded in the late 19th century as a logging camp and is named after Thomas H. Shevlin. Located in Clearwater County, which was formed from Beltrami County, Shevlin once competed to be the county seat but lost to Bagley. Historically, the city had a thriving economy supported by various businesses, though it faced setbacks from fires in 1904 and 1911. The Ojibwe people referred to the area as "Gwaaba'andaawangaakwa'igaang."

Today, Shevlin is home to a museum housed in the former school building, which closed in 1991. The city features two churches, two bars, a mini-storage facility, and several home-based enterprises.

Geographically, Shevlin covers an area of 0.80 square miles, all land. It is situated along U.S. Highway 2, approximately six miles east of Bagley and twenty miles west of Bemidji.

The city has hosted the Minnesota Logging Championships during its annual festival, Sawdust Dayz, which began in 1987 as a project of the Shevlin Community Improvement Project (SCIP). The event includes logging competitions like log toss, axe throwing, and crosscut sawing, along with parades, bed races, and other community activities.

According to census data, in 2010, Shevlin had 176 residents, with a mix of married couples, families, and non-families. The median household income in 2000 was $30,000, with about 6.7% of families and 12.6% of the population living below the poverty line.