For me the size (however you care to measure it) of Duluth is about right. Enough to have a lot of different social-circles/neighborhoods/niches but not so much that it takes too god damned long to get from one end to the other, or to escape altogether, or to find someone you know, and it is small enough you can have a passing familiarity with all parts.

I've lived in smaller and bigger. Smaller can be nice, but sooner or later everyone knows everyone else's business, and I don't like bigger even though I enjoy visiting it.

This leads me to believe that Duluth needs less streets.

Let's reclaim as many miles as we resurface and let grass and trees grow.

It's not the quantity, but the quality of our population that makes Duluth a pretty awesome town. I'm with Edgeways, too. Big cities are nice to visit, but I just wouldn't want to live there. Smaller towns can be cool, but even in Grand Marais, everyone wants to be the last person to move in.

This is a very interesting question and forward thinking Paul.  If Google does choose Duluth and there is an economic boom then we need to prepare for the possible population growth that would follow.  More students choosing to stay in town after graduation due to opportunity would increase demand on housing and drive up costs.  A few years ago I was interested and following the city comprehensive planning process but then had children since and have neglected to pay attention.  Did that get anywhere and did it have projections for growth for the city?

It's going to take a while for the 2010 numbers to be plugged in, but Zip Skinny is pretty cool.

I made a similar graph about 7 years ago while making a slide presentation on Skyline Parkway.  I also made a timeline of major events - like the Depression, Wars, 1918 Fire & Flu epidemic as well as the creation of attractions of Duluth (lift bridge, Enger Tower, the Depot and the 40 years for the building of Skyline Parkway.  Comparing all these inputs is interesting.  There used to big events in Duluth parks and on Skyline when the population was much higher - and when there weren't more and more indoor 'distractions' like t.v./computers.  
I think the ideal population would be about 100,000.  There are plenty of modest homes available and more downtown living.  All the construction in Hermantown - upstream from Duluth - is a bit scary.  Let's not have too much rain at once.

edgeways - Duluth had about 20K fewer residents in 2000 than in 1960.  I bet population gains in Hermantown and rural areas just outside of city limits account for some of the loss.  

Or has Duluth been gaining folks from the Range, Superior, and northern MN in general just at a slower rate than they've lost people to the TC and Sunbelt? 

Maybe there are three major simultaneous migrations since 1960.  The first is from the central city to suburbs (Duluth to Hermantown), a second from small towns in the region to bigger cities (Eveleth to Duluth), and a third migration from the region to other regions (Duluth area to Arizona). 

Of course I'm speculating, but I suppose data showing where people move to or where they move from is non-existent.  And I suppose this theory ignores the much talked about migration to here from Chicago and Detroit.  Any demographers out there that can straighten me out or point out some data to shed light on this?

Really cool graph.  I think the population now is pretty good, although fewer people in the West End might solve the "Bad Neighborhood" problem.  Also, what is your source for the graph?  Anyway, great idea.

I like Duluth and the area very much.  Lived in and around from 1970 to 1992.  But at that time the population was nose diving at a 45 degree angle.  The city was very apathetic, and defeatist.  But now it seems to be finally recovering a bit.  But...losing the steel mill, the phony asbestos in the lake fiasco. Everything conspired against Duluth.  Glad to see it upbeat again.