According to the 2020 United States Census, Duluth’s population hit 86,697, up 432 people from the 2010 count but still down 20,187 from the all-time high in 1960.

Below are the U.S. Census figures from the graphic, along with some additional population numbers put together by Tony Dierckins of Zenith City Online:

1854 – 1 (George Stuntz)
1857 – 1,500 (estimate)
1860 – 80
1868 – “14 families”
1870 – 3,131
1873 – 4,500
1875– “3,000” based on six people per vote (500 cast)
1880 – 3,483
1883 – “13,000″ (Wellge map, unofficial)
1885 – 18,093 (Oneota & Fond du Lac)
1887– “35,000” (Wellge map, unofficial)
1890 – 33,115
1893 – “70,000″ (Wellge map, unofficial)
1895 – 59,396
1900 – 52,969 (72nd largest city in United States, up from 156th)
1905 – 64,937
1910 – 78,466
1915– 91,435
1920 – 98,917
1930 – 101,463
1940 – 101,065
1950 – 104,511
1960 – 106,884
1970 – 100,578
1980 – 92,811
1990 – 85,493
2000 – 86,319
2010 – 86,265
2020 – 86,697

A note about the year 2000 in case anyone gets confused: Some sources report 86,918 as the Census figure for Duluth that year. That was the number initially counted, but it was later challenged and corrected to 86,319. The Duluth Federal Prison Camp population of 599 had been included, but the prison is located in Hermantown, not Duluth.