Iron County, Michigan

Iron County
County
Iron County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°13′N88°31′W / 46.21°N 88.51°W / 46.21; -88.51
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	April 3, 1885 [1] [2]
Named for	Iron ore
Seat	Crystal Falls
Largest city	Iron River
Area
• Total	1,211 sq mi (3,140 km2)
• Land	1,166 sq mi (3,020 km2)
• Water	45 sq mi (120 km2)  3.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,631
• Density	10/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	ironmi.com

Iron County is one of two landlocked counties in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,631. ^[3] The county seat is Crystal Falls. ^[4]

History

Iron County was organized in 1885, with territory partitioned from Marquette and Menominee counties. In 1890, the county's population was 4,432. ^{[1] [5]} It was named for the valuable iron ore found within its borders. ^{[1] [6]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,211 square miles (3,140 km²), of which 1,166 square miles (3,020 km²) is land and 45 square miles (120 km²) (3.7%) is water. ^[7] Along with its southeastern neighbor Dickinson County, it is one of only two landlocked counties in the Upper Peninsula.

Major highways

Entering Iron County on US 2 / US 141

• US 2 – runs east–west through lower part of county. Enters west line at 6 miles (9.7 km) above SW corner, then runs east and southeast to Crystal Falls, where it turns south and runs into Wisconsin. Passes Mineral Hills, Iron River, and Fortune Lake.
• US 141 – runs north–south through center of county. Enters north line of county from Covington in Baraga County, then runs south to intersection with US-2 at Crystal Falls.
• M-69 – runs east from Crystal Falls into Dickinson County.
• M-73 – enters south line of county from Nelma, Wisconsin, then runs northeast to intersection with US-2 at Iron River.
• M-189 – enters south line of county from Tipler, Wisconsin, then runs north to intersection with US-2 at Iron River. ^[8]

Adjacent counties

• Houghton County (north)
• Baraga County (north)
• Marquette County (northeast)
• Dickinson County (east)
• Florence County, Wisconsin (southeast)
• Forest County, Wisconsin (south)
• Vilas County, Wisconsin (southwest)
• Gogebic County (west)
• Ontonagon County (northwest)

National protected area

• Ottawa National Forest (part)

Communities

Cities

• Caspian
• Crystal Falls (county seat)
• Gaastra
• Iron River

Village

• Alpha

Census-designated place

• Amasa

Unincorporated communities

• Beechwood
• Colony Corners
• Elmwood
• Erickson Landing
• Forbes ^[8]
• Fortune Lake ^[8]
• Gibbs City – Ghost town on Paint River
• Mansfield Location
• Pentoga
• Rogers ^[8]
• Stager

Townships

• Bates Township
• Crystal Falls Township
• Hematite Township
• Iron River Township
• Mansfield Township
• Mastodon Township
• Stambaugh Township

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	4,432		—
1900	8,990		102.8%
1910	15,164		68.7%
1920	22,107		45.8%
1930	20,805		−5.9%
1940	20,243		−2.7%
1950	17,692		−12.6%
1960	17,184		−2.9%
1970	13,813		−19.6%
1980	13,635		−1.3%
1990	13,175		−3.4%
2000	13,138		−0.3%
2010	11,817		−10.1%
2020	11,631		−1.6%
2023 (est.)	11,740	[9]	0.9%
US Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2018 [3]

In 2020, its population was 11,631. ^[3] The 2010 United States census indicates Iron County had a population of 11,817. ^[14] This decrease of 1,321 people from the 2000 United States census represents a 10.1% population decrease. In 2010 there were 5,577 households and 3,284 families in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km²). There were 9,197 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km²). 97.1% of the population were White, 2.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race and 1.4% of two or more races; 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Culturally, 14.3% were of German, 11.5% Finnish, 11.3% Italian, 8.6% French, French Canadian or Cajun, 8.0% Swedish, 6.5% English, 5.8% American and 5.4% Irish ancestry. ^[15]

In 2010, there were 5,577 households, out of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.65.

The county population contained 17.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.9 years. 49.3% of the population was male, 50.7% was female.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $35,390, and the median income for a family was $46,337. The per capita income for the county was $20,099. About 6.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Iron County was reliably Republican during its first three decades. However, since 1936 its voters have selected the Democratic Party nominee in 16 (out of 23) of the national elections through 2024, though it has voted Republican in the four most recent elections and five of the last six.

United States presidential election results for Iron County, Michigan ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,501	64.00%	2,441	34.71%	91	1.29%
2020	4,216	62.05%	2,493	36.69%	86	1.27%
2016	3,675	61.66%	2,004	33.62%	281	4.71%
2012	3,224	53.63%	2,687	44.69%	101	1.68%
2008	2,947	47.83%	3,080	49.98%	135	2.19%
2004	3,224	49.52%	3,215	49.38%	72	1.11%
2000	2,967	47.95%	3,014	48.71%	207	3.35%
1996	2,014	33.24%	3,232	53.34%	813	13.42%
1992	1,971	28.16%	3,648	52.11%	1,381	19.73%
1988	2,866	42.94%	3,774	56.55%	34	0.51%
1984	3,468	49.15%	3,559	50.44%	29	0.41%
1980	3,507	45.36%	3,742	48.40%	483	6.25%
1976	3,224	41.77%	4,401	57.02%	93	1.20%
1972	3,630	49.21%	3,512	47.61%	234	3.17%
1968	3,292	42.36%	4,130	53.14%	350	4.50%
1964	2,399	28.48%	6,011	71.36%	13	0.15%
1960	3,919	42.76%	5,232	57.09%	14	0.15%
1956	4,955	52.39%	4,490	47.47%	13	0.14%
1952	4,564	49.52%	4,597	49.88%	55	0.60%
1948	3,659	44.56%	4,125	50.23%	428	5.21%
1944	3,945	46.16%	4,537	53.09%	64	0.75%
1940	4,766	49.33%	4,808	49.77%	87	0.90%
1936	3,834	41.99%	5,216	57.13%	80	0.88%
1932	4,347	53.56%	3,416	42.09%	353	4.35%
1928	4,103	63.96%	2,262	35.26%	50	0.78%
1924	2,802	65.06%	247	5.73%	1,258	29.21%
1920	3,515	82.80%	497	11.71%	233	5.49%
1916	2,139	67.54%	877	27.69%	151	4.77%
1912	1,031	45.24%	218	9.57%	1,030	45.20%
1908	2,055	85.63%	260	10.83%	85	3.54%
1904	1,620	90.50%	139	7.77%	31	1.73%
1900	1,561	84.88%	257	13.97%	21	1.14%
1896	1,048	79.70%	236	17.95%	31	2.36%
1892	918	59.26%	587	37.90%	44	2.84%
1888	598	53.39%	520	46.43%	2	0.18%

Iron County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions – police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance etc. – are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Education

• West Iron County Schools
• Forest Park School District

See also

• Iron County MRA
• List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Iron County, Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Iron County, Michigan
• Alpha Michigan Brewing Company

References

1. "Bibliography on Iron County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University . Retrieved June 29, 2013.
2. "jengod.com". Archived from the original on June 20, 2006. Retrieved June 16, 2006.
3. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. Michigan Department of State (1893). Michigan and Its Resources, pp. 241-42. Robert Smith & Co.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 166.
7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
8. Iron County MI Google Maps (accessed 18 September 2018)
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
10. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
14. "U.S. Census website" . Retrieved July 6, 2013.
15. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
16. Leip, David. "US Election Atlas". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

External links

• Iron County website
• Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance website
• Iron County Profile, Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D.
• Hunt's Guide to the Iron Mountain area
• Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region
• Historic photographs of Iron County, via the Upper Peninsula Region of Library Cooperation

46°13′N88°31′W / 46.21°N 88.51°W / 46.21; -88.51