Iron County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
in the
Upper Peninsula of the
U.S. state of
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and t ...
. As of the
2020 Census, the population was 11,631.
The
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
is
Crystal Falls.
History
Iron County was organized in 1885, with territory partitioned from
Marquette and
Menominee counties. In 1890, the county's population was 4,432.
It was named for the valuable
iron ore
Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the ...
found within its borders.
[
]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has an area of , of which is land and (3.7%) is water. Along with Dickinson County, it is one of only two landlocked counties in the Upper Peninsula.
Major highways
* – runs east–west through lower part of county. Enters west line at 6 miles (10 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.
* – 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.
* – runs east from Crystal Falls into Dickinson County.
* – enters south line of county from Nelma, Wisconsin, then runs northeast to intersection with US-2 at Iron River.
* – enters south line of county from Tipler, Wisconsin
Tipler is a town in Florence County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 205 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Tipler is located in the town.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a tot ...
, then runs north to intersection with US-2 at Iron River.[''Iron County MI'' Google Maps (accessed 18 September 2018)]
/ref>
Adjacent counties
* Houghton County (north/EST Border)
*Baraga County
Baraga County ( ) is a county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 8,158, making it Michigan's fifth-least populous county. The county seat is L'Anse. The county is named after Bi ...
(north/EST Border)
* Marquette County (northeast/EST Border)
* Dickinson County (east)
* Florence County, Wisconsin (southeast)
* Forest County, Wisconsin (south)
* Vilas County, Wisconsin (southwest)
* Gogebic County (west)
* Ontonagon County (northwest/EST Border)
National protected area
* Ottawa National Forest (part)
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census
The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving ...
indicates Iron County had a population of 11,817. This decrease of 1,321 people from the 2000 United States Census
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 c ...
represents a 10.1% population decrease. In 2010 there were 5,577 households and 3,284 families in the county. The population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 9,197 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km2). 97.1% of the population were White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. 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). 14.3% were of German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
, 11.5% Finnish, 11.3% Italian, 8.6% French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
, French Canadian
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fre ...
or Cajun, 8.0% Swedish, 6.5% English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ...
, 5.8% American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
and 5.4% Irish ancestry.
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
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
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.
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
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $20,099. About 6.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, 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 22) of the national elections through 2020.
Iron County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records
Vital records are records of life events kept under governmental authority, including birth certificates, marriage licenses (or marriage certificates), separation agreements, divorce certificates or divorce party and death certificates. In some ...
, administers public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
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
Communities
Cities
* Caspian
* Crystal Falls (county seat)
* Gaastra
* Iron River
Village
* Alpha
Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , whi ...
Census-designated place
* Amasa
Amasa (עמשא) or Amessai
is a person mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. His mother was Abigail (), a sister of King David (). Hence, Amasa was a nephew of David, and cousin of Joab, David's military commander, as well as a cousin of Absalom, Dav ...
Unincorporated communities
* Beechwood
* Colony Corners
* Elmwood
* Erickson Landing
* Forbes[
* Fortune Lake][
* Gibbs City – Ghost town on Paint River
* Mansfield Location
* Pentoga
* Rogers][
* Stager
]
Townships
* Bates Township
* Crystal Falls Township
* Hematite Township
* Iron River Township
* Mansfield Township
* Mastodon Township
* Stambaugh Township
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
The Alpha Michigan Brewing Company (AMBC) is a nanobrewery in the village of Alpha in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Background
The establishment describes Alpha as "the smallest village in America with a brewery". Mike Bjork later told a l ...
References
External links
Iron County website
Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance website
Iron County Profile, Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D.
Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region
Historic photographs of Iron County
via the Upper Peninsula Region of Library Cooperation
{{Coord, 46.21, -88.51, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990
Michigan counties
1885 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1885