Iron County, Michigan

County in Michigan, United States

U.S. county in Michigan

Iron County

U.S. county

Iron County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Michigan

Michigan's location within the U.S.

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

Iron County is a county 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]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 National protected area
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 5 Education
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Village
* 6.3 Census-designated place
* 6.4 Unincorporated communities
* 6.5 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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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

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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 Dickinson County, it is one of only two landlocked counties in the Upper Peninsula.

### Major highways

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Entering Iron County on US 2 / US 141

* US 2 – 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.
* 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

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* Houghton County (north/EST Border)
* Baraga County (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

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* Ottawa National Forest (part)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
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%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[3]

The 2010 United States Census[13] indicates Iron County had a population of 11,817. 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 (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, 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, 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.[14]

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.

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

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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.

United States presidential election results for Iron County, Michigan[15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
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

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* West Iron County Schools
* Forest Park School District

## Communities

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### Cities

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

### Village

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* Alpha

### Census-designated place

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* Amasa

### Unincorporated communities

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* 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

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

## See also

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* 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

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1. ^ a b c "Bibliography on Iron County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
2. ^ "jengod.com".
3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d Iron County MI Google Maps (accessed 18 September 2018)
9. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved July 6, 2013.
14. ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
15. ^ Leip, David. "US Election Atlas". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.

## External links

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* 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

Places adjacent to Iron County, Michigan

| Ontonagon County | Houghton County and Baraga County | Marquette County

|
|

|  |
Gogebic County |

Iron County, Michigan

| Dickinson County
|  |
Vilas County, Wisconsin | Forest County, Wisconsin | Florence County, Wisconsin

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Iron County, Michigan, United States

County seat: Crystal Falls

Cities|

* Caspian
* Crystal Falls
* Gaastra
* Iron River

Map of Michigan highlighting Iron County.svg

Villages|

* Alpha

Townships|

* Bates
* Crystal Falls
* Hematite
* Iron River
* Mansfield
* Mastodon
* Stambaugh

CDP|

* Amasa

Other
communities|

* Balsam
* Basswood
* Erickson Landing
* Panola
* Pentoga
* Stager

Defunct|

* Gibbs City
* Mineral Hills
* Stambaugh

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Central cities|

* Escanaba
* Hancock
* Houghton
* Iron Mountain
* Iron River
* Marquette
* Menominee
* Munising
* Sault Ste. Marie
* St. Ignace

Counties|

* Alger
* Baraga
* Chippewa
* Delta
* Dickinson
* Gogebic
* Houghton
* Iron
* Keweenaw
* Luce
* Mackinac
* Marquette
* Menominee
* Ontonagon
* Schoolcraft

Geography|

* Copper Country
* Gogebic Range
* Grand Island
* Keweenaw Peninsula
* Keweenaw Waterway
* Lake Superior
* Lake Huron
* Lake Michigan
* Menominee River
* Mount Arvon
* Pictured Rocks
* Porcupine Mountains
* St. Marys River
* Straits of Mackinac

Transportation|

* Chippewa County International Airport
* Delta County Airport
* Ford Airport
* Gogebic–Iron County Airport
* Houghton County Memorial Airport
* Mackinac Bridge
* International Bridge
* International Rail Bridge
* Portage Lake Lift Bridge
* Sawyer International Airport
* Soo Locks

Economy|

* Cleveland-Cliffs
* Copper mining in Michigan
* Verso Corporation

* Michigan
* Central Michigan
* Northern Michigan
* Southeast Michigan
* West Michigan

* v
* t
* e

State of Michigan

Lansing (capital)

Topics|

* Congressional delegation
* Cuisine
* Fauna
* Geography
* Government
* Highways
* History
* Index
* Islands
* Law
* Lighthouses
* Municipalities
* Museums
* National Historic Landmarks
* National Register of Historic Places listings
* People
* State Historic Sites
* State parks
* Symbols
* Tallest buildings
* Timeline
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Elections
* Politics

Regions|

| Upper Peninsula|

* Copper Country
* Gogebic Range
* Keweenaw Peninsula

|

Lower Peninsula|

* Central Michigan
* Metro Detroit
* Michiana
* Northern Michigan
* Southeast Michigan
* The Thumb
* West Michigan

Largest
municipalities|

* Ann Arbor
* Battle Creek
* Bay City
* Bloomfield Township
* Canton
* Chesterfield Township
* Clinton Township
* Commerce Township
* Dearborn
* Dearborn Heights
* Detroit
* East Lansing
* Farmington Hills
* Flint
* Georgetown Township
* Grand Blanc Township
* Grand Rapids
* Holland Charter Township
* Independence Township
* Kalamazoo
* Kentwood
* Lansing
* Lincoln Park
* Livonia
* Macomb Township
* Meridian Charter Township
* Midland
* Muskegon
* Novi
* Orion Township
* Pontiac
* Portage
* Redford
* Rochester Hills
* Roseville
* Royal Oak
* Saginaw
* Saginaw Township
* St. Clair Shores
* Shelby Charter Township
* Southfield
* Sterling Heights
* Taylor
* Troy
* Warren
* Waterford Township
* West Bloomfield
* Westland
* Wyoming
* Ypsilanti Charter Township

Counties|

* Alcona
* Alger
* Allegan
* Alpena
* Antrim
* Arenac
* Baraga
* Barry
* Bay
* Benzie
* Berrien
* Branch
* Calhoun
* Cass
* Charlevoix
* Cheboygan
* Chippewa
* Clare
* Clinton
* Crawford
* Delta
* Dickinson
* Eaton
* Emmet
* Genesee
* Gladwin
* Gogebic
* Grand Traverse
* Gratiot
* Hillsdale
* Houghton
* Huron
* Ingham
* Ionia
* Iosco
* Iron
* Isabella
* Jackson
* Kalamazoo
* Kalkaska
* Kent
* Keweenaw
* Lake
* Lapeer
* Leelanau
* Lenawee
* Livingston
* Luce
* Mackinac
* Macomb
* Manistee
* Marquette
* Mason
* Mecosta
* Menominee
* Midland
* Missaukee
* Monroe
* Montcalm
* Montmorency
* Muskegon
* Newaygo
* Oakland
* Oceana
* Ogemaw
* Ontonagon
* Osceola
* Oscoda
* Otsego
* Ottawa
* Presque Isle
* Roscommon
* Saginaw
* Sanilac
* Schoolcraft
* Shiawassee
* St. Clair
* St. Joseph
* Tuscola
* Van Buren
* Washtenaw
* Wayne
* Wexford

Coordinates: 46°13′N 88°31′W﻿ / ﻿46.21°N 88.51°W﻿ / 46.21; -88.51
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