Gogebic County, Michigan

Gogebic County, Michigan
Gogebic County (or ) is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,380. The county seat is Bessemer. Gogebic County is the westernmost county in Michigan, and is one of four Michigan counties within the Central Time Zone. Gogebic County borders Wisconsin to the south, and has a shoreline on Lake Superior to the north.
Gogebic County has long been territory of the Lake Superior Chippewa. The Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation is located within Gogebic County.
History
Gogebic County was organized in 1887, partitioned from Ontonagon County. The county's name derives from a lake of the same name, which was originally rendered Agogebic. Sources agree that the name is from Ojibwe, but differ on the original meaning. The county's website suggests it meant "body of water hanging on high," but an 1884 military annal said it meant "water-mold lake" (Agogibing). (See also: List of place names of Native American origin in Michigan)
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (25%) is water.
Water features
Lake Superior – forms the county's northern land border.
Lake Gogebic – the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula.
Montreal River – forms the county's western border, as well as the state's border with Wisconsin in this area.
Adjacent counties
Ontonagon County – north, northeast
Iron County – east
Vilas County, Wisconsin – south
Iron County, Wisconsin – southwest
Ashland County, Wisconsin – northwest
National protected area
Ottawa National Forest (part)
State protected area
Lake Gogebic State Park
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census indicates Gogebic County had a population of 16,427. This decrease of 943 people from the 2000 United States Census is a -5.4% change in population. In 2010 there were 7,037 households and 4,171 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 10,795 housing units at an average density of . 91.7% of the population were White, 4.1% Black or African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 1.4% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 17.4% were of Finnish, 12.8% German, 11.2% American, 10.0% Italian, 6.8% Polish, 6.7% English and 5.1% Irish ancestry.
There were 7,037 households, out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.69.
The county population was 16.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.8 years. 53.3% of the population was male, and 46.7% of the population was female.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,917, and the median income for a family was $47,219. The per capita income for the county was $20,759. About 14.0% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Gogebic County was reliably Republican at the beginning of the twentieth century. Roosevelt's New Deal changed the county's mood, which has voted for the Democratic candidate in all but four presidential elections since 1932. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win the county since Richard Nixon did in 1972. Trump carried the county again in 2020, despite losing nationally.
The county is strongly liberal on economic issues and also tends to be somewhat liberal on cultural issues, voting in favor of Michigan Proposal 2 and Michigan Proposal 3, which loosened voter restrictions and legalized abortion, respectively. Both referendums passed statewide but failed in most counties in the Upper Peninsula. However, the county's heavily unionized electorate is significantly more conservative on other issues, such as affirmative action, as over 70% of Gogebic County residents voted in favor of the Republican-led Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which banned affirmative action.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, maintains vital records and property records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other 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.
Transportation
Major highways
serves the city of Ironwood.
Transit
Indian Trails
Airport
KIWD - Gogebic-Iron County Airport – NE of Ironwood. Commercial air service is available.
Sports
Gogebic is the only known place in the Upper Peninsula to ever host a professional sports team, with Ironwood hosting the Northwest Football League's Gogebic Panthers in 1935 and 1936. Their 1935 campaign was immensely successful as the Panthers finished with a 6–1 record, their only loss coming to the eventual league champion La Crosse Old Style Lagers. Their 1936 campaign featured a 6–0 victory over the Madison Cardinals, who folded a few days after the Lagers defeated them 100–0 in an effort to kick them out of the league.
Communities
Cities
Bessemer (county seat)
Ironwood
Wakefield
Charter township
Ironwood Charter Township
Civil townships
Bessemer Township
Erwin Township
Marenisco Township
Wakefield Township
Watersmeet Township
Census-designated places
Marenisco
Watersmeet
Other unincorporated communities
Anvil
Connorville
Dunham
Harley
Puritan
Ramsay
Siemens
Tamarack
Thayer
Thomaston
Tula
Wellington
Indian reservations
Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation
See also
List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Gogebic County, Michigan
National Register of Historic Places listings in Gogebic County, Michigan
References
External links
Gogebic County government
Gogebic County Profile, Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D.
Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region
Michigan counties
1887 establishments in Michigan
Populated places established in 1887
Michigan placenames of Native American origin