Gogebic County, Michigan

Gogebic County (/ɡoʊˈɡɪbɪk/ goh-GHIB-ik) is the westernmost county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,427.[2] The county seat is Bessemer.[3] This was historically part of the territory of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa, which had twelve bands in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation is in this county, in Watersmeet Township; it is the land base of one of the federally recognized tribes.

Gogebic County
U.S. county
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°29′N 89°47′W
Country United States
State Michigan
Founded1887[1]
Named forLake Gogebic
SeatBessemer
Largest cityIronwood
Area
 • Total1,476 sq mi (3,820 km2)
 • Land1,102 sq mi (2,850 km2)
 • Water374 sq mi (970 km2)  25%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
15,096
 • Density15/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st

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,"[4] but an 1884 military annal said it meant "water-mold lake" (Agogibing).[5] (See also: List of place names of Native American origin in Michigan)

Geography
Lake Gogebic, the largest lake of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, lies partially in Gogebic County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,476 square miles (3,820 km2), of which 1,102 square miles (2,850 km2) is land and 374 square miles (970 km2) (25%) is water.[6]

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

National protected area

State protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
189013,166—
190016,73827.1%
191023,33339.4%
192033,22542.4%
193031,577−5.0%
194031,7970.7%
195027,053−14.9%
196024,370−9.9%
197020,676−15.2%
198019,686−4.8%
199018,052−8.3%
200017,370−3.8%
201016,427−5.4%
Est. 201815,096[7]−8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[12] 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 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 10,795 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). 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.[13]

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 three presidential elections since 1932. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win the county since Richard Nixon did in 1972.

Presidential election results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 54.4% 4,018 39.6% 2,925 6.0% 440
2012 45.2% 3,444 53.3% 4,058 1.5% 111
2008 40.2% 3,330 57.4% 4,757 2.3% 194
2004 46.6% 3,935 52.3% 4,421 1.1% 96
2000 47.1% 3,929 48.8% 4,066 4.1% 344
1996 33.8% 2,769 54.2% 4,436 12.0% 981
1992 30.8% 2,838 52.0% 4,792 17.3% 1,595
1988 40.4% 3,509 59.3% 5,151 0.4% 31
1984 41.8% 4,006 58.0% 5,554 0.2% 21
1980 42.8% 4,388 51.3% 5,254 6.0% 610
1976 38.0% 3,953 61.0% 6,341 0.9% 98
1972 52.3% 5,631 46.3% 4,984 1.5% 161
1968 39.7% 4,140 56.0% 5,839 4.3% 447
1964 29.6% 3,350 70.2% 7,945 0.2% 24
1960 42.9% 5,429 56.9% 7,200 0.2% 30
1956 52.7% 6,865 47.1% 6,142 0.2% 25
1952 47.5% 6,195 52.1% 6,803 0.4% 53
1948 41.4% 5,204 53.5% 6,722 5.1% 643
1944 39.8% 5,283 59.8% 7,938 0.4% 47
1940 40.9% 6,431 57.9% 9,104 1.3% 199
1936 35.1% 4,649 63.8% 8,461 1.1% 147
1932 46.7% 5,379 48.0% 5,531 5.3% 611
1928 64.7% 6,061 33.5% 3,134 1.8% 167
1924 66.5% 5,128 6.3% 487 27.2% 2,092
1920 79.7% 5,486 12.0% 823 8.3% 573
1916 55.0% 2,204 38.5% 1,540 6.5% 260
1912 26.9% 818 18.8% 572 54.3% 1,649
1908 73.0% 2,256 19.9% 614 7.2% 222
1904 78.0% 2,111 15.3% 414 6.7% 182
1900 73.1% 2,166 22.8% 676 4.1% 120
1896 68.4% 1,982 28.9% 837 2.8% 80
1892 57.3% 2,344 39.5% 1,615 3.3% 135
1888 54.4% 1,367 44.2% 1,112 1.4% 36

Government
Gogebic County Courthouse circa 1920

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

Airport
  • KIWD - Gogebic-Iron County Airport – 7 miles (13 km) NW of Ironwood. Commercial air service is available.

Communities
U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Gogebic County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.

Cities

Charter township

Civil townships

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Indian reservations
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See also

References
  1. "Bibliography on Gogebic County". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Heikkinen, Carlo (1966). "Little Known Facts of the Gogebic Range". Gogebic County. Archived from the original on November 2016.
  5. Kelton, Dwight H. (1884). Annals of Fort Mackinac. Library of Congress. pp. 146–147.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  13. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
  14. US Election Atlas

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