Gogebic County, Michigan

Gogebic County (/ɡoʊˈɡiːbɪk/ goh-GEE-bik or /ɡoʊˈɡɛbɪk/ goh-GEH-bik) is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,380.[2] The county seat is Bessemer.[3] 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
County
Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer
Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer
Official logo of Gogebic County
Logo
Map of Michigan highlighting Gogebic County
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Map of the United States highlighting 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
 (2020)
 • Total14,380
 • Density15/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.gogebiccountymi.gov

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,"[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

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202014,380−12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[2]

The 2010 United States Census[11] 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 (5.8 people/km2). There were 10,795 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/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.[12]

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.

United States presidential election results for Gogebic County, Michigan[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,600 55.58% 3,570 43.14% 106 1.28%
2016 4,018 54.42% 2,925 39.62% 440 5.96%
2012 3,444 45.24% 4,058 53.30% 111 1.46%
2008 3,330 40.21% 4,757 57.44% 194 2.34%
2004 3,935 46.56% 4,421 52.31% 96 1.14%
2000 3,929 47.12% 4,066 48.76% 344 4.13%
1996 2,769 33.83% 4,436 54.19% 981 11.98%
1992 2,838 30.76% 4,792 51.95% 1,595 17.29%
1988 3,509 40.38% 5,151 59.27% 31 0.36%
1984 4,006 41.81% 5,554 57.97% 21 0.22%
1980 4,388 42.80% 5,254 51.25% 610 5.95%
1976 3,953 38.04% 6,341 61.02% 98 0.94%
1972 5,631 52.26% 4,984 46.25% 161 1.49%
1968 4,140 39.71% 5,839 56.00% 447 4.29%
1964 3,350 29.60% 7,945 70.19% 24 0.21%
1960 5,429 42.89% 7,200 56.88% 30 0.24%
1956 6,865 52.68% 6,142 47.13% 25 0.19%
1952 6,195 47.47% 6,803 52.13% 53 0.41%
1948 5,204 41.40% 6,722 53.48% 643 5.12%
1944 5,283 39.82% 7,938 59.83% 47 0.35%
1940 6,431 40.87% 9,104 57.86% 199 1.26%
1936 4,649 35.07% 8,461 63.82% 147 1.11%
1932 5,379 46.69% 5,531 48.01% 611 5.30%
1928 6,061 64.74% 3,134 33.48% 167 1.78%
1924 5,128 66.54% 487 6.32% 2,092 27.14%
1920 5,486 79.72% 823 11.96% 573 8.33%
1916 2,204 55.04% 1,540 38.46% 260 6.49%
1912 818 26.92% 572 18.82% 1,649 54.26%
1908 2,256 72.96% 614 19.86% 222 7.18%
1904 2,111 77.98% 414 15.29% 182 6.72%
1900 2,166 73.13% 676 22.82% 120 4.05%
1896 1,982 68.37% 837 28.87% 80 2.76%
1892 2,344 57.25% 1,615 39.45% 135 3.30%
1888 1,367 54.35% 1,112 44.21% 36 1.43%

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

Transit

Airport

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[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]

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

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. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  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 18, 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. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  10. "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 21, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  12. Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS). "U.S. Census website". census.gov.
  13. US Election Atlas
  14. "1935 Gogebic Panthers (NWFL) - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  15. "1935 Gogebic Panthers (NWFL) - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  16. Gill, Bob (2006). Outsiders : minor league and independent football, 1923-1950. Haworth, NJ: St. Johann Press. ISBN 1-878282-45-X. OCLC 70129209.

46.48°N 89.79°W / 46.48; -89.79

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