Houghton County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
National protected areaProtected areaProtected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
s
- Keweenaw National Historical ParkKeweenaw National Historical ParkKeweenaw National Historical Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park Service. Established in 1992, the park celebrates the life and history of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan...
(part) - Ottawa National ForestOttawa National ForestThe Ottawa National Forest is a 1.0 million acre national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It includes much of Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, as well as slices of Iron, Houghton, Baraga, and Marquette counties. The forest is under the jurisdiction of the U.S...
(part)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 36,016 people, 13,793 households, and 8,137 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 17,748 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.52% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.94% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.54% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.79% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 34.8% were of Finnish, 12.4% German, 6.8% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 6.6% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and 5.7% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.0% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 3.1% Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
as their first language.
There were 13,793 households out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.00% were non-families. 32.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.80% under the age of 18, 19.10% from 18 to 24, 22.60% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 113.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,817, and the median income for a family was $38,635. Males had a median income of $30,200 versus $22,468 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,078. About 9.90% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health
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" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
controls the
budget but has only 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.
The Houghton County Courthouse
Houghton County Courthouse
The Houghton County Courthouse is a government building located at 401 E. Houghton Street in Houghton, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.-History:...
“..stood high upon the bluff on Houghton Village facing North and pleasantly overlooking Portage Lake.” (Sawyer 110), and has been inducted in the U.S. Registry of Historic Districts and Buildings of the Upper Peninsula. Construction began in spring 1886. The building had its first addition to the north wing, the addition of a larger jail wing, in 1910, and that was the only renovation until the jail wing was condemned in 1961. A new jail was built in its present location, adjacent to the original. According to the Mining Gazette of July 25, 1886, “The materials used with the exception of the facing brick are the product of the Upper Peninsula”(p.3). Kathryn Eckert, in her Buildings of Michigan, wrote:
- “The courthouse is composed of the original structure, a rectangular block from which project central pavilions with parapeted dormers, a four-story tower, and north and west wing additions. The curbed mansard roof, the grouping of windows beneath red sandstone lintels connected by bands that encircle the structure, and the decorative entablature unite the composition. Porches supported with posts and Gothic-arch brackets…The interior is richly finished with wood; red, rich brown, and light yellowish brown floor tiles; ornamental plaster; and oak staircase; and stone fireplaces.” (p. 464)
The building section that was once the jail wing now house offices for various government offices such as the clerk of court.
Houghton County elected officials
- Prosecuting AttorneyProsecutorThe prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
: Fraser Strome - SheriffSheriffA sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
: Brian J. McLean - County Clerk/Register of Deeds: Mary Schoos
- County TreasurerTreasurerA treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
: Kathleen Beattie - Drain CommissionerDrain commissionerA drain commissioner is an elected official in counties of the U.S. state of Michigan with a population over 12,000. In counties with a population under 12,000, the statutory duties and responsibilities of the drain commissioner are performed by the county's board of road commissioners.The office...
: John Pekkala - Mine Inspector: Murray Gillis
(information as of September 2005)
Villages
- CalumetCalumet, MichiganCalumet is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, that was once at the center of the mining industry of the Upper Peninsula. Also known as Red Jacket, the village includes the Calumet Downtown Historic District, listed on the National...
- Copper CityCopper City, MichiganCopper City is a village in Houghton County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 205. The village is within Calumet Township.-Geography:...
- Lake LindenLake Linden, MichiganLake Linden is a village in Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census. The village is mostly within Schoolcraft Township, though a tiny portion lies in Torch Lake Township.-History:...
- LauriumLaurium, MichiganLaurium is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan, in the center of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The population was 2,126 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- South RangeSouth Range, MichiganSouth Range is a village in Adams Township, Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is bordered on the east by the unincorporated community of Baltic. It is about five miles southwest of Houghton on M-26. The population was 727 at the 2000 census...
Unincorporated communities
- Atlantic Mine
- Dakota HeightsDakota Heights, MichiganDakota Heights is an unincorporated community in Portage Township, Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an enclave surrounded on all four sides by the extreme western part of the city of Houghton Dakota Heights is an unincorporated community in Portage Township, Houghton County in...
- Dodgeville
- DonkenDonken, MichiganDonken is an unincorporated community in Houghton County, Michigan, United States. Donken is located in Elm River Township along M-26, southwest of South Range.- History :...
- Dollar Bay
- DreamlandDreamland, MichiganDreamland is an unincorporated community on Copper Island , in Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It has been described as being a "district of Bootjack" or in Bootjack, but is usually recognised as a separate town...
- Franklin MineFranklin Mine, MichiganFranklin Mine is a small unincorporated community in Houghton County, Michigan, United States. The area is on Quincy Hill, northeast of Hancock, and lying partially within Quincy Township and partially within Franklin Township....
- HubbellHubbell, MichiganHubbell is an unincorporated community in Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau has defined an area around the community as a Census-designated place for statistical purposes. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 1,105...
- Hurontown
- Jacobsville
- MasonMason, Houghton County, MichiganMason is a small community in Houghton County, Michigan that is the remainder of past Stamp mill operations at the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mills. Still standing and mostly occupied are 23 mining company houses, all along M-26. Mason has been dubbed by some locals "shutter town," because each...
- RipleyFranklin Township, Houghton County, MichiganFranklin Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,320 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Senter
Townships
- Adams TownshipAdams Township, Houghton County, MichiganAdams Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,747.-Communities:...
- Calumet TownshipCalumet Township, MichiganCalumet Township is a charter township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,997 at the 2000 census.-History:Native Americans mined copper in Calumet Township thousands of years ago....
- Chassell TownshipChassell Township, MichiganChassell Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,822 at the 2000 census.The township was organized on April 14, 1888, and named John Chassell, a prominent businessman and farmer whose farmland became the site of the community of...
- Duncan TownshipDuncan Township, MichiganDuncan Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 280.- Communities :...
- Elm River TownshipElm River Township, MichiganElm River Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Franklin TownshipFranklin Township, Houghton County, MichiganFranklin Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,320 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Hancock TownshipHancock Township, MichiganHancock Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 408 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Laird TownshipLaird Township, MichiganLaird Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 634 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Osceola TownshipOsceola Township, Houghton County, MichiganOsceola Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,908 at the 2000 census.-Communities:...
- Portage TownshipPortage Township, Houghton County, MichiganPortage Township is a charter township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,156. The city of Houghton is adjacent to the north side of the township...
- Quincy TownshipQuincy Township, Houghton County, MichiganQuincy Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 251.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land....
- Schoolcraft TownshipSchoolcraft Township, Houghton County, MichiganSchoolcraft Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a population of 1,863. The township was organized in 1866.-Communities:...
- Stanton TownshipStanton Township, MichiganStanton Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,268 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- Torch Lake TownshipTorch Lake Township, Houghton County, MichiganTorch Lake Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,860.-Communities:...
