Iron County, Michigan
Encyclopedia
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 13,138 people, 5,748 households, and 3,615 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 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 8,772 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% 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...
, 1.10% 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...
, 1.02% 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...
, 0.20% 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...
, 0.24% 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 1.16% from two or more races. 0.64% 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. 14.5% were of German, 13.3% 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...
, 12.9% Finnish, 11.0% Polish, 10.4% Swedish, 6.7% 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...
and 5.5% 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...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% 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 1.1% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as their first language.
There were 5,748 households out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.40% 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, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.10% were non-families. 33.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.60% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 25.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,560, and the median income for a family was $37,038. Males had a median income of $28,791 versus $21,077 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 $16,506. About 7.10% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% 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.
Iron 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...
: Melissa Powell Weston was appointed Prosecuting Attorney after the death of Joe Sartorelli on November 24, 2006. She is Iron County's first female prosecutor. - 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....
: Mark Valesano - County Clerk: Joan Luhtanen
- 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:...
: Marcia Cornelia - Register of Deeds: Mark Selmo
- 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...
: Thomas Clark - Mine Inspector: Thomas C. Karvala
(information as of January 2007)
Cities
- CaspianCaspian, MichiganCaspian is a city in Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 997 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
- Crystal FallsCrystal Falls, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,791 people, 795 households, and 470 families residing in the city. The population density was 530.6 per square mile . There were 913 housing units at an average density of 270.5 per square mile...
- GaastraGaastra, MichiganGaastra is a city in Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 347, making it Michigan's third-smallest incorporated city. The city is named after Douwe Gaastra, a building contractor and real estate speculator who bought the land in October 1908 and...
- Iron RiverIron River, MichiganIron River is a city in Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,929. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 population estimate for this city was 3,122....
Townships
- Bates TownshipBates Township, MichiganBates Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,021.-Geography:...
- Crystal Falls TownshipCrystal Falls Township, MichiganCrystal Falls Township is a civil township of Iron County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,722...
- Hematite TownshipHematite Township, MichiganHematite Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 352. The township is named for the masses of hematite iron ore in the rocks prevalent in the area.-Communities:...
- Iron River TownshipIron River Township, MichiganIron River Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,585 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The City of Iron River is situated at the southeast corner of the township, but is administratively autonomous....
- Mansfield TownshipMansfield Township, MichiganMansfield Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 243 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.The Michigamme River flows through...
- Mastodon TownshipMastodon Township, MichiganMastodon Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 668.-Geography:...
- Stambaugh TownshipStambaugh Township, MichiganStambaugh Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* Stambaugh was a city adjacent to the township that merged into the city of Iron River effective July 1, 2000...