Editing Wakefield, Michigan (section)

==Post-mining era==

[[File:wakefield12.jpg|thumb|250px|View from "Tank Hill"]]

After the closure of the Sunday Lake Mine<ref name="Early History of Wakefield">{{cite web|url=http://www.gogebicbooks.com/pdf/EarlyHistoryofWakefield.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307155931/http://www.gogebicbooks.com/pdf/EarlyHistoryofWakefield.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-07 |url-status=live | title=Early History of Wakefield |publisher=gogebicbooks.com | access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> on February 16, 1961, the local economy shifted from one of mining to the forest industry, goods and services and tourism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ref.michigan.org/medc/miinfo/places/GogebicCounty/ | title=Gogebic County Economic Profiler |publisher=michigan.org | access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ref.michigan.org/medc/miinfo/places/GogebicCounty/?section=economy | title = Gogebic County Economy | publisher=michigan.org | access-date =March 3, 2011}}</ref>

Logging had been a mainstay of the local economy since the early 1900s. In 1941, the county embarked upon a county forest project to demonstrate that with selective cutting, under proper management, forests could be perpetuated, of increasing value and quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gogebic.org/herit.htm | title=Our Heritage |publisher=gogebic.org | access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> By 1956, the project included {{convert|45604|acre|km2}} out of the total of {{convert|703102|acre|km2}} in the county and [[Ottawa National Forest]] harvesting marked hardwoods, aspen, and conifer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gogebic.org/adobeforms/gogebicpdf.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514150936/http://www.gogebic.org/adobeforms/gogebicpdf.pdf |archive-date=2011-05-14 |url-status=live | title=The Gogebic County Forest System 1943–2008 |publisher=gogebic.org | access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> In support of the local lumber industry, many successful lumber, trucking, equipment sales, and logging businesses have existed in Wakefield and many continue to do so today. They all support the larger industries of lumber and plywood mills located in Gogebic County and outlying areas.

After the local mining jobs were lost, many in the community began providing goods and services, which included restaurants, food markets, bakery, bars, gas stations, hardware stores, drug stores and other commerce that supports the needs of the community.

With an average of {{cvt|156|–|240|in|cm}} of annual snowfall, the city greatly benefits from winter tourism. Indianhead Mountain opened in 1959 and has grown to become a major tourist magnet in both winter and summer. Snowmobile trails, cross-country skiing trails, and ice fishing on Sunday Lake have also drawn many tourists to the city during the winter months. During the summer, hiking, camping, fishing, and on occasion [[American Power Boat Association]] boat races on Sunday Lake contribute to a growing local tourist industry.  As a typical small town, many are drawn back to participate in the annual old-fashioned [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]] celebration. The week-long event includes softball tournaments, high school class reunions, homecoming church services, town picnic and concert at Eddy Park, a Sunday Lake run contest, Main Street parade, children's races, and fireworks display over Sunday Lake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefieldtownship.com/Wakefield%204th%20%20Reunion%20Schedule-2008.pdf | title=Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration |publisher=City of Wakefield | access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref>