Editing Gogebic County, Michigan

{{short description|County in Michigan, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Gogebic County
 | state                = Michigan
 | seal                 = 
 | logo                 = Gogebic_logo.PNG
 | founded year         = 1887<ref name=clarke>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/gogebic.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, [[Central Michigan University]]|title=Bibliography on Gogebic County|access-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref>
 | named for            = [[Lake Gogebic]]
 | seat wl              = Bessemer
 | largest city wl      = Ironwood
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1476
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1102
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 374
 | area percentage      = 25%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 14,380
 | density_sq_mi        = 15
 | ex image             = Gogebic County Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image cap         = [[Gogebic County Courthouse]] in [[Bessemer, Michigan|Bessemer]]
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.gogebiccountymi.gov/
}}

'''Gogebic County''' ({{IPAc-en|g|oʊ|ˈ|g|i:|b|ɪ|k}} {{respell|goh|GHEE|bik}} or {{IPAc-en|g|oʊ|ˈ|g|ɛ|b|ɪ|k}} {{respell|goh|GHEH|bik}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Peninsula]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Michigan]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 14,380.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/gogebiccountymichigan/POP010220 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Bessemer, Michigan|Bessemer]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Gogebic County is the [[List of extreme points of U.S. states and territories|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 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, Michigan|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 language|Ojibwe]], but differ on the original meaning. The county's website suggests it meant "body of water hanging on high,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heikkinen |first=Carlo |date=1966 |title=Little Known Facts of the Gogebic Range |url=http://www.gogebic.org/hist.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118004723/http://www.gogebic.org/hist.html |archive-date=November 18, 2016 |website=Gogebic County}}</ref> but an 1884 military annal said it meant "water-mold lake" (''Agogibing'').<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kelton |first=Dwight H. |url=https://archive.org/details/annalsfortmacki01keltgoog |title=Annals of Fort Mackinac |publisher=Library of Congress |year=1884 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/annalsfortmacki01keltgoog/page/n154 146]–147}}</ref> (See also: [[List of place names of Native American origin in Michigan]])

==Geography==
[[File:Lake Gogebic.JPG|thumb|left|Lake Gogebic, the largest lake of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, lies partially in Gogebic County.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1476|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1102|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|374|sqmi}} (25%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113024015/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_26.txt|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2013|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

===Water features===
* [[Lake Superior]] – forms the county's northern land border.
* [[Lake Gogebic]] – the largest lake in the [[Upper Peninsula]].
* [[Montreal River (Wisconsin-Michigan)|Montreal River]] – forms the county's western border, as well as the state's border with [[Wisconsin]] in this area.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Ontonagon County, Michigan|Ontonagon County]] – north, northeast (Eastern Time)
* [[Iron County, Michigan|Iron County]] – east (Central Time)
* [[Vilas County, Wisconsin]] – south
* [[Iron County, Wisconsin]] – southwest
* [[Ashland County, Wisconsin]] – northwest

===National protected area===
* [[Ottawa National Forest]] (part)

===State protected area===
* [[Lake Gogebic State Park]]

==Communities==
[[File:Gogebic County, MI census map.png|thumb|right|450px|[[United States Census|U.S. Census]] data map showing local municipal boundaries within Gogebic County. Shaded areas represent incorporated cities.]]

===Cities===
* [[Bessemer, Michigan|Bessemer]] (county seat)
* [[Ironwood, Michigan|Ironwood]]
* [[Wakefield, Michigan|Wakefield]]

===Charter township===
* [[Ironwood Charter Township, Michigan|Ironwood Charter Township]]

===Civil townships===
* [[Bessemer Township, Michigan|Bessemer Township]]
* [[Erwin Township, Michigan|Erwin Township]]
* [[Marenisco Township, Michigan|Marenisco Township]]
* [[Wakefield Township, Michigan|Wakefield Township]]
* [[Watersmeet Township, Michigan|Watersmeet Township]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Marenisco, Michigan|Marenisco]]
* [[Watersmeet, Michigan|Watersmeet]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Anvil, Michigan|Anvil]]
* [[Connorville, Michigan|Connorville]]
* [[Dunham, Michigan|Dunham]]
* [[Hartley, Michigan|Harley]]
* [[Puritan, Michigan|Puritan]]
* [[Ramsay, Michigan|Ramsay]]
* [[Siemens, Michigan|Siemens]]
* [[Tamarack, Michigan|Tamarack]]
* [[Thayer, Michigan|Thayer]]
* [[Wakefield, Michigan|Thomaston]]
* [[Wakefield Township, Michigan|Tula]]
* [[Wellington, Michigan|Wellington]]
{{div col end}}

===Indian reservations===
* [[Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 13166
|1900= 16738
|1910= 23333
|1920= 33225
|1930= 31577
|1940= 31797
|1950= 27053
|1960= 24370
|1970= 20676
|1980= 19686
|1990= 18052
|2000= 17370
|2010= 16427
|2020= 14380
|estyear=2023
|estimate=14224
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mi190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name=QF/>
}}

The [[2010 United States census]] indicated Gogebic County had a population of 16,427.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=July 6, 2013}}</ref> This decrease of 943 people from the 2000 United States census was 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 {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 10,795 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|}}. Among them, 91.7% of the population were [[White American|White]], 4.1% [[African American|Black or African American]], 2.4% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.2% of some other race and 1.4% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 0.9% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). 17.4% were of [[Finnish American|Finnish]], 12.8% [[German American|German]], 11.2% [[American ethnicity|American]], 10.0% [[Italian American|Italian]], 6.8% [[Polish American|Polish]], 6.7% [[English American|English]] and 5.1% [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|author=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS)|work=census.gov}}</ref>

By the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 14,380.<ref name="QF" /> Its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white, and the largest ancestries as of 2022's [[American Community Survey]] were German (16.5%), Italian (13.6%), English (9.5%), and Polish (7.9%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Gogebic_County,_Michigan?g=050XX00US26053 |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

In 2010, were 7,037 households, out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were [[Marriage|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. Its 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.

As of 2010, 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.

==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<ref>{{Cite web |title=1935 Gogebic Panthers (NWFL) - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1935nwflgog.html |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1935 Gogebic Panthers (NWFL) - Pro Football Archives |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1935nwflgog.html |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=www.profootballarchives.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gill |first=Bob |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/70129209 |title=Outsiders : minor league and independent football, 1923-1950 |date=2006 |publisher=St. Johann Press |isbn=1-878282-45-X |location=Haworth, NJ |oclc=70129209}}</ref>

==Politics==
Gogebic County was reliably Republican at the beginning of the twentieth century. Roosevelt's [[New Deal]] changed the county's mood, which had voted for the Democratic candidate in all but 2 presidential elections since 1932 between 1932 and 2012. 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, and again in 2024, by a larger margin each time.

The county is strongly liberal on economic issues and also tends to be somewhat liberal on cultural issues, voting in favor of [[2022 Michigan Proposal 2|Michigan Proposal 2]] and [[2022 Michigan Proposal 3|Michigan Proposal 3]], which loosened voter restrictions and codified abortion rights, 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.
{{PresHead|place=Gogebic County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,803|3,385|127|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,600|3,570|106|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,018|2,925|440|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|3,444|4,058|111|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|3,330|4,757|194|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|3,935|4,421|96|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|3,929|4,066|344|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,769|4,436|981|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,838|4,792|1,595|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,509|5,151|31|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|4,006|5,554|21|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,388|5,254|610|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,953|6,341|98|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,631|4,984|161|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|4,140|5,839|447|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,350|7,945|24|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|5,429|7,200|30|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,865|6,142|25|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|6,195|6,803|53|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|5,204|6,722|643|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|5,283|7,938|47|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,431|9,104|199|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,649|8,461|147|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,379|5,531|611|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,061|3,134|167|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,128|487|2,092|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,486|823|573|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,204|1,540|260|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|818|572|1,649|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,256|614|222|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,111|414|182|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,166|676|120|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,982|837|80|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,344|1,615|135|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|1,367|1,112|36|Michigan}}

==Government==
[[File:BessemerCH1920.jpg|thumb|Gogebic County Courthouse circa 1920]]
The county government operates the [[County jail|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 commission|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===

* {{jct|state=MI|US|2}}
* {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|2|dab1=Ironwood}} serves the city of Ironwood.
* {{jct|state=MI|US|45}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|28}}
* {{jct|state=MI|M|64}}

===Transit===
*[[Indian Trails]]

===Airport===
* KIWD - [[Gogebic-Iron County Airport]] – {{convert|7|mi|km}} NE of Ironwood. Commercial air service is available.

==See also==
* [[List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Gogebic County, Michigan]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Gogebic County, Michigan]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gogebic.org Gogebic County government]
* [http://www.nmu.edu/sites/DrupalRuralAndLocal/files/UserFiles/Files/Pre-Drupal/SiteSections/Resources/Gogebic.pdf Gogebic County Profile, Sam M Cohodas Regional Economist, Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D.]
* {{cite web|url=http://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/MichiganLocalHistory/Pages/gogebic.aspx|publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University|title=Bibliography on Gogbebic County|access-date=January 19, 2013}}
* [http://www.wuppdr.org/ Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Gogebic County, Michigan
|North     = [[Ontonagon County, Michigan|Ontonagon County]]
|East      = [[Iron County, Michigan|Iron County]]
|South     = [[Vilas County, Wisconsin]]
|Southwest = [[Iron County, Wisconsin]]
|Northwest = [[Ashland County, Wisconsin]]
}}

{{Gogebic County, Michigan}}
{{Upper Peninsula of Michigan}}
{{Michigan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|46.48|-89.79|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MI_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Gogebic County, Michigan| ]]
[[Category:Michigan counties]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]
[[Category:Michigan placenames of Native American origin]]