Bessemer, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| City of Bessemer | |
 Downtown Bessemer along S. Sophie Street | |
 Location withinGogebic County | |
  Bessemer Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Bessemer Location within the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:46°28′41″N90°03′05″W / 46.47806°N 90.05139°W /46.47806; -90.05139 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Gogebic |
| Settled | 1880 |
| Platted | 1884 |
| Incorporated | 1887 (village) 1889 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Adam Zak |
| • Manager | Vacant |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2) |
| • Land | 5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,424 ft (434 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,805 |
| • Density | 328.3/sq mi (126.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | 49911 |
| Area code | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-07960[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0621184[3] |
| Website | Official website |
Bessemer is a city in the U.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 census, the city population was 1,805. It is thecounty seat ofGogebic County.[4]
The city is surrounded byBessemer Township, but the two are administered autonomously. It is onU.S. Route 2 withIronwood to the west andWakefield to the east. TheBig Powderhorn andSnowriver ski resorts are located within a few miles of Bessemer. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also very popular in this area, due tolake-effect snow influenced by nearbyLake Superior; the area is often referred to as "Big Snow Country."[5] Recreational opportunities in the summer months include Bluff Valley Park, the scenic Black River Falls, and access to the Iron Belle Trail.
.jpg)
In 1880, a hunter and trapper Richard Langford, discovered iron ore under an overturned birch tree. However, Captain N. D. Moore is credited with disclosing the ore which led to the development of the Colby property. Mining began in 1883. By 1884, the Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western Railroad (later the Chicago and Northwestern) was being built fromAntigo, WI to Ashland, WI by way of the new mines. The railroad company plotted the town of Bessemer in 1884. On June 4, 1886Gogebic County was separated fromOntonagon County. In March 1887, 360 voting members assembled and voted to organize the village of Bessemer. In the same yearGogebic County was officially created by the Michigan Legislature. Also in the year Bessemer andIronwood called an election to see which city would be the county seat and also have theGogebic County Courthouse.Ironwood men traveling to Bessemer to vote were made drunk and the train did not stop at the voting site.Ironwood lost and Bessemer gained the county seat. From 1884 to December 31, 1958, a period of seventy-five years, the iron ore shipment from all ofGogebic County totaled over 245 million tons. In 1966 the last mine in Bessemer, the Peterson Mine, closed. Many left the area to work in car factories in Kenosha, and the local economy underwent a serious decline.[6]
Bessemer is named forSir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898), English inventor ofsteel manufacturing.[6]
Bessemer is operated by an elected 5-member city council with day-to-day operations run by an appointed city manager. Staff also consists of administrative staff, public works department, and library staff. Bessemer also belongs to the Gogebic Range Water Authority.
City Council[7]
City Manager[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.47 square miles (14.17 km2), all land.[9] Majority of Bessemer is situated on the north side of Colby Hill and the city consists of many hills and valleys.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 2,566 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,911 | 52.4% | |
| 1910 | 4,583 | 17.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,482 | 19.6% | |
| 1930 | 4,035 | −26.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,080 | 1.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,509 | −14.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,304 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,805 | −15.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,553 | −9.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,272 | −11.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,148 | −5.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,905 | −11.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,805 | −5.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
According to the2020 census, its population was 1,805.
Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood,[11] while Gogebic County operates a small public bus system, the Gogebic County Transit Authority.
Commercial air service is available at theGogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD) north of Ironwood.
Media related toBessemer, Michigan at Wikimedia Commons
Municipalities and communities ofGogebic County, Michigan,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Charter township | ||
| Civil townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
