Iron County, Michigan | |
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMichigan | |
| Coordinates:46°13′N88°31′W / 46.21°N 88.51°W /46.21; -88.51 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| Founded | April 3, 1885[1][2] |
| Named after | Iron ore |
| Seat | Crystal Falls |
| Largest city | Iron River |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,211 sq mi (3,140 km2) |
| • Land | 1,166 sq mi (3,020 km2) |
| • Water | 45 sq mi (120 km2) 3.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,631 |
• Estimate (2024) | 11,709 |
| • Density | 10/sq mi (3.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | ironmi |
Iron County is one of two landlockedcounties in theUpper Peninsula of theU.S. state ofMichigan. As of the2020 census, the population was 11,631.[3] Thecounty seat isCrystal Falls.[4]
Iron County was organized in 1885, with territory partitioned fromMarquette andMenominee counties. In 1890, the county's population was 4,432.[1][5] It was named for the valuableiron ore found within its borders.[1][6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,211 square miles (3,140 km2), of which 1,166 square miles (3,020 km2) is land and 45 square miles (120 km2) (3.7%) is water.[7] Along with its southeastern neighborDickinson County, it is one of only two landlocked counties in theUpper Peninsula.
US 2 – runs east–west through lower part of county. Enters west line at 6 miles (9.7 km) above SW corner, then runs east and southeast to Crystal Falls, where it turns south and runs into Wisconsin. Passes Mineral Hills, Iron River, and Fortune Lake.
US 141 – runs north–south through center of county. Enters north line of county fromCovington in Baraga County, then runs south to intersection with US-2 at Crystal Falls.
M-69 – runs east from Crystal Falls into Dickinson County.
M-73 – enters south line of county fromNelma, Wisconsin, then runs northeast to intersection with US-2 at Iron River.
M-189 – enters south line of county fromTipler, Wisconsin, then runs north to intersection with US-2 at Iron River.[8]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 4,432 | — | |
| 1900 | 8,990 | 102.8% | |
| 1910 | 15,164 | 68.7% | |
| 1920 | 22,107 | 45.8% | |
| 1930 | 20,805 | −5.9% | |
| 1940 | 20,243 | −2.7% | |
| 1950 | 17,692 | −12.6% | |
| 1960 | 17,184 | −2.9% | |
| 1970 | 13,813 | −19.6% | |
| 1980 | 13,635 | −1.3% | |
| 1990 | 13,175 | −3.4% | |
| 2000 | 13,138 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 11,817 | −10.1% | |
| 2020 | 11,631 | −1.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 11,709 | [9] | 0.7% |
| US Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2018[3] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 11,631, a median age of 53.6 years, and 17.4% of residents under the age of 18 while 29.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older.[14]
For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.7 males age 18 and over.[14]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.0%White, 0.2%Black or African American, 0.8%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.2% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.[15]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 5,521 households in the county, of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 25.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 8,878 housing units, of which 37.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.3% were owner-occupied and 18.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.[14]
The2010 United States census indicates Iron County had a population of 11,817, 5,577 households, and 3,284 families, for apopulation density of 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 9,197 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2). This decrease of 1,321 people from the2000 United States census represents a 10.1% population decrease.[17]
In 2010, 97.1% of the population wereWhite, 2.9%Native American, 0.3%Asian, 0.1%Black or African American, 0.2% of some other race, and 1.4%of two or more races; 1.4% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). Culturally, 14.3% were ofGerman, 11.5%Finnish, 11.3%Italian, 8.6%French,French Canadian orCajun, 8.0%Swedish, 6.5%English, 5.8%American and 5.4%Irish ancestry.[18]
In 2010, there were 5,577 households, out of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% weremarried couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.65.[17]
The county population contained 17.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.9 years. 49.3% of the population was male, 50.7% was female.[17]
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $35,390, and the median income for a family was $46,337. Theper capita income for the county was $20,099. About 6.5% of families and 11.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.[17]
Iron County was reliably Republican during its first three decades. However, since 1936 its voters have selected the Democratic Party nominee in 16 (out of 23) of the national elections through 2024, though it has voted Republican in the four most recent elections and five of the last six.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 598 | 53.39% | 520 | 46.43% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1892 | 918 | 59.26% | 587 | 37.90% | 44 | 2.84% |
| 1896 | 1,048 | 79.70% | 236 | 17.95% | 31 | 2.36% |
| 1900 | 1,561 | 84.88% | 257 | 13.97% | 21 | 1.14% |
| 1904 | 1,620 | 90.50% | 139 | 7.77% | 31 | 1.73% |
| 1908 | 2,055 | 85.63% | 260 | 10.83% | 85 | 3.54% |
| 1912 | 1,031 | 45.24% | 218 | 9.57% | 1,030 | 45.20% |
| 1916 | 2,139 | 67.54% | 877 | 27.69% | 151 | 4.77% |
| 1920 | 3,515 | 82.80% | 497 | 11.71% | 233 | 5.49% |
| 1924 | 2,802 | 65.06% | 247 | 5.73% | 1,258 | 29.21% |
| 1928 | 4,103 | 63.96% | 2,262 | 35.26% | 50 | 0.78% |
| 1932 | 4,347 | 53.56% | 3,416 | 42.09% | 353 | 4.35% |
| 1936 | 3,834 | 41.99% | 5,216 | 57.13% | 80 | 0.88% |
| 1940 | 4,766 | 49.33% | 4,808 | 49.77% | 87 | 0.90% |
| 1944 | 3,945 | 46.16% | 4,537 | 53.09% | 64 | 0.75% |
| 1948 | 3,659 | 44.56% | 4,125 | 50.23% | 428 | 5.21% |
| 1952 | 4,564 | 49.52% | 4,597 | 49.88% | 55 | 0.60% |
| 1956 | 4,955 | 52.39% | 4,490 | 47.47% | 13 | 0.14% |
| 1960 | 3,919 | 42.76% | 5,232 | 57.09% | 14 | 0.15% |
| 1964 | 2,399 | 28.48% | 6,011 | 71.36% | 13 | 0.15% |
| 1968 | 3,292 | 42.36% | 4,130 | 53.14% | 350 | 4.50% |
| 1972 | 3,630 | 49.21% | 3,512 | 47.61% | 234 | 3.17% |
| 1976 | 3,224 | 41.77% | 4,401 | 57.02% | 93 | 1.20% |
| 1980 | 3,507 | 45.36% | 3,742 | 48.40% | 483 | 6.25% |
| 1984 | 3,468 | 49.15% | 3,559 | 50.44% | 29 | 0.41% |
| 1988 | 2,866 | 42.94% | 3,774 | 56.55% | 34 | 0.51% |
| 1992 | 1,971 | 28.16% | 3,648 | 52.11% | 1,381 | 19.73% |
| 1996 | 2,014 | 33.24% | 3,232 | 53.34% | 813 | 13.42% |
| 2000 | 2,967 | 47.95% | 3,014 | 48.71% | 207 | 3.35% |
| 2004 | 3,224 | 49.52% | 3,215 | 49.38% | 72 | 1.11% |
| 2008 | 2,947 | 47.83% | 3,080 | 49.98% | 135 | 2.19% |
| 2012 | 3,224 | 53.63% | 2,687 | 44.69% | 101 | 1.68% |
| 2016 | 3,675 | 61.66% | 2,004 | 33.62% | 281 | 4.71% |
| 2020 | 4,216 | 62.05% | 2,493 | 36.69% | 86 | 1.27% |
| 2024 | 4,501 | 64.00% | 2,441 | 34.71% | 91 | 1.29% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 4,328 | 62.69% | 2,404 | 34.82% | 172 | 2.49% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 3,282 | 58.40% | 2,236 | 39.79% | 102 | 1.81% |
Iron County operates the County jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, andvital records, administerspublic health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The 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.
Places adjacent to Iron County, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofIron County, Michigan,United States | ||
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