Negaunee, Michigan
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| Negaunee, Michigan | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Marquette |
| Area | |
| - Total | 14.7 sq mi (38.0 km²) |
| - Land | 13.8 sq mi (35.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,371 ft (418 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 4,576 |
| - Density | 332.1/sq mi (128.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 49866 |
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-56860[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0633261[2] |
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Negaunee is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,576 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southwest corner of Negaunee Township. The city is home to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum. The name Negaunee comes from a Native American word (Chippewa tribe) meaning pioneer. The neighboring town of Ishpeming, whose name means on the summit, often interpret Ishpeming as Heaven and tell the unknowing that Negaunee means Hell. The two cities have high schools with a healthy rivalry. Within the city limits is Teal Lake.
Negaunee is home to Pioneer Days, a festival held every year the week following July 4th, Heikki Lunta Winterfest, and the Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament.
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[edit] History
The city was built after the discovery of iron ore in the area during the early 1800s. The Jackson Mine was established in 1845 to mine the iron ore which would be shipped to steel making plants. The first iron forge in the Lake Superior region was established soon after in Negaunee as well. In 1858, the community was given a post office. In 1865, Negaunee was incorporated as a town and in 1868 the first police force was formed. 1873 marks the year Negaunee was recognized as a city. As mining operations expanded, many immigrants helped settle the area, bringing with them rich traditions that remain today. Due to extensive underground mining roughly half the city was abandoned in the early 1900's due to risk of cave-in. The city closed its trolley system in 1927. The Jackson Mine ceased all operations within the city limits in the 1940's.
Negaunee has worked hard to regain its luster. "Caving grounds" have been reopened to the community and renamed as Old Towne. Residents can now tour Old Towne to visit the sites of historial family homes [markers have been erected] and mining artifacts can be observed. Although the city's population has been on a slow descent for the past eighty years, the Negaunee school system remains one of the best in the Upper Peninsula.[citation needed] In recent years several new businesses have also found their way to Negaunee and this bedroom community continues to thrive.[who?]
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38.0 km²), of which, 13.8 square miles (35.7 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (6.07%) is water.
[edit] Highways
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U.S. 41 is a scenic route northwest to the Keweenaw Peninsula, east to Marquette and southeast to Escanaba. |
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M-28 travels west toward Ironwood and east to Marquette. |
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BUS M-28 serves both Negaunee and Ishpeming. |
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M-35 provides an alternate route to the Escanaba area & Sawyer International Airport. |
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,576 people, 1,946 households, and 1,218 families residing in the city. The population density was 332.1 per square mile (128.2/km²). There were 2,088 housing units at an average density of 151.5/sq mi (58.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.63% White, 0.28% African American, 1.29% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population. 28.8% were of Finnish, 14.5% Italian, 14.0% English, 9.3% German, 8.9% Swedish and 5.8% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.7% spoke English, 1.7% Spanish and 1.5% Finnish as their first language.
There were 1,946 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,117, and the median income for a family was $39,750. Males had a median income of $36,026 versus $22,380 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,889. About 6.3% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of Negaunee Site
- Negaunee Schools Site
- Pioneer Days Info
- Heikki Lunta Winterfest
- Negaunee Historical Museum
- Negaunee Invitational Basketball Tournament
- U.P. native goes 'Into The Wild'
- Musician-actor keeps his connection to U.P. strong
- McCandless story has U.P. connection
- Local folks can finally see Negaunee actor in movie
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