Bessemer, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bessemer, Michigan
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| City of Bessemer | |
Downtown Bessemer along S. Sophie Street
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Location within Gogebic County
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 Bessemer, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Bessemer, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Gogebic |
| Settled | 1880 |
| Platted | 1884 |
| Incorporated | 1887 (village) 1889 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2) |
| • Land | 5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,424 ft (434 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,805 |
| • Density | 328.24/sq mi (126.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49911
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| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-07960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0621184 |
Bessemer is a city in the state of Michigan, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,805 people lived there. It is the main city, or county seat, of Gogebic County.
The city of Bessemer is surrounded by Bessemer Township. However, they are run separately. Bessemer is located on U.S. Route 2. The city of Ironwood is to its west, and Wakefield is to its east.
Bessemer is a great place for outdoor fun. Nearby are the Big Powderhorn and Snow River ski resorts. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also very popular. This area gets a lot of snow because of "lake-effect snow" from nearby Lake Superior. People often call it "Big Snow Country." In summer, you can visit Bluff Valley Park, see the beautiful Black River Falls, or explore the Iron Belle Trail.
Contents
History of Bessemer
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Bessemer's story began in 1880. A hunter named Richard Langford found iron ore under a birch tree. However, Captain N. D. Moore is often given credit for finding the ore that started the Colby mine. Mining began in 1883.
By 1884, a railroad was being built from Antigo, WI to Ashland, WI. It passed through the new mining areas. The railroad company then planned out the town of Bessemer in 1884. In 1887, people voted to make Bessemer an official village. Later, in 1889, it became a city.
For 75 years, from 1884 to 1958, Gogebic County shipped over 245 million tons of iron ore. The last mine in Bessemer, the Peterson Mine, closed in 1966. Many people left the area to find work in car factories. This caused the local economy to slow down a lot.
Bessemer is named after Sir Henry Bessemer. He was an English inventor who created a way to make steel.
Bessemer's Geography
The city of Bessemer covers about 5.47 square miles (14.24 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits. Most of Bessemer is on the north side of Colby Hill. The city has many hills and valleys.
Bessemer's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | |||
The population of Bessemer has changed over the years. In 2020, the census counted 1,805 people living in the city.
Getting Around Bessemer
Roads and Highways
- US Highway 2 is a major road. It runs through Bessemer and is the longest US Highway in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
- County Road 513 (also called Moore Street or Black River Road) starts in Bessemer. It goes north for about 15 miles (24 km) to Black River Harbor on Lake Superior. Part of this road is a special scenic route.
- County Road 200 (Old County Road) starts in Bessemer's southwest end. It travels west to Ironwood.
Public Transportation
Indian Trails offers daily bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood. Gogebic County also has a local bus system called the Gogebic County Transit Authority. For air travel, the Gogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD) is located north of Ironwood.
Famous People from Bessemer
Many interesting people have connections to Bessemer:
- Otto Binder: A science fiction and comic book writer. He wrote for famous characters like Mary Marvel and Supergirl. He was born in Bessemer.
- Kevin Borseth: A successful women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He was also born in Bessemer.
- Jay W. Johnson: A U.S. congressman from Wisconsin. He was born in Bessemer.
- Arthur Redner: A football player for the famous 1901 Michigan Wolverines team. He lived in Bessemer.
- Al Rossi: An Olympic bronze medalist in rowing at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Bessemer.
- Richard A. Sofio: A Michigan state representative and educator. He was born in Bessemer.
See also
In Spanish: Bessemer (Míchigan) para niños
