Houghton, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Houghton, Michigan
Gakiiwe-onigamiing (Ojibwe)
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| City of Houghton | ||
Aerial view of downtown Houghton and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge
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| Nickname(s):
"Gateway to the Keweenaw", "Winter City"
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Location within Houghton County
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 Houghton, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Houghton, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Michigan |
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| County | Houghton | |
| Platted | 1854 | |
| Incorporated | 1861 (village) 1970 (city) |
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| Government | ||
| • Type | City commission | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.65 sq mi (12.05 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.41 sq mi (11.42 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2) 5.12% | |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,386 | |
| • Density | 1,902.45/sq mi (734.53/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
49931
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| Area code(s) | 906 | |
| FIPS code | 26-39360 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0628661 | |
Houghton (pronounced HOH-tən) is the biggest city and county seat of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It's located on the Keweenaw Peninsula, which is a unique area known for its history. Houghton is the largest city in the Copper Country region.
With a population of 8,386 people as of 2020, it's the fifth-largest city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Houghton is the main city of the Houghton micropolitan area, which includes all of Houghton and Keweenaw counties. The city sits along the Keweenaw Waterway, a mix of natural and man-made channels that connect to Lake Superior at both ends. Right across the waterway is the city of Hancock.
Houghton was named after Douglass Houghton, a famous American geologist and physician who explored the Keweenaw Peninsula. The city is also home to Michigan Technological University, a public research university started in 1885. This university hosts a yearly Winter Carnival in February, which brings in many visitors from all over the world. The university's sports teams are called the Huskies. Their men's ice hockey team has even won three national championships!
Contents
Exploring Houghton's Past
Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans mined copper in the Houghton area thousands of years ago. French explorers first noted copper in the region in the 1600s. Later, in 1772, Alexander Henry searched for copper near the Ontonagon River.
Many immigrants came to Houghton to work in the copper mines. People from Cornwall (England) and Finland greatly influenced the local culture and food. They often called the area "Copper Island."
The last nearby copper mines closed in the late 1960s. However, Michigan Technological University, which was founded in 1885 to teach mining engineering, is now the city's main employer.
The first known European settler in Houghton was Ransom Shelden, who opened a store. The main street in Houghton, Shelden Avenue, is named after him.
Houghton became an important port when the Keweenaw Waterway opened in 1873. This waterway was made by digging and extending Portage Lake, creating a channel that separated the northern part of the Keweenaw Peninsula, making it "Copper Island."
In 1854, Ernest F. Pletschke planned out the city of Houghton. It officially became a village three years later. By 1880, Houghton was a growing city, and a railroad line reached it from Marquette in 1883.
In 1903, professional ice hockey in the United States began in Houghton with the formation of the Portage Lakers team. Today, the Portage Lake Pioneers Senior Hockey Team plays at Dee Stadium. This stadium was originally called the Amphidrome before a fire damaged it in 1927.
Houghton's Location and Features
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Houghton is located on the south shore of Portage Lake. It sits on rolling, wooded hills, less than a mile across the lake from Hancock. The city is surrounded by other communities like Portage Township, Pilgrim, Dakota Heights, and Hurontown.
The city's total area is about 4.69 square miles (12.15 square kilometers), with most of it being land and a small part being water.
Houghton has several parks and outdoor areas. West Houghton Park has an outdoor ice rink and tennis courts. Along Portage Lake, you'll find the Raymond Kestner Waterfront Recreation Area, which has a large "Chutes and Ladders" playground and Houghton Beach. The "Waterfront Trail" is a flat, paved path along the water for bikers and walkers.
The Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects Hancock and Houghton. It crosses Portage Lake, which is part of a river and canal system that cuts across the entire peninsula. This bridge is special because it's the world's heaviest and widest double-decked vertical lift bridge. Its middle part can lift up 100 feet (30 meters) to let ships pass. When there's no train traffic, the lower deck is used for snowmobiles in winter. This bridge is the only land connection between the northern and southern parts of the Keweenaw Peninsula, making it very important.
Weather in Houghton
Houghton has a humid continental climate, which means it has warm summers and cold winters. The winters are very long and snowy because of "lake-effect snow" from Lake Superior, with an average of 218 inches (5.5 meters) of snow each year! It's one of the coldest cities in the United States, with temperatures staying below freezing for about 100 days a year. People sometimes joke that Houghton has "two seasons: winter's here and winter's coming."
Even though winters are long, Houghton is known as a "Winter City." This means the community embraces winter and its residents enjoy outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and ice skating. The city celebrates winter with the "Winter Carnival" hosted by Michigan Tech every February.
Summers in Houghton are usually very pleasant. The cool waters of Lake Superior help keep temperatures from getting too hot. Temperatures above 100°F (38°C) are very rare. Very cold temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) are also not as common as in some other cold places, thanks to the lake's influence.
| Climate data for Houghton, Michigan, 1971-2000 normals, extremes 1887-present | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
60 (16) |
79 (26) |
88 (31) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
102 (39) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
86 (30) |
71 (22) |
64 (18) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 21.6 (−5.8) |
24.8 (−4.0) |
33.7 (0.9) |
47.1 (8.4) |
62.3 (16.8) |
70.8 (21.6) |
75.9 (24.4) |
73.6 (23.1) |
63.3 (17.4) |
51.6 (10.9) |
36.8 (2.7) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
49.0 (9.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 7.6 (−13.6) |
9.1 (−12.7) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
40.8 (4.9) |
49.3 (9.6) |
55.2 (12.9) |
54.7 (12.6) |
46.2 (7.9) |
36.4 (2.4) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
13.8 (−10.1) |
32.1 (0.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −29 (−34) |
−30 (−34) |
−23 (−31) |
−4 (−20) |
19 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
32 (0) |
34 (1) |
24 (−4) |
12 (−11) |
−7 (−22) |
−19 (−28) |
−30 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.26 (108) |
2.28 (58) |
2.45 (62) |
1.71 (43) |
2.49 (63) |
2.84 (72) |
2.97 (75) |
2.75 (70) |
3.24 (82) |
2.56 (65) |
2.84 (72) |
3.42 (87) |
33.81 (857) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 68.4 (174) |
33.4 (85) |
24.0 (61) |
7.1 (18) |
1.1 (2.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
4.0 (10) |
23.8 (60) |
56.1 (142) |
218 (553.05) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 22.7 | 15.8 | 12.6 | 9.6 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 12.7 | 13.1 | 15.4 | 19.7 | 162.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 inch) | 23.6 | 15.6 | 10.3 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 12.0 | 19.7 | 89.5 |
| Source 1: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | |||||||||||||
People and Fun in Houghton
Every summer, Houghton hosts "Bridgefest" to celebrate the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. This festival often happens at the same time as "Seafoodfest." In the fall, the "Parade of Nations" takes place downtown. It celebrates the many different cultures at Michigan Technological University.
The city has two museums. The Carnegie Museum has old photos and items about the local history. It also features a mural showing the history of the surrounding counties. The AE Seaman Mineral Museum, located at Michigan Tech, is Michigan's state mineral museum.
Houghton is a popular place for winter sports because of its long, snowy winters and many ski hills. It has hosted big events like the Junior Olympics for cross-country skiing and the US National Championships for Nordic skiing.
Many winter events are connected to Michigan Technological University. The yearly Winter Carnival is a huge event where thousands of visitors come to see amazing snow sculptures made by students. As part of Winter Carnival 2006, Houghton and the university broke three world records: the largest snowball, the largest snowball fight, and the most people making snow angels at once! They still hold the records for the largest snowball and largest snowball fight.
The local newspaper is The Daily Mining Gazette. Locals sometimes call the town "Hoton" or "Ho-town." Houghton and Hancock are very close, so their combined area is often called "Houghton-Hancock." Even though they are close, the towns have a strong rivalry, especially in sports between Houghton High School and Hancock Central.
Tourism is a big part of Houghton's economy. Many people visit in the summer to tour old mines, see historical sites, and go camping. Winter tourism is also popular from November to April for snowmobiling, skiing, and other winter sports.
Houghton's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,157 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,438 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,062 | 43.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,359 | 62.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,113 | 52.2% | |
| 1920 | 4,406 | −13.8% | |
| 1930 | 3,757 | −14.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,693 | −1.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,829 | 3.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,393 | −11.4% | |
| 1970 | 6,067 | 78.8% | |
| 1980 | 7,512 | 23.8% | |
| 1990 | 7,498 | −0.2% | |
| 2000 | 7,010 | −6.5% | |
| 2010 | 7,708 | 10.0% | |
| 2020 | 8,386 | 8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Quick Facts from the 2020 Census
In 2020, there were 8,386 people living in Houghton. These people lived in 2,533 households, with about 2.30 people per household.
Quick Facts from the 2010 Census
In 2010, Houghton had 7,708 people. The city had 2,380 households and 907 families. The average number of people per household was 2.37.
Most of the people in Houghton were White (85.2%), with smaller numbers of Asian (11.2%), African American (1.0%), and Native American (0.4%) residents. About 1.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in the city was 22.1 years old. This means many young people live here, likely because of the university. About 56.2% of residents were between 18 and 24 years old.
Learning in Houghton
The local school district is Houghton-Portage Township Schools. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade attend Houghton Elementary (K-5), Middle (6–8), and High (9–12) Schools. As mentioned, Houghton is also home to Michigan Technological University.
Getting Around Houghton
Main Roads
US 41 goes north to Hancock and Copper Harbor. To the south and east, US 41 leads to L'Anse and Marquette.
M-26 connects Houghton southwest to US 45.- M-203 is a loop route from US 41 in Hancock to McLain State Park and back to US 41.
Bus Services
Indian Trails bus lines offer daily bus service between Hancock, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Houghton Motor Transit runs local buses within Houghton and nearby Portage Township. They also have night trips to Mont Ripley in Ripley.
Ferry Travel
Houghton is the starting point for ferries to Isle Royale National Park.
Airport
Houghton is served by the Houghton County Memorial Airport, which has some commercial flights.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is a very popular winter activity in the area. It's not just for fun; snowmobiles are often the best way to get around after a big snowstorm. The Bill Nichols Snowmobile Trail ends in Houghton.
Local Radio Stations
- WMPL AM 920
- WCCY (AM) 1400
- WKMJ-FM FM 93.5
- WOLV 97.7
- WUPY FM 101.1
- WHKB FM 102.3
- WMTU-FM 91.9
- WGGL-FM 91.1
Houghton's Neighborhoods
Houghton is generally divided into three main areas: East Houghton, Central Houghton (which includes downtown), and West Houghton.
- East Houghton stretches from Franklin Square to the city's eastern edge. College Avenue is a main street here, known for its older homes. The main campus of Michigan Tech now covers much of this area, but it's still mostly a residential neighborhood. East Houghton Park is located here, with tennis courts and a playground.
- Central Houghton is the more urban part of town, located roughly between Franklin Square and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. The "heart of Houghton's commercial district" is here, with many buildings made of local sandstone. This area is centered on Shelden Avenue. South of this area are older wooden houses from the mining days. To the north is the waterfront, with several docks.
- West Houghton has newer buildings and feels more like a modern suburban area. It features larger middle-class houses with big wooded lots. This area also has many retail stores, including a Walmart, which have become a new commercial center for the city. Several beaches are located on this side of town.
Micropolitan Area
The Houghton, Michigan micropolitan area is a way the United States census bureau groups together nearby counties for statistics.
Famous People from Houghton
- Norm Breyfogle, American comic book artist
- George Brunet, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Avis DeVoto, American culinary editor and cook
- Dolly Gray, baseball player
- Chuck Klingbeil, former National Football League player for the Miami Dolphins
- Nancy Harkness Love, World War II pilot
- William A. Longacre, archaeologist
- Charles O. McManiman, former Mayor of Houghton and state Senator
- P.J. Olsson, rock singer
- Eugene Parker, solar astrophysicist and namesake of the Parker Solar Probe
- Percy Loomis Sperr, historical photographer
Images for kids
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Aerial view of downtown Houghton and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge
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Seal of Houghton
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Location within Houghton County
See also
In Spanish: Houghton (Míchigan) para niños
