Laurium, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laurium, Michigan
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Village
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Downtown Laurium
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Location within Houghton County
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 Laurium, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Houghton |
| Township | Calumet |
| Incorporated | 1889 (as Calumet) 1895 (as Laurium) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Village council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.65 sq mi (1.68 km2) |
| • Land | 0.65 sq mi (1.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,237 ft (377 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,864 |
| • Density | 2,872.11/sq mi (1,108.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49913 (Calumet)
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| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-46360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0630196 |
| Website | |
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Laurium Historic District
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Calumet, Stable, N. Florida, and Isle Royale Sts., Laurium, Michigan |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | Paul Roehm, et al. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Homestead-temple house |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001578 |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 2005 |
Laurium is a small village in Houghton County, Michigan, located in the middle of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It's part of Calumet Township. In 2010, about 1,977 people lived here.
The village is mostly surrounded by Calumet Township. A small part of Laurium borders Schoolcraft Township to the east.
Contents
History of Laurium
Before 1895, Laurium was called "Calumet." Don't confuse this with the nearby town of Calumet today. That town was known as "Red Jacket" until 1929. In 1895, the state government changed the village's name to Laurium. It was named after a famous mining town in ancient Greece.
Laurium is in the heart of the Copper Country. This area was the first big copper mining region in the United States. Laurium started as a "company town." This means a company built and owned the town to support its workers. It served the Laurium copper mine. This mine later became part of the Calumet & Hecla mine.
The village was often home to the wealthier people in the Keweenaw area. This included mine owners and managers. Even though the mines closed a long time ago, you can still see many large houses and mansions. These were built by the rich mine owners. Today, some of these houses are part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park.
A famous football player, George Gipp, was born in Laurium. He was known as "the Gipper." There's a small memorial for him at Lake Linden Avenue and Tamarack Street. His grave is in the nearby Lake View Cemetery.
The Palestra was a well-known hockey arena built in Laurium in 1904. Many people think it was the first building made just for indoor hockey in the United States. In 1921, the whole arena was moved to Marquette. It stayed there until it was taken down in 1974.
Laurium Historic District
In 2005, the Laurium Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special area recognized for its history. The district is mostly bordered by Calumet Street, Stable Street, North Florida Street, and Isle Royale Street. This area includes almost the entire village of Laurium.
Most buildings in Laurium were built between 1880 and 1915. So, the styles of the buildings show what was popular back then.
More than 90% of the buildings in the historic district are homes. Most of these are single-family houses. One of the grandest homes is the Thomas H. Hoatson House. It's now known as the Laurium Manor Inn. It's a large house built in the Classical Revival style. Most houses are smaller and simpler. They are often two-story homes with a front-gabled roof, mostly made of wood.
You can also find five churches and two schools in the community. Most of the shops and businesses are near the intersection of Hecla and Third Streets. This area includes the J. Vivian, Jr. and Company Building, which is also listed on the National Register. These business buildings are often made of brick or sandstone.
Geography
Laurium is a small village. It covers about 0.65 square miles (1.68 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the village limits.
Population and People
In 2010, there were 1,977 people living in Laurium. There were 814 households, which are groups of people living together. The average age of people in the village was about 38 years old. About 27% of the residents were under 18 years old.
Education
The Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw (C-L-K) School District was started in 1867. It is one of the largest school districts in the area. It serves both Laurium and Calumet. It also serves almost all of Keweenaw County.
Notable People
- George Gipp - A famous football player from the University of Notre Dame.
- Percy Ross - A kind person who gave money to many causes and wrote a newspaper column.
- James Quello - A pioneer in broadcasting and a commissioner for the FCC.
Images for kids
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Welcome to Laurium Sign
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George Gipp Park, known to the locals as the Bicentennial
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Victorian Hall in winter
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Private residence in winter
See also
In Spanish: Laurium (Míchigan) para niños
