Marquette County, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marquette County
U.S. county
Marquette County Courthouse in Marquette
Location within the U.S. state of Michigan
Michigan's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Founded	March 9, 1843, organized 1851
Named for	Jacques Marquette
Seat	Marquette
Largest city	Marquette
Area
• Total	3,425 sq mi (8,870 km2)
• Land	1,808 sq mi (4,680 km2)
• Water	1,616 sq mi (4,190 km2)  47%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	66,017
• Estimate  (2023)	66,999
• Density	37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st

Marquette County is a county located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a state in the United States. A county is like a smaller region within a state, often with its own local government. In 2020, about 66,017 people lived here, making it the most populated county in the Upper Peninsula. The main city and county seat (where the county government is) is Marquette. The county is named after Father Marquette, a famous Jesuit missionary. It was officially created in 1843 and started its government in 1851.

Marquette County is also part of the Marquette, MI micropolitan statistical area, which means it's an important center for jobs and life in the surrounding smaller towns.

Geography of Marquette County

Marquette County covers a large area. It has a total size of about 3,425 square miles. A big part of this, 1,808 square miles, is land, and 1,616 square miles (about 47%) is water. This makes it the largest county in Michigan by land area. It's also the fourth-largest by total area, including its many lakes and rivers.

The Huron Mountains are a mountain range found in the county. To the north, the county borders Lake Superior, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.

Neighboring Counties

Marquette County shares borders with several other counties:

Protected Natural Areas

Parts of these important natural areas are located in Marquette County:

• Hiawatha National Forest
• Huron National Wildlife Refuge
• Ottawa National Forest

Lake Superior as seen from Presque Isle Park in Marquette.

Climate in Marquette County

Marquette County has a climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers. It gets a lot of snow, especially because of its location near Lake Superior, which causes "lake-effect snow." Summers are generally pleasant, making it a nice place for outdoor activities.

Communities in Marquette County

Marquette County is home to several cities, towns, and smaller communities.

This map shows the different cities and towns within Marquette County. The shaded areas are incorporated cities.

Cities in Marquette County

• Ishpeming
• Marquette (This is the county seat)
• Negaunee

Charter Townships

• Chocolay Charter Township
• Marquette Charter Township

Civil Townships

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or villages.

Other Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller places that are not officially part of a city or census-designated place.

Indian Reservations

A small part of the L'Anse Indian Reservation is located in Chocolay Township. This reservation is mostly in Baraga County. Also, a very small piece of land belonging to the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is within the city of Marquette.

Population History of Marquette County

In 2020, the population of Marquette County was 66,017 people. The population has changed over the years, growing from just 136 people in 1850 to its current size.

Economy of Marquette County

Marquette County has a diverse economy with many different types of jobs. Some of the largest employers are in healthcare, mining, and education.

The Tilden and Empire mines, important for mining, as seen from space in 2022.

Major Employers

Here are some of the top employers in Marquette County, both private companies and public organizations:

• Bolded values were updated in 2021.

Education in Marquette County

Marquette County offers various educational opportunities, from public schools to a university.

The Academic Mall at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

Northern Michigan University is a four-year university located in Marquette. It was founded in 1899 and provides many different study programs for students.

School Districts

Students in Marquette County attend schools in these districts:

• Gwinn Area Community Schools
• Ishpeming Public School District
• Marquette Area Public Schools
• Negaunee Public Schools
• NICE Community School District
• Powell Township Schools
• Republic-Michigamme School District

Historical Markers

Marquette County has several historical markers that tell stories about its past. These markers help people learn about important places and events in the county's history.

The National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming.

There are ten historical markers in the county, including:

• Cliffs Shaft Mine
• Dandelion Cottage
• Father Marquette Park
• First Steam Railroad in Upper Peninsula
• Ishpeming: Historic Ski Center
• Jackson Mine
• Marquette County Courthouse
• Marquette Iron Range
• Northern Michigan University
• Sam Cohodas Lodge / Sam Cohodas

Transportation in Marquette County

Getting around Marquette County is possible through various ways, including air travel, public buses, and a network of highways.

Airports

The main airport is Sawyer International Airport. It is owned by the county and is about 20 miles south of Marquette. This airport is on the site of the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, which closed in 1995.

Public Transit

• MarqTran provides local bus services within Marquette and nearby areas.
• Indian Trails offers bus services that connect Marquette County to other cities.

Major Highways

A network of state highways runs through Marquette County, making it easy to travel by car.

Map showing the main highways in Marquette County.

Key highways include:

• US 41
• M-28
• M-35
• M-94
• M-95
• M-553

The Marquette County Road Commission also takes care of many county roads. They even help with snow removal on state highways during winter.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Marquette (Míchigan) para niños