Bessemer, Michigan
| Bessemer, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Downtown Bessemer
|
|
 Location of Bessemer, Michigan |
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| Coordinates: 46°28′41″N 90°3′5″W / 46.47806°N 90.05139°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Gogebic |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.47 sq mi (14.17 km2) |
| • Land | 5.47 sq mi (14.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,424 ft (434 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,905 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 1,854 |
| • Density | 348.3/sq mi (134.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 49911 |
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-07960 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0621184 |
| Website | /cityofbessemer.org |
Bessemer is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,914. It is the county seat of Gogebic County.
The city is situated within Bessemer Township, but is politically independent. It is on US 2 with Ironwood several miles to the west and Wakefield several miles to the east. The Big Powderhorn, Blackjack and Indianhead ski areas are located within a few miles of Bessemer. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also very popular in this area because of heavy snowfall influenced by nearby Lake Superior and this area is often referred to as "Big Snow Country".
In 1880, a hunter and trapper Richard Langford, discovered iron ore under an overturned birch tree. However, Captain N. D. Moore is credited with disclosing the ore which led to the development of the Colby property. Mining began in 1883. By 1884, the Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western Railroad (later the Chicago and Northwestern) was being built from Antigo, WI to Ashland, WI by way of the new mines. The railroad company platted the town of Bessemer in 1884. On June 4, 1886 Gogebic County was separated from Ontonagon County. In March 1887, 360 voting members assembled and voted to organize the village of Bessemer. In the same year Gogebic County was officially created by the Michigan Legislature. Also in the year Bessemer and Ironwood called an election to see which city would be the county seat and also have the Gogebic County Courthouse. Ironwood men traveling to Bessemer to vote were made drunk and the train did not stop at the voting site. Ironwood lost and Bessemer gained the county seat. From 1884 to December 31, 1958, a period of seventy-five years, the iron ore shipment from all of Gogebic County totaled over 245 million tons. In 1966 the last mine in Bessemer-the Peterson Mine was closed. Many left the area to work in car factories in Kenosha, and the local economy underwent a serious decline.
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Wikipedia