Ironwood, Michigan
| Ironwood, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Downtown Ironwood
|
|
 Location of Ironwood, Michigan |
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| Coordinates: 46°27′21″N 90°9′34″W / 46.45583°N 90.15944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Gogebic |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.42 sq mi (16.63 km2) |
| • Land | 6.42 sq mi (16.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,506 ft (459 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 5,387 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 5,246 |
| • Density | 839.1/sq mi (324.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 49938 |
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-41060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0629087 |
| Website | www.cityofironwood.org |
Ironwood is a city in Gogebic County in the U.S. state of Michigan, about 18 miles (29 km) south of Lake Superior. The population was 5,387 at the 2010 census. The city is on US 2 and is situated opposite the Montreal River from Hurley, Wisconsin. It is the westernmost city in Michigan, situated on the same line of longitude (90.2 degrees West) as Clinton, Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri.
While originally an iron mining town, the area is now known for its downhill skiing resorts, including Big Powderhorn, Blackjack, Indianhead, Mount Zion and Whitecap as well as its cross country skiing at the Wolverine Nordic Trail System and the ABR Nordic Center.
Ironwood is home of the "World's Tallest Indian" : a 52 ft (15.8 m) fiberglass statue of tribal leader Hiawatha.
The city is at the south end of Ironwood Township, but is administratively autonomous.
The town of Ironwood was settled in the spring of 1885. The town was incorporated as a village in 1887 and as a city on April 8, 1889. The township area north of the city was incorporated as Ironwood Township on April 8, 1889. In 1890 the population of Ironwood passed 7500 and in 1900 it reached 10000.
Iron ore was found in the area in the 1870s but it wasn't until the mid-1880s when the arrival of the railroad to the area opened it for more extensive exploration of the vast iron ore deposits. Soon several mines were discovered and opened such as the Norrie mine, Aurora mine, Ashland mine, Newport mine, and Pabst mine. The opening of the mines and the lumber works in the area led to a rapid influx of immigrants both from other parts of the USA and directly from Europe (mainly Sweden, Germany, England, Italy, Poland, Finland).
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Wikipedia