Gogebic County, Michigan Facts for Kids

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Gogebic County

U.S. county

Gogebic County Courthouse, July 2014

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Location within the U.S. state of Michigan

Michigan's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Michigan

Founded

1887

Largest city

Area

• Total

1,476 sq mi (3,820 km²)

• Land

1,102 sq mi (2,850 km²)

• Water

374 sq mi (970 km²) 25%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

14,380

• Density

15/sq mi (6/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

1st

Gogebic County ( goh-GHIB-ik) is the westernmost county in the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 14,380. The county seat is Bessemer. This was historically part of the territory of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa, which had twelve bands in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Lac Vieux Desert Indian Reservation is in this county, in Watersmeet Township; it is the land base of one of the federally recognized tribes.

Gogebic County was organized in 1887, partitioned from Ontonagon County. The county's name derives from a lake of the same name, which was originally rendered Agogebic. Sources agree that the name is from Ojibwe, but differ on the original meaning. The county's website suggests it meant "body of water hanging on high," but an 1884 military annal said it meant "water-mold lake" (Agogibing). (See also: List of place names of Native American origin in Michigan)

Geography
Demographics
Transportation
- Major highways
- Airport
Communities
Images for kids
See also

Geography

Lake Gogebic, the largest lake of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, lies partially in Gogebic County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,476 square miles (3,820 km²), of which 1,102 square miles (2,850 km²) is land and 374 square miles (970 km²) (25%) is water.

Water features

Lake Superior
Lake Gogebic is the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula.
Montreal River is on the western edge of the county on the Wisconsin border

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	13,166	—
1900	16,738	27.1%
1910	23,333	39.4%
1920	33,225	42.4%
1930	31,577	−5.0%
1940	31,797	0.7%
1950	27,053	−14.9%
1960	24,370	−9.9%
1970	20,676	−15.2%
1980	19,686	−4.8%
1990	18,052	−8.3%
2000	17,370	−3.8%
2010	16,427	−5.4%
2020	14,380	−12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2018

The 2010 United States Census indicates Gogebic County had a population of 16,427. This decrease of 943 people from the 2000 United States Census is a -5.4% change in population. In 2010 there were 7,037 households and 4,171 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 10,795 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). 91.7% of the population were White, 4.1% Black or African American, 2.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 1.4% of two or more races. 0.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 17.4% were of Finnish, 12.8% German, 11.2% American, 10.0% Italian, 6.8% Polish, 6.7% English and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 7,037 households, out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.69.

The county population was 16.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.8 years. 53.3% of the population was male, and 46.7% of the population was female.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,917, and the median income for a family was $47,219. The per capita income for the county was $20,759. About 14.0% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.