IRON COUNTY, MICHIGAN

'Iron County' is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 13,138. The county seat is Crystal Falls⁶.

Contents

Geography

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Government

Iron County elected officials

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Schools

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,137 km² (1,211 mi²). 3,021 km² (1,166 mi²) of it is land and 116 km² (45 mi²) of it (3.69%) is water.

Major highways

★ U.S. Route 2 ★ U.S. Route 141 ★ M-69 ★ M-73

★ M-189

Adjacent counties

★ Houghton County (north)

★ Baraga County (north)

★ Marquette County (northeast)

★ Ontonagon County (northwest)

★ Dickinson County (east)

★ Gogebic County (west)

★ Florence County, Wisconsin (southeast)

★ Forest County, Wisconsin (south)

★ Vilas County, Wisconsin (southwest)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 13,138 people, 5,748 households, and 3,615 families residing in the county. The population density was 4/km² (11/mi²). There were 8,772 housing units at an average density of 3/km² (8/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% White, 1.10% Black or African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.5% were of German, 13.3% Italian, 12.9% Finnish, 11.0% Polish, 10.4% Swedish, 6.7% English and 5.5% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.0% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 5,748 households out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.10% were non-families. 33.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.60% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 25.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,560, and the median income for a family was $37,038. Males had a median income of $28,791 versus $21,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,506. About 7.10% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the
major local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers
public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of welfare and
other social services. The county board of commissioners controls the
budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local
government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street
maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Iron County elected officials

★ Prosecuting Attorney: Melissa Powell Weston was appointed Prosecuting Attorney after the death of Joe Sartorelli on November 24, 2006. She is Iron County's first female prosecutor.

★ Sheriff: Robert W. Remondini

★ County Clerk: Joan Luhtanen

★ County Treasurer: Marcia Cornelia

★ Register of Deeds: Mark Selmo

★ Drain Commissioner: Thomas Clark

★ Mine Inspector: Thomas C. Karvala
(information as of January 2007)

Cities, villages, and townships

Cities

★ Caspian

★ Crystal Falls

★ Gaastra

★ Iron River

Villages

★ Alpha

Unincorporated communities

★ Amasa

Townships

★ Bates Township

★ Crystal Falls Township

★ Hematite Township

★ Iron River Township

★ Mansfield Township

★ Mastodon Township

★ Stambaugh Township

Schools

★ West Iron County Schools

★ Forest Park School District