Marquette, Michigan is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula, and the county seat of Marquette County.
Situated in the north-central region of the UP, Marquette is bordered by Lake Superior. Marquette is a major port city, as well as the home of Northern Michigan University, which I attended in the early 1970s, by the way.
The chief routes through the city is US-41, which runs concurrently with M-28 as it passes through Marquette, and M553, which connects Marquette with the unincorporated communities of KI Sawyer and Gwinn, to the south. Other routes include CR-492 and CR-550. The cities of Negaunee and Ishpeming are the only incorporated cities or villages within twenty miles.
The largest employers in the city are Northern Michigan University, Marquette Area Public Schools, UP Health System-Marquette, Marquette Branch Prison, RTI Surgical, Charter Communications, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The city also has some popular breweries, as well as an active port.
The city has several museums, galleries, and lighthouses, and hosts a number of festivals and other events throughout the year.
Marquette currently has a population of about 21,000. Its peak population was 23,288 in 1980.
Although French missionaries came through the area as early as the 17th century, and French fur trappers frequented the region in the early 19th century, European-American settlement didn't begin until 1844, when William Burt and Jacob Houghton discovered iron deposits near Teal Lake, west of Marquette. The Jackson Mining Company became the first organized mining company in the region in 1845.
The village itself began in the fall of 1849 with the formation of the Marquette Iron Company by Robert J. Graveraet, Edward Clark, and Amos Rogers Harlow. Originally, the settlement was called New Worcester. A post office was established on September 14, 1849, with Mr. Harlow as the first postmaster. However, on August 21, 1850, the name of the post office was changed to Marquette, in honor of Jacques Marquette, the French Jesuit missionary who had explored the region. The post office was closed on August 16, 1852, after the Marquette Iron Company failed.
The Cleveland Iron Mining Company reopened the mines previously operated by the Marquette Iron Company, and flourished.
Peter White, who had come with Graveraet at the age of eighteen, opened a post office that he named Carp River on October 13, 1851. After Harlow's post office closed, White renamed his Marquette, and the village was incorporated in 1859, becoming a city in 1871.
Although its early economy was based largely on iron ore and its role as a major shipping port, Marquette also became a popular summer town in the late 19th century, as steamships brought passengers to the city's hotels and resorts.
The focus of this category is on the city of Marquette, Michigan. Appropriate topics include websites representing the city, county, or any other government offices situated in the city, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, colleges, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, sporting facilities, and recreational opportunities.
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Recommended Resources
Lake Superior Community Partnership
Formed as the Lake Superior Jobs Coalition in the early 1980s, the organization took its current name in 1977. Its history, goals, strategies, and contacts are cited, local sites and buildings, and industrial parks are discussed, and information about business costs, economic indicators, and credentials are given. An evaluation of the benefits of living and working in the Marquette region is included, and a county map, a calendar of events, and other business resources are featured.
https://marquette.org/
Marquette is the largest city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the county seat for Marquette County. The official municipal website features a community events calendar, city commission agendas, minutes, and livestreaming of meetings, as well as videos of past meetings and other city productions. Bids, proposals, and quotes may be found online, and employment opportunities are posted on the site. Taxes and parking citations may be paid online, and a guide to city services is included.
https://www.marquettemi.gov/
Established in 1899, NMU is a public university in Marquette, Michigan, and the largest in the Upper Peninsula. Offering undergraduate, master's degrees, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and specialist certifications, its programs and course offerings are set forth, and a campus map, faculty and staff contacts, a master calendar, and employment opportunities are posted. Resources for future and current students, alumni programs, and its sports and athletic programs are outlined.
https://nmu.edu/
Situated on the corner of Front and Ridge Streets in downtown Marquette, Michigan, the library was founded in 1871. Its history and a biography of its founder is published on the library website, which posts its location, hours of operation, a calendar of events, policy information, an annual report, and employment opportunities. Library services, spaces, and an overview of its services to adults, youth, and others are included. Cardholders may access their accounts.
https://pwpl.info/
Promoting Marquette County as a year-round playground, the site features places to go and things to do within the county, with an emphasis on the seasons. Its directory includes names, descriptions, maps and, when available, links to individual business websites. Organizational contacts, sponsorship opportunities, media resources, and career information are included, along with local hotels and other guest lodging facilities, restaurants, travel planning, and an informational blog.
https://www.travelmarquette.com/