Located in northwestern Bessemer Township, which surrounds it, the City of Bessemer, Michigan is situated along US-2, between the cities of Ironwood and Wakefield. It is the seat of Gogebic County.
The city is near the western end of the Upper Peninsula. Due to the lake effect from nearby Lake Superior, the area receives a large amount of snow each winter. The region is often known as Big Snow Country. The snow, its rural landscape, and proximity to Lake Superior bring people into the region for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports each year.
The city itself is situated on the northern slope of Colby Hill and is somewhat protected from the wind on all sides by high bluffs, which add to the picturesque beauty of the site.
The city's history is tied to Ontonagon County, which was created in 1852. Originally, that county extended west to the Montreal River on the Wisconsin border and included two large townships: Ontonagon and Pewabic. Pewabic Township included the current townships of Bergland, Carp Lake, Matchwood, and all of what is now Gogebic County.
The first recorded European-American exploration of the region was conducted by single men in small exploring parties. In 1880, Richard Langford, a hunter and trapper, discovered iron ore. This led to the development of the Colby Mine. A few log homes were constructed there in 1882.
Besides its iron ore resources, this was a heavily wooded area, which would later develop a local timber industry.
By 1884, the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railroad, which later became the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, was building tracks from Antigo, Wisconsin to Ashland, Wisconsin, passing through the area upon which the region of the mines near Bessemer.
The railroad established a station, and platted the village of Bessemer in 1884, naming it for Sir Henry Bessemer, an English inventor whose steel-making process was in common use from 1856 to 1950. A post office was established on December 10, 1884, with Frank F. Jeffries as its first postmaster.
Within a year, the population of the new village was increasing rapidly, encouraged by the railroad, the mines, and the availability of timber. Ore from the Colby Mine was transported by horse-drawn wagon to the railroad station, located at what is now Old County Road and Fourth Street, where it was moved into railroad cars and transported by train to the ore docks in Ashland.
As miners were traditionally paid in gold, and the County Sheriff was in the county seat of Ontonagon, several miles away, robberies were common. The Military Road to Ontonagon was often made impassable by winter storms and by spring muds.
Consequently, Bessemer earned a reputation as a lawless town by 1887, with about fifty saloons and little regard for the law. Its population was a mixture of surveyors and prospectors, new immigrants who came to work in the mines, and railroad workers, many of whom themselves were immigrants.
On June 4, 1886, Gogebic County was formed out of Ontonagon County. In March of the following year, the Bessemer was incorporated as a village. After a heated rivalry between Bessemer and Ironwood, the former was chosen as the seat of the new county, and a courthouse was built on the site of a cemetery after the bodies were removed to a new cemetery site. Bessemer became a city in 1889.
Mining was the chief industry and, as more mines were developed, nearly every home boarded mine workers. Soon, however, logging began to rival mining, as logging camps were developed and sawmills were built to process the lumber.
In time, both industries declined, as the pine was gone and the iron mines were depleted. The Peterson Mine was the last area mine to close in 1966.
Bessemer's population began to decline in 1920, and in all but one census year since (1940), the city has lost population, and the 1940 increase was only 1.1%. With a peak population of 4,080 in 1940, its population in 2010 was 1,905, and it is projected to decline further by 2020.
Today, the city's economy is based largely on service industries, health care, and light manufacturing.
The focus of this category is on the City of Bessemer, Michigan. Appropriate topics for this category include websites representing the city and other government offices and services situated within the city, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events.
Recommended Resources
Bessemer Area Historical Society
Located in the City of Bessemer, Michigan, Historical Society is a non-profit organization created to promote and preserve the history of the larger Bessemer region, collecting, preserving, and displaying historical materials pertaining to the history and heritage of this area. Its site features its location, hours of operation, the board of directors, and a calendar of events, as well as vintage photographs, a history of the city, its historic bridges, and newsletters.
http://www.bessemerhistoricalsociety.com/
The PK-12th-grade public school district in Bessemer, Michigan operates Washington Elementary School and A.D. Johnston Junior/Senior High School, both of which are highlighted here, along with its food service department, athletics program, and board of education. A school calendar and staff directory are published to the site, which also includes annual education reports, and its policies on FOIA requests, transparency reporting, and water quality.
https://www.bessemer.k12.mi.us/
Bessemer Christ Community Church
Affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a worldwide Protestant denomination, the congregation meets at its facilities on East Cinnebar Street in the City of Bessemer, Michigan. A map shows the location of the church, and a calendar of weekly services and upcoming events are published to the site, along with its congregational and community ministries, office hours, and telephone number. Contributions to the church may be made online.
https://bessemerchristcommunitymi.adventistchurch.org/
Situated on the bottom floor of the Bessemer City Hall, the municipal library provides educational and recreational information for citizens of the City of Bessemer, Bessemer Township, and Ironwood Township. Its location, hours of operation, an overview of its collections, and a calendar of events are presented, with information about its services, links to various online book resources, and local links. Audiobooks and e-books may be downloaded.
http://joomla.uproc.lib.mi.us/bessemer/
The west Upper Peninsula city is the county seat of Gogebic County. The official municipal website features the history of the city, a brief profile, demographics, and a map showing its location. A guide to municipal services and facilities, as well as local recreational opportunities, is presented, and the city’s master plan, charter, ordinances, and various reports and documents are posted. City council agendas and minutes are published to the site.
https://www.cityofbessemer.org/
The year-round motel is located in Bessemer, Michigan, which is centrally located to Black River Harbor, Copper Peak, the Ottawa National Forest, Lake Superior, and the Porcupine Mountains in the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Its rooms are non-smoking accommodations with a maximum occupancy of four people, including children, and include wireless Internet, in-room coffee, and cable television. Rooms may be booked online.
https://www.thebluffsinn.com/
Situated in Bessemer, at the western end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the full-service floor covering retailer offers carpet, vinyl, laminate, ceramic, and hardwood floors, as well as window blinds, shades, and shutters. The company provides professional installation of its products. Available floor covering options are featured, with photographs, manufacturers, and other details. Its location, hours of operation, and telephone numbers are posted, and a comment form is included.
http://ourfloorplans.com/
