Situated in southwest Dickinson County, the City of Iron Mountain, Michigan is the largest city in the county and the county seat.
The City of Kingsford abuts Iron Mountain to the southwest, separating it from Wisconsin, but it is otherwise surrounded by Breitung Township. The city is about a hundred miles from Green Bay, Wisconsin, but about two hundred miles from the Mackinac Bridge, and hundreds of additional miles from Michigan's major metropolitan regions. Given its proximity to the Michigan-Wisconsin border, its economy and culture are more closely tied to Wisconsin than to Michigan. The Wisconsin towns of Aurora and Niagara are only 4.5 miles and 6.0 miles from Iron Mountain, respectively.
US-2 and US-141 run contiguously through the center of the city, with US-2 going east to Escanaba and west to Ironwood, while US-141 heads north toward Crystal Falls and south to Green Bay, Wisconsin. M-95 runs contiguous with US-2 and US-141 through most of the city, splitting off in the south to connect with Kingsford.
The center of Kingsford is 2.6 miles from the center of Iron Mountain, while Norway is 9.5 miles to the east. The unincorporated communities of East Kingsford, Skidmore, Quinnesac, Merriman, and Granite Bluff are within ten miles.
Iron Mountain gets its name from its role and position in the heart of the Menominee Iron Range. First noted in 1866, iron mining operations began with test pits in 1870, and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad came through in 1877, largely to ship ore from the iron range. The peak of iron ore production was in 1920, but the industry began to decline in the 1930s, ceasing entirely by 1980. At various times, forty-seven mines were in operation in the Menominee Iron Range, with the Chapin, Ludington, Hamilton, Bradley, Walpole, Pewabic, and Globe mines located in Iron Mountain, while several others were nearby. Quinnesec was the first iron mining community in the area, but Iron Mountain became the predominant mining center in the region once the railroad was extended that far.
From 1920 to 1951, the Ford Motor Company operated an automobile body factory in Iron Mountain. The city's population peaked in 1930 at 11,652, then began a decline as both the Ford and iron mining operations were being phased out. Other than a 2.2% increase in 1990, the city has lost population each census year since 1930, and has a current population under 7,500.
Nevertheless, Iron Mountain and Kingsford are, together, the primary center for commercial and governmental activity within the county, and serving a larger surrounding area that includes a portion of Wisconsin.
Lake Antoine, in northeastern Iron Mountain, a 748-acre body of water with a maximum depth of 25 feet, is a popular place for swimming, boating, and fishing. The Lake Antoine Campgrounds, along the northeastern banks of the lake, is a 20-acre county park with ninety RV sites, two reservable pavilions, a bandshell, volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and playgrounds.
The townsite was platted in 1879, and Iron Mountain was incorporated as a village in 1887, becoming a city the following year.
Local attractions include the Millie Mine Bat Cave. The Millie mine was the first concentration of iron ore discovered in Iron Mountain, although it later proved to be a branch of the main Chapin Mine claim. The abandoned iron mine is now home to one of the largest breeding populations of bats in North America. Its entrance is covered with a steel grate that prevents people from falling into the shaft, while allowing the bats to come and go as they please. Designated as a Michigan Wildlife Viewing Area, people come to view the bats at dusk during April and May, and in September and October when they enter the mine to hibernate.
Now located at the corner of Kent Street and Kimberly Avenue, the Chapin Mine Steam Pump Engine, also known as The Cornish Pump, is the largest reciprocating steam-driven engine ever built in the United States. Designated as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1958, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Housed in the former Carnegie Public Library, the Menominee Range Historical Museum features more than a hundred exhibits honoring life on the Menominee Iron Range from the late 1800s through the early 1900s.
The focus of this guide is on the City of Iron Mountain, Michigan. Online resources for the city or county governments, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational or sporting events, are appropriate topics, along with websites discussing local history and issues.
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Recommended Resources
AWS is a family-owned water treatment business in Iron Mountain that sells water treatment equipment and services in Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Iron County, and the surrounding region, including free water testing, route delivery of salt, filter changes, and servicing of all makes and models of equipment. Its residential, commercial, and industrial services and products are highlighted, and its office location, office hours, and contacts are posted on the site, including a contact form.
https://advancedwatersystems.site/
The online edition of the Iron Mountain Daily News offers select news and sports stories, opinion columns, editorials, and life issues, as well as obituaries, a classified section, garage sales, photos, and videos. Full access to its content is available by subscription to its unlimited digital access plan, Saturday deliveries plus unlimited digital, or 6-day delivery plus unlimited digital, each of which may be subscribed to online. Advertising opportunities are also available.
https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/
Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce
Created to provide networking opportunities for member businesses and organizations, as well as discounted goods and services for businesses and employees, and to enhance the quality of life in the area, the Chamber is a membership organization. The benefits of membership, a member directory, meeting schedules, and a calendar of events are put forth, along with an overview of its programs, projects, and resources, a newsletter, its board of directors, staff, and contact information.
http://www.dickinsonchamber.com/
Dickinson County Healthcare System
DCH is charged with being the focal point of healthcare in the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the adjoining counties of Northeastern Wisconsin, providing a wide range of care, including specialty services and non-hospital-based health services, rehabilitative services, and health education. Clinic locations and affiliated doctors may be found through the site, and its services are outlined. Patient and visitor information and online bill payments are available.
https://www.dchs.org/
Library services within the county date back to a library attached to the Pioneer School in Quinnesac in the 1870s, and the Carnegie Library in Iron Mountain, opened in 1902, but the County Library was opened in 1961 to provide library services to all county residents, with its main library in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Its history, collections, and services are highlighted, along with its locations, hours of operation, calendar of events, and local history resources.
https://www.dcl-lib.org/
The official municipal website posts contacts, locations, schedules, and minutes for city council members, boards, committees, and department heads, as well as the text of the city charter, its master plan, and an overview of city services and facilities. Other resources include a guide to local businesses, programs, projects, and events, along with demographics, and guides to starting a business in Iron Mountain, setting up utilities, elections, voting, and tax information.
http://www.cityofironmountain.com/
Menominee Range Historical Museums
Maintained by the Menominee Range Historical Foundation, the site offers information and contacts for the Foundation, as well as its three museums, each focused on the area's history. Hours and details about the Menominee Range Historical Museum (opened in 1974), the Cornish Pumping & Mining Museum (opened in 1983), and the World War II Glider & Military Museum (opened in 2011) are given, along with a blog, local history, and a forum. Contributions to the Foundation may be made online.
https://menomineemuseum.com/
Ideal for deer hunter food plots, deer management, land conservation, and wildlife habitats, apples or apple seeds have been found in the stomachs of a large variety of wildlife. North Forty is an Iron Mountain, Michigan-based company that sells wild apple trees, as an affordable alternative to grafted apple trees, including three-year-old transplants, two-year-old transplants, and seedlings. The benefits are highlighted, with testimonials, packaging details, and online ordering.
https://n40wildapples.com/
Tourism Association of the Dickinson County Area
Headquartered in Iron Mountain, Michigan, the non-profit association highlights attractions and events within the county and the surrounding region, including Iron Mountain, Norway, and Kingsford. A guide to places to stay, things to do, recreational opportunities, and seasonal activities and events is also featured. A printed visitors' guide is available on request. Other resources include photographs, videos, and links to social media, and other online informational resources.
https://www.ironmountain.org/