The City of Norway, Michigan is in the southwest corner of Norway Township, in Dickinson County, and is surrounded by Norway Township to the north, east, and south, and by Breitung Township to the west.
Most of Norway's population is in the southern part of the city, in the area of the intersection of US-2 and US-8, the latter of which crosses the Menominee River into Wisconsin, just south of the city.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Norway include Kingsford, Iron Mountain, and Powers, in Michigan, as well as Niagara and Aurora, in Wisconsin. Unincorporated communities within ten miles of Norway include Vulcan, Loretto, Quinnesac, Waucedah, Skidmore, and East Kingsford.
Within the Norway city limits are Strawberry Lake, Lake Mary, Lake View, and a portion of Hanbury Lake.
Strawberry Lake is the site of the abandoned Aragon iron ore mine, and the largest lake entirely within the city. Its water levels are artificially maintained through mechanical pumping of excess water discharged into White Creek. On the southern shores of the lake, Strawberry Lake Park is a 30-acre recreation area with two accessible fishing piers, restroom facilities, ball fields, a BMX track, and a play area. In the winter, an area of the park is flooded for ice skating.
To the east of Strawberry Lake are two smaller unnamed bodies of water.
Hanbury Lake is an 89-acre body of water bordering the southeastern corner of the city. Abutting the lake to the northwest is Hanbury Lake Park, within the city. The county park features 3,720 feet of lake frontage and includes a boat launch, horseshoe courts, restroom facilities, a nature trail, and a large playfield.
Located between US-2 and the Norway-Vulcan School, Lake Mary is a smaller body of water, and Lake View is southeast of Lake Mary.
Like many other Upper Peninsula towns, Norway was founded as a mining town, springing up around the old Norway Mine in 1877, and was probably named for the home country of Anton O'Dell, a Norwegian who sunk the first test pit for the iron mine, although some local historians claim that it was named for the Norwegian pines that were prevalent in the region.
The townsite was platted by Carl Wendell in 1878, the year that George and James O'Callaghan built a sawmill. Logging and sawmill operations were begun in order to support the demand for mining timbers, and for new housing and other buildings needed by the mining industry.
When a post office was established in Norway on September 11, 1879, the office was named Ingolsdorf, with Charles E. Knowlton as the first postmaster, but it was renamed Norway on December 8, 1879.
The Norway Mine began operations in 1878 as an open-pit mine, which later developed into an underground mine. The following year, electric lights were installed, making it the first mine in the Upper Peninsula with electricity. Other mines located within the city and township included the Aragon Mine, Curry Mine, Cyclops Mine, Perkins Mine, Stevenson Mine, and Vulcan Mine. Originally owned by the Menominee Mining Company, the Norway and Cyclops Mines were acquired by the Penn Iron Mining Company in 1882, which was headquartered in Vulcan.
The last mines were closed in 1945, and all that remains of them today are the mine shafts and piles of iron ore rocks. When operations ceased, the water pumps were removed, resulting in the flooding of the underground mines, and Strawberry Lake was formed from the flooding of the open-pit area of the Aragon Mine.
Timber and logging operations continued for a time after the mining operations went into a decline and, as the timber resources declined, farming families settled the area, and agriculture continues to be an active economic activity in the surrounding region.
Except for 2000 when there was a 1.7% increase, the population of Norway has been in decline since 1910. Its peak population was 4,974 in 1910, and its current population is under 2,800.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the city of Norway, Michigan. Appropriate topics include online resources representing the municipal government, any other governmental bodies within the city, and local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, sports programs, and recreational opportunities.
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Recommended Resources
Created and maintained by the Norway Downtown Development Authority, the site highlights are snowmobiling and biking trails, area lakes, parks, and other attractions, such as True North Outpost, the Myr Wetlands, and Fumee Lake Natural Area, as well as Norway Spring, the Norway Speedway, Jake Menghini Historical Museum, Scandia House International, Rainbow's End Alpacas, and Oak Crest Golf Course. Local hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues are included, along with contacts for the NDDA.
https://www.norwaymi.com/
Offering a liberal arts classical curriculum, the Catholic school in Norway, Michigan enrolls students in preschool through the eighth grade. A map, directions, telephone number, and email address are posted on the site, along with tuition rates, a registration form, and information about scholarships and tuition aid. Its academic, extracurricular, and alumni programs, a school calendar, and an overview of its childcare programs are featured, along with job openings.
https://www.hscsnorway.org/
In business since 1977, Kingsley is a family-owned business that supplies lapidary and jewelry artists. Carrying a large stock of inventory at its warehouse, Kingsley North is able to fulfill orders quickly. Lapidary equipment and supplies, jeweler's tools, beads, cabs, and supplies, jewelry findings, and displays are featured, along with an inventory of books on beading, jewelry, faceting, gemstones, lapidary books, and children's books, magazines, and playing cards, including used items.
https://kingsleynorth.com/
Organizing baseball and softball leagues for youth in the Norway, Michigan area, the non-profit is affiliated with Little League Baseball, Inc. Field locations and status are posted on the site, available programs are highlighted, and online registration is available, and medical release forms, volunteer forms, pitcher eligibility tracking sheets, age charts, and rules may be downloaded from the site, and tournament rules are featured. Staff introductions and contacts are included.
https://www.norwayareall.com/
Supplying bottled water to homes and businesses across Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northeast Wisconsin, Norway Springs is based in Norway, Michigan. The company also provides total home filtration systems and services, and it designs and recommends systems after they audit the house water, providing a choice of options that may include the purchase of a new system or rental. Offering water coolers and three options for bottled water delivery, as well as on-site water testing and assessments.
https://norwaysprings.com/