Ishpeming (/ˈɪʃpəmɪŋ/ISH-pə-ming) is a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. Located in the Upper Peninsula, the population was 6,140 at the 2020 census,[2] less than it was in the 1950s and 1960s when the iron ore mines employed more workers. A statue of a Native American figure, erected in 1884 in the small town square, is referred to as "Old Ish".
Ishpeming Township is located to the northwest of the city but is administratively autonomous. Ishpeming is considered the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States and is the home to the National Ski Hall of Fame. The city was also prominently featured in the 2010 documentary Catfish.
The name "Ishpeming" comes from Ojibwa ishpiming 'above, in the air, on high'.[5]
Geography
Ishpeming is in central Marquette County, 15 miles (24 km) west of Marquette, the county seat. It is bordered to the east by the city of Negaunee. According to the United States Census Bureau, Ishpeming has a total area of 9.35 square miles (24.22 km2), of which 8.74 square miles (22.64 km2) are land and 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2), or 6.50%, are water.[1] Ishpeming's elevation is 1,436 feet (438 m) above mean sea level, which is over 800 feet (240 m) higher than that of nearby Lake Superior. The highlands of Ishpeming and the surrounding area, including the city of Negaunee to its east, receive an unusually high yearly average of lake-effect snow.
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ishpeming has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[6]
Climate data for Ishpeming, Michigan, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2007–present
As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 6,470 people, 2,824 households, and 1,664 families living in the city. The population density was 740.3 inhabitants per square mile (285.8/km2). There were 3,149 housing units at an average density of 360.3 per square mile (139.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 0.2% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 2,824 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.
The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 6,686 people, 2,915 households, and 1,757 families living in the city. The population density was 769.8 inhabitants per square mile (297.2/km2). There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of 369.6 per square mile (142.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.29% White, 0.06% Black, 1.20% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population. 25.5% were of Finnish, 14.4% Italian, 14.1% English, 12.4% French, 7.3% German, 5.7% Swedish and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.8% spoke English and 1.9% Finnish as their first language.
There were 2,915 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,347, and the median income for a family was $38,924. Males had a median income of $36,310 versus $21,104 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,946. About 8.0% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Highways
US 41 passes through the northern portion of Ishpeming, running westerly and northerly toward Houghton, easterly toward Marquette and thence southeast to Escanaba.
The movie Anatomy of a Murder was filmed in Ishpeming and surrounding areas in 1959, based on the novel by Ishpeming native John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver. Extensive 50th anniversary celebrations were held in 2009.[12]
The Green Bay Packers played their first ever road game in Ishpeming on October 19, 1919. The Packers defeated the local Twin City Football Team 33–0.[13]
At the end of the 19th century almost one third of the population of Åtvidaberg Municipality in Sweden emigrated to Ishpeming, as copper mines in the Åtvidaberg area closed down.[14] In 1994 this was commemorated by a plaquette at the Mormorsgruvan mine of Åtvidaberg.
On 3 November 1926, fifty-one people were killed in a mine collapse in or near Ishpeming.[16]
Notable people
Will H. Bradley, illustrator and designer of the Art Nouveau movement; apprentice in Ishpeming at the Iron Agitator, later known as the Iron Ore, from age 11 to 17, when he moved to Chicago[17]
Chuck Fairbanks, NCAA Division I and NFL head football coach. Ishpeming High School head coach, 1957 and 1958.
Tom Izzo, head coach, Michigan State University basketball. Head coach, Ishpeming High School, 1977.
John D. Voelker, author under the pen name Robert Traver, and Michigan state Supreme Court justice
Leonard C. Ward, United States Army brigadier general who served as Chief of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau and Commander of the 46th Infantry Division
Ishpeming Area Historical Society & Museum, clubs, organizations, schools, military, early home life, businesses, maps, Glenn Seaborg, Kelly Johnson, John Voelker, bands and Anatomy of a Murder artifacts.
INN (Ishpeming-Negaunee-NICE) Community School is an alternative high school located in Ishpeming in a church on Pine Street that consists of about 30 students as of March 2019.
Media
Ishpeming is the city of license for ABC network affiliate WBUP, channel 10, whose studios are located in Ishpeming while their transmitter is located south of Ely Township in unincorporated Marquette County. Ishpeming is primarily served by the Marquette media market.
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