Baraga County

Baraga County is a county located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States, and is part of the Marquette, Michigan Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is named after Frederic Baraga, a Slovenian Catholic missionary who worked with the Ojibwe people in the region, and is also known for its natural beauty, with numerous lakes, forests, and waterfalls, including the Sturgeon River and Canyon Falls. The county seat is L'Anse, Michigan, which is situated on the shores of Lake Superior and is home to the L'Anse Indian Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. The county is also close to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and the Ottawa National Forest.

Geography

Baraga County is located in the western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, bordering Houghton County to the north, Marquette County to the east, and Iron County to the south. The county has a total area of 1,068 square miles, of which 904 square miles is land and 164 square miles is water, including parts of Lake Superior and the Sturgeon River. The county's terrain is characterized by numerous lakes, forests, and waterfalls, including the Canyon Falls and the Sturgeon River, which flows into Lake Superior. The county is also home to the Ottawa National Forest and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, which offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as hiking, camping, and fishing, in the Black River and Yellow Dog River areas.

History

The area that is now Baraga County has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples, including the Ojibwe and the Ottawa, for thousands of years, with evidence of Copper Culture and Hopewell culture presence in the region. The first European explorer to visit the area was Étienne Brûlé, a French explorer who worked for Samuel de Champlain, in the early 17th century, followed by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, who mapped the Great Lakes region, including Lake Superior and the St. Marys River. The county was named after Frederic Baraga, a Slovenian Catholic missionary who worked with the Ojibwe people in the region, and was established on February 19, 1875, with the county seat located in L'Anse, Michigan, which is situated on the shores of Lake Superior and is home to the L'Anse Indian Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. The county's history is also closely tied to the Copper Country and the Gogebic Range, with many mining towns, such as Ironwood and Hancock, located in the surrounding area, including the Quincy Mine and the Delaware Mine.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population of Baraga County was 8,051, with a population density of 8.9 people per square mile, making it one of the most sparsely populated counties in the United States. The county's population is predominantly White, with a significant Native American population, particularly in the L'Anse Indian Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. The median household income in the county is around $43,000, and the median home value is around $120,000, with many residents employed in the mining and forestry industries, including the Cliffs Natural Resources and the Weyerhaeuser companies. The county is also home to a number of small businesses, including the L'Anse Manufacturing Company and the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce.

Communities

Baraga County has several communities, including the county seat of L'Anse, Michigan, which is situated on the shores of Lake Superior and is home to the L'Anse Indian Reservation of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Other communities in the county include Baraga, Covington, and Pelkie, which are all located along the Sturgeon River and offer access to outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking, camping, and fishing, in the Ottawa National Forest and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The county is also close to the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival and the Marquette Summer Festival, which are held annually in the surrounding area, including the Marquette County Fairgrounds.

Transportation

Baraga County is accessible by car via US-141 and M-38, which connect the county to Marquette and Houghton to the east, and Iron Mountain and Escanaba to the south, including the Soo Locks and the Mackinac Bridge. The county is also served by the Sawyer International Airport, which is located in Gwinn and offers flights to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, as well as the Houghton County Memorial Airport and the Marquette County Airport. The county has a number of bus services, including the Marquette County Transit Authority and the Houghton County Transit Authority, which provide transportation to the surrounding area, including the Keweenaw Peninsula and the Copper Country.

Government

Baraga County is governed by a board of commissioners, which is responsible for overseeing the county's budget, infrastructure, and services, including the Baraga County Sheriff's Office and the Baraga County Courthouse. The county is also part of the 6th Congressional District of Michigan and is represented in the Michigan State Senate by the 38th district and in the Michigan House of Representatives by the 110th district, with representatives such as Bart Stupak and Dan Benishek serving the area, including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the L'Anse Indian Reservation. The county has a number of local government agencies, including the Baraga County Road Commission and the Baraga County Planning Commission, which are responsible for maintaining the county's roads and planning for future development, including the Baraga County Master Plan and the Baraga County Zoning Ordinance.