Gladstone is a city in Delta County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. First settled in 1877, Gladstone's original name was Minnewasca. The population was 5,257 according to the 2020 census, The U.S. Highways 2 and 41 run concurrently through the city, connecting it to various other communities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The city of Escanaba lies roughly 14 km (9 mi) to the south.

History

Initial settlement

The first people to occupy the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were Algonquin speaking peoples.

Gladstone was first settled by European descendants in 1859 when the Hamilton Corporation of Fayette began using it as a shipping port for selling and transporting iron ore. The earliest development was located along Saunder's Point, a small peninsula extending into Little Bay De Noc. The peninsula was named for Captain Nate Saunders who headquartered there while fishing at various points along the bay.

Gladstone was incorporated as a village in 1887 and as a city in 1889.

Name change

The town was originally named Minnewasca by the Soo Line Railroad, an Ojibwa word meaning "white water."

Geography

250px|thumb|right|Welcome sign with [[Little Bay de Noc in the background]]

The city is located on a small projection into the Little Bay de Noc, which opens onto Green Bay on Lake Michigan.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Neighborhoods

Although Gladstone is a relatively small city, it has several distinct sections: Downtown (which hosts most of the local businesses), the Buckeye (located on the western side of the city, bordering the Brampton, MI township), and the Bluff (which hosts most of the new residential expansion, as well as Gladstone High School). Gladstone High School sports teams are referred to as the Braves, which along with the Escanaba Eskymos give Delta County two schools bearing indigenous symbols.

Climate

Gladstone has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. The average temperature in January is around 16 °F (-9 °C). Gladstone receives an average of 36 inches of snow and 33 inches of rainfall per year.

According to the National Weather Service, Gladstone's record low was -60 °F on January 7, 1896. To this day, this storm is referred to by Gladstone residents as "les morte a doigts," since so many of the city's residents lost fingers due to frostbite. On July 19, 1992, Gladstone experienced a rare tornado which caused moderate damage throughout the city.

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Culture

Tourism and parks

Gladstone is often referred to as "The Year Round Playground" because of its myriad of parks and activities. Van Cleve Park hosts a playground (Kid's Kingdom), a skateboarding park, baseball field, basketball court, fitness trail, a white sand beach with a water slide, boardwalk, as well as a harbor with boat ramps and a fish cleaning station.

Gladstone also offers The Gladstone Golf Course which winds through the Upper Peninsula Forest, crossing water on 6 of 18 holes.

Another Gladstone attraction is the Gladstone Sports Park, which hosts several baseball fields, skiing and snowboarding runs and a tubing facility. The Park itself is often rented out for other activities, including wedding receptions, and high school graduation parties.

Gladstone hosts the Days River Trails, which are hiked and biked in the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, these trails are used primarily for cross-country skiing.

Media

Gladstone was featured in the 2010 documentary film Catfish.

Transportation

thumb|right|[[Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad|Soo Line locomotive 4-6-2 Pacific H-3 (730) sits off of US 2.]]

  • exists in two discontinuous segments, with the western portion running from Everett, Washington and through Gladstone before ending at Interstate 75 in St. Ignace, Michigan. The eastern portion runs from Rouses Point, New York to Houlton, Maine, with a total of 2,571 miles between the two segments.
  • runs 2,000 miles from east of Copper Harbor, Michigan, at a modest cul-de-sac near Fort Wilkins Historic State Park at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, through Gladstone, and on to the Brickell neighborhood of Downtown Miami.
  • Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood, Michigan and between Hancock and Milwaukee with a stop in Gladstone.

Notable people

  • Terry Ahola, professional ski racer, member of US Ski Team
  • Robert John Cornell, former member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin, and a Roman Catholic priest
  • Becky Iverson, professional golfer
  • Frank Smith, cartoon animator and film director
  • Bart Stupak, former member of the United States House of Representatives, Upper Peninsula of Michigan
  • Kevin Tapani, professional baseball pitcher

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Gladstone had a population of 5,257. The median age was 44.8 years. 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.1 males age 18 and over.

There were 1,272 families residing in the city, and the population density was 1,037.70 inhabitants per square mile (400.67/km<sup>2</sup>).

93.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 6.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,297 households in Gladstone, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.5% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 4,973 people, 2,182 households, and 1,374 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.4% White, 0.2% African American, 1.9% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 2,182 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.0% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 43.6 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census