Iron River is a city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the largest city in Iron County. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 3,007. The city is situated at the southeast corner of Iron River Township, though it is administratively autonomous.

History

Originally settled in 1882 under the name 'Nanaimo', named after the Nanaimo iron mine, owned by the Mineral Hills Iron Company. In 1878, two brothers, Donald and Alexander MacKinnon acquired the site, and a village was platted and registered in 1881. The new town was given a station on the Chicago and North Western Railway and renamed 'Iron River' after the nearby Iron River. The settlement was incorporated as a village within Iron River Township in 1885, and as a city in 1926.

The area is noted for its vast forest land, scenic lakes, and winter sports.

Iron River and the surrounding area is home of many lakes, and is not far from Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. In the summer, many people frequent the beaches, in the winter, there are often tents for ice fishing on the frozen lakes.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Iron River had a population of 3,007. The median age was 44.3 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,397 households in Iron River, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.6% were married-couple households, 25.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 43.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Of the 1,446 households, 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a single female householder, 3.8% had a single male householder, and 47.2% were non-families. 42.9% of households were one person, and 21.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.73.

The median age was 47.6 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 24.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,929 people, 876 households, and 487 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 988 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.33% White, 0.16% African American, 1.92% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.4% were of German, 13.4% Swedish, 13.2% Italian, 9.9% Polish, 7.8% English, 7.6% Finnish, 5.9% French and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.3% spoke English as their first language.

Trail

  • State Line Trail

Notable people

  • Nick Baumgartner (born 1981), American snowboarder
  • Aileen Fisher (1906–2002), Children's writer, poet, playwright
  • Dorthy Moxley (1932–2024), educator and crime victim advocate
  • Carrie Jacobs-Bond (1862–1946), American singer, pianist, and songwriter.
  • Dan Benishek (1952–2021), American physician and politician.

See also

  • Angeli Foods

References

  • City of Iron River