L'Anse ( ) is a village in and the county seat of Baraga County, Michigan in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,874 at the 2020 census.

History

French colonists had established a fur trading post here as a part of New France and a Jesuit mission, naming it L'Anse. In French, L'Anse translates as "the cove" or "the bay", a reference to its location in on the southern portion of L'Anse Bay, a portion of the larger Keweenaw Bay, at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The modern-day village grew around this French trading post.

Following treaties with the United States in the 19th century, the Ojibwa/Chippewa ceded extensive amounts of land in Michigan. The L'Anse Indian Reservation was established by the U.S. here as the largest and the oldest in Michigan.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.

Attractions

  • The L'Anse Waterfront Park on Baraga Avenue, located in the downtown area, offers a place for visitors to rest and enjoy the surroundings.
  • The Falls River Falls in downtown L'Anse is a series of cascading falls spanning the width of the Falls River.
  • The Extra, located on Main Street, is a comedy and music venue hosting touring performers.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, L'Anse had a population of 1,874. The population density was . The median age was 45.1 years. 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

There were 839 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.9% were married-couple households, 24.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. there were 2,011 people, 874 households and 502 families living in the village. The population density was . There were 988 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 88.7% White, 1.4% African American, 5.0% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 874 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.6% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age was 41.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 21.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,

<gallery>

File:LAnseMichiganParkLakeSuperior.jpg|The L'Anse Waterfront Park is in the village on the shore of Lake Superior

File:LAnseMichiganPanoramaKeweenawBayLakeSuperiorUS41.jpg|A view across the Keweenaw Bay to L'Anse.

File:LAnseMichiganIntersectionUS41.jpg|the L'Anse Intersection on US 41

File:LAnseMichiganSignUS41.jpg|The sign for L'Anse on US 41

File:LAnseMichiganUS41.jpg|Going through L'Anse

File:L'Anse Town Hall.JPG|The L'Anse Township Hall

File:Baraga County Courthouse and Annex.JPG|The Baraga County Courthouse and Annex is located in L'Anse.

File:SOO GP9 2411 at L'Anse, MI on ex-DSS&A trackage on January 8, 1967 (34500218745).jpg|A train of the now-defunct Soo Line Railroad at L'Anse in 1967.

</gallery>

References

Further reading

  • Village of L'anse official Site
  • The L'Anse Sentinel