Negaunee ( or ) is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,627 at the 2020 census. In 1858, the community was given a post office. In 1865, Negaunee was incorporated as a village and reincorporated as a city in 1873. As mining operations expanded, many immigrants helped settle the area, bringing with them rich traditions that remain today. Due to extensive underground mining, roughly half the city was abandoned in the early 20th century due to risk of cave-in. The city closed its trolley system in 1927. The Jackson Mine ceased all operations within the city limits in the 1940s.

On January 16, 1952, Negaunee became the smallest city to ever host an NBA game. The Milwaukee Hawks beat the Baltimore Bullets 77–71. Baltimore's Don Barksdale led all scorers with 24 points. Negaunee is still the smallest city to ever host any of the four major North American professional sports.

Geography

Negaunee is in central Marquette County and is bordered to the west by the city of Ishpeming. Marquette, the county seat, is to the east. Negaunee sits on the eastern shore of Teal Lake, all of which is within the city borders. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 6.24%, are water. maintained by the Upper Peninsula Luge Club. A section near the finish line is open to public sliding in the wintertime, using club equipment. The original track layout was over in length, featuring 29 curves along its vertical drop.

Negaunee is also the home of Suicide Hill Ski Jump, a ski jump training facility where the Ishpeming Ski Club prepares skiers for classic cross country skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping competitions.

The county's Heritage Trails pass through Negaunee where visitors can stroll, hike, bike, and snowmobile through Old Town Negaunee and around various collapsed underground mines from last century. The Negaunee portion of the trail also includes a new disc golf course.

Transportation

Highways

  • passes through the northern portion of Negaunee, running westerly and northerly toward Houghton, easterly toward Marquette and thence southeast to Escanaba.
  • travels concurrently with US 41 through the city, running westerly toward Wakefield and east to Marquette.
  • 20px|alt=|link= Bus. M-28 serves the downtowns of both Negaunee and Ishpeming.
  • , passing east of the city limits, provides an alternate route to the Escanaba area and access to Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport.

Bus

  • Indian Trails bus lines operates daily intercity bus service between Hancock and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a stop in Negaunee.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Negaunee had a population of 4,627. The median age was 39.7 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.7 males age 18 and over.

74.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,931 households in Negaunee, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.7% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 4,568 people, 1,940 households, and 1,219 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,119 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.1% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 1,940 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 39.7 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 16.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census It has since slightly decreased in rank in 2023.

Negaunee Public Schools consists of three main buildings: Lakeview Elementary, which has K-4th grades; Negaunee Middle School, which has 5th through 8th grade; and Negaunee High School, which has 9th through 12th grade. Negaunee athletics have large, healthy rivalries with the Westwood Patriots (Ishpeming Township, Michigan) and Ishpeming Hematites. Other relevant rivalries exist with the Calumet Copper Kings and Iron Mountain Mountaineers.

St. Paul's Catholic School was formerly in Negaunee. Closure was proposed in 1974.

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, Negaunee has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in January to in July.

Precipitation is moderate, averaging annually, with September and October being the wettest months, and the meteorological winter months of December thru February being the driest in terms of normal total precipitation.

Notable people

  • Mark Ayotte (born 1964), National Basketball Association referee
  • Edward Breitung (1831–1887), Michigan State House of Representatives member
  • Bob Chase (1926–2016), sports commentator
  • Dominic Jacobetti (1920–1994), Michigan State House of Representatives member
  • Joan LeQuia (1937-2022), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Sarah York, became penpal of Manuel Noriega at age 10

References

  • Negaunee Public Schools