Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan | |
|---|---|
| The old ore dock in Marquette The old ore dock in Marquette | |
 Location of Marquette within Marquette County, Michigan | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Marquette |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| • Mayor | Tom Tourville |
| • City Manager | Judy Akkala |
| Area | |
| • City | 19.4 sq mi (50.2 km2) |
| • Land | 11.4 sq mi (29.6 km2) |
| • Water | 8.0 sq mi (20.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 666 ft (203 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • City | 19,661 |
| • Density | 1,723.9/sq mi (665.3/km2) |
| • Metro | 64,634 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 49855 |
| Area code | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-51900[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0631600Template:GR |
| Website | http://www.mqtcty.org |
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 19,661, with the a 2006 population estimate of 20,488. It is the county seat of Marquette County6. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore, and is the home of Northern Michigan University. It is the largest city of the Upper Peninsula. The city of Marquette averages about 144 inches of snow per year, making it the second snowiest city in the contiguous United States among those cities large enough to be reported.[2]
History
The village of Marquette began on September 14, 1849, with the formation of the Marquette Iron Company. Three men participated in organizing the firm: Robert J. Graveraet, who had prospected the region for ore; Edward Clark, agent for Waterman A. Fisher of Worcester, Massachusetts, who financed the company, and Amos Rogers Harlow. The village was at first called Worcester, with Harlow as the first postmaster. On August 21, 1850, the name was changed to honor Jacques Marquette, the French Jesuit missionary who had explored the region. A second post office, named Carp River, was opened on October 13, 1851 by Peter White, who had come there with Graveraet at age 18. Harlow closed his post office in August 1852. The Marquette Iron Company failed, while its successor, the Cleveland Iron Mining Company flourished and had the village platted in 1854. The plat was recorded by Peter White. White's office was renamed as Marquette in April 1856, and the village was incorporated in 1859. It incorporated as a city in 1871.[3]
Marquette has always been a shipping port for hematite ores and now enriched iron ore pellets from nearby mines and pelletizing plants. The city includes several small islands (principally Middle Island, Gull Island, Lover's Island, Presque Isle Pt. Rocks, White Rocks, Ripley Rock, and Picnic Rocks) in Lake Superior. The Marquette Underwater Preserve lies immediately offshore. A regional medical center, Marquette General Hospital, serving much of the Upper Peninsula is located in the city. Marquette Mountain, used for skiing, is located in the city, as is the majority of the land of Marquette Branch Prison. Trowbridge Park (an unincorporated part of Marquette Township) is located to the west, and Marquette Township to the northwest of the city.
Marquette is home to the largest man-made wooden dome in the world, the Superior Dome. (The second largest, located in Japan, is just one square foot smaller.) During Football season, the Dome is used primarily for football on its artificial turf field. Northern Michigan University holds its home football games in the Dome as does the Michigan High School Athletic Association with the upper peninsula's High School football playoffs. The dome also hosts numerous private and public events which draw in thousands from around the region.
South of the city, K.I. Sawyer AFB, was an important Air Force installation during the Cold War, host to B-52H bombers and KC-135 tankers of the Strategic Air Command, as well as a fighter interceptor squadron. The base closed in September 1995, and is now home to the county's Sawyer International Airport.
In 2004, President George W. Bush made a campaign stop in Marquette, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Michigan's Upper Peninsula since William H. Taft in 1911.
The Roman Catholic Bishop Frederic Baraga is buried at St. Peter's Cathedral.
Marquette is the sister city of Kajaani, Finland and Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. (Formerly Yokaichi, Japan.)
Postal and philatelic history
In addition to the Marquette #1 Post Office there is the "Northern Michigan University Bookstore Contract Station #384".[4]
The first day of issue of a postal card showing Bishop Frederic Baraga took place in Marquette on 29 June 1984, and that of the Wonders of America Lake Superior stamp on May 27, 2006.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.6 km²) of it is land and 8.0 square miles (20.6 km²) of it (41.09%) is water.[1]
Demographics
As of 2005, there were 20,714 people, 8,071 households, and 4,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,723.9 per square mile (665.3/km²). There were 8,429 housing units at an average density of 739.1/sq mi (285.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95% White, 0.8% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population. 15.5% were of German, 12.6% Finnish, 8.9% French, 8.5% English, 8.2% Irish, 6.8% Italian and 6.7% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 8,071 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.6% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 25.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was US$29,918, and the median income for a family was US$48,120. Males had a median income of US$34,107 versus US$24,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was US$17,787. About 7.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Business
In addition to Northern Michigan University, the largest employers in Marquette are the Marquette School System, Marquette General Hospital (which is the only Level 2 Trauma center in the Upper Peninsula), the Michigan State Prison, Pioneer Surgical, Charter Communications and The Mining Journal.
Marquette in fiction
Robert Traver (John Voelker) set his novels Anatomy of a Murder (1958) and Laughing Whitefish (1965) in Marquette. The film version of Anatomy of a Murder, dramatizing an incident that happened in the area, was partly filmed in Marquette, much of it in the county courthouse. Danny and the Boys (1951) is a collection of short stories set in and around Marquette.
Philip Caputo set his novel Indian Country (1987) in the Upper Peninsula and several scenes depict Marquette.
Jim Harrison's novel True North (2005) tells about a Marquette family whose wealth is based on exploiting Upper Peninsula timber.
A large portion of the acclaimed graphic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson takes place in Marquette.
Marquette was the site of many key events in the investigation of a murder in Dave Distel's The Sweater Letter, a true story of a murder that occurred near Ontonagan.
Parks, sports and recreation
The city of Marquette is home to a number of parks and recreational facilities which are used by city and county residents. Presque Isle Park is Marquette's most-popular park located on the north side of the city. It includes 323 acres (131 hectares) of mostly forested land and juts out into Lake Superior. Amenities include a wooden bandshell for concerts, a park pavilion, a gazebo, a marina, a concession stand, picnic tables, barbecue pits, walking/skiing trails, playground facilities, Moosewood Nature Center, and Shiras Pool. [citation needed]
The city has two popular beaches, South Beach Park and McCarty's Cove. McCarty's Cove, flanked by the red U.S. Coast Guard Station lighthouse on its south shore, serves as a reprieve from hot summer days, where city and county residents alike take advantage of the cool, but tolerable, water temperatures and the cooling effects of the lake-generated sea breeze. Both beaches have picnic areas, grills, children's playgrounds, and lifeguard stands. [citation needed]
Other parks include Tourist Park, Founder's Landing, LaBonte Park, Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Park Cemetery, Shiras Park, Williams Park, Harlow Park, Pocket Park, Spring Street Park, and Father Marquette Park.
There are also numerous other recreational facilities located within the city. Lakeview Arena is mostly known for its use as an ice hockey facility, but it also hosts a number of public events. A skateboard park is located just outside of the arena and open during the summer. Lakeview Arena is home to the Marquette Electricians, the Marquette Redmen high school, and the new Marquette Rangers hockey teams. In 1974, the arena replaced the historic Palestra, which had been located a few blocks away.
Marquette also has an extensive network of biking and walking paths throughout the city. The city has been gradually expanding the paths throughout the years and has been promoting itself as a walkable and livable community. Cross Country ski trails are also located at Presque Isle Park and the Fit Strip. [citation needed]
Camping facilities are located at Tourist Park.
Live theatrical productions are provided through Northern Michigan University's Forest Roberts Theatre and Black Box Theatre, Marquette High School's Kaufman Auditorium and Lake Superior Theatre, a semi-professional summer stock theatre.
Transportation
Marquette is served by Sawyer International Airport with trips to Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.
Museums and galleries
The Marquette Maritime Museum is located along the Lake Superior shoreline near the U.S. Coast Guard Station. The museum is open during the summer season and offers an extensive collection of maritime artifacts involving the maritime history of Marquette. Tours of the historic Marquette Harbor Lighthouse are also available.[5]
The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum is located along Baraga Avenue. Those familiar with Marquette's past will recognize the former Bunny Bread sign that is located on the outside of the building. The museum features hands-on exhibits for children to learn and have fun doing so. The museum is open year-round.[6]
The Marquette County History Museum is located along Front Street in the downtown district. The museum features many exhibits and artifacts of Marquette County's past. The museum includes a library and gift shop and is open year-round.[7]
The DeVos Art Museum is the art museum at Northern Michigan University.[8]
The Oasis Gallery for Contemporary Art is an ongoing project of the Marquette Arts Council.[9]
Climate
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 48 | 61 | 71 | 92 | 93 | 96 | 99 | 96 | 93 | 87 | 73 | 59 |
| Norm High °F | 19.7 | 24.2 | 33.1 | 45.8 | 61.5 | 70.3 | 75.2 | 72.6 | 63.2 | 50.9 | 35.4 | 24.1 |
| Norm Low °F | 3.3 | 5.4 | 14.3 | 26.9 | 39.1 | 48.3 | 53.5 | 52 | 43.8 | 34 | 22.4 | 10.2 |
| Rec Low °F | -27 | -34 | -30 | -9 | 17 | 28 | 36 | 34 | 24 | 14 | -8 | -28 |
| Precip (in) | 2.6 | 1.85 | 3.13 | 2.79 | 3.07 | 3.21 | 3.01 | 3.55 | 3.74 | 3.66 | 3.27 | 2.43 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com [1] | ||||||||||||
Education
Public schools
- Marquette Senior High School Redmen and Redettes
- Bothwell Middle School Scots
- Graveraet Intermediate School Comets
- Cherry Creek Elementary School Panthers
- Sandy Knoll Elementary School Explorers
- Superior Hills Elementary School huskies
- Vandenboom Elementary School
- North Star Academy
Private schools
- Father Marquette Elementary School Golden Eagles
- Father Marquette Middle School Eagles
- Crossroads Christian Academy
Colleges
- Northern Michigan University Wildcats
Media
Multiple media outlets provide local coverage of the Marquette area.
- Newspaper: The Mining Journal and the Iron County Reporter
- Television: WLUC-TV, WBUP-TV, WMQF-TV and WNMU-TV
- Radio: WNMU-FM, WHWL-FM, WUPK-FM, and WFXD-FM
Suburbs of Marquette
Festivals and events
- Art on the Rocks - An art festival at Presque Isle Park
- Hiawatha Music Festival Traditional Music Festival at Tourist Park (30th Annual 18-20 July 2008)
- Marquette's 4th of July Celebration [10]
- Superior Bike Fest [11]
- Ore to Shore Mountain Bike race.
- Exchange Club International Food Fest
- Seafood Fest
- Up 200 Dog Sled Race [12]
- Noquemanon Ski Marathon [13]
- Marquette Area Blues Fest [14]
Notes
- ^ a b Template:GR
- ^ "Snowfall - Average Total In Inches". NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ^ Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
- ^ Marquette (NMU Bookstore CS #384), MI 49855, Postmark Collector's Club
- ^ "About us" at Marquette Maritime Museum
- ^ Upper Peninsula Children's Museum, general information
- ^ "About us" at Marquette County History Museum
- ^ DeVos Art Museum, general information
- ^ "About us" at Oasis Gallery for Contemporary Art
- ^ Marquette area 4th of July committee
- ^ Superior bike fest
- ^ The UP-200
- ^ Noquemanon Ski Marathon
- ^ Marquette area blues fest
External links
