Gogebic County

The farthest west in the West, Gogebic County is the start of the U.P.’s two major east-west highways that carry visitors and residents clear across to Canada and the Mackinac Bridge. An urban character is lent by three distinct small cities located along a nine-mile corridor at the western entrance to the county - before opening up to hundreds of thousands of acres of the Ottawa National Forest.

Gogebic County is a hub of four-seasons recreation: home to Copper Peak, North America’s tallest ski flying hill; three downhill skiing and mountain biking resorts; Sylvania Wilderness; and Black River Harbor National Forest Byway. But there are ample opportunities for work and school, too, with a concentrated manufacturing cluster and a community college offering dozens of varied programs.

People

Total population:

• 2020 Census: 14,380

• Projected (State of Michigan), 2045: 12,199

Median age: 49.3

Median household income: $38,839

Median year-round full-time earnings: $34,701

Poverty:

• All persons determined: 17.0%

• Children under 18 years old: 21.4%

Unemployment rate, age 16 & over: 5.4%

Education

Primary and secondary schools:

• 4 public school districts

• Total public school enrollment (Michigan Dept of Education): 1,489 (2022-23)

Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District

Gogebic Community College main campus

Educational attainment:

• Less than high school diploma/equivalent: 6.3%

• High school diploma/equivalent: 37.3%

• Some college or associate’s degree: 36.9%

• Bachelor’s degree: 12.9%

• Graduate or professional degree: 6.6%

Housing

Housing units - 10,781 total:

• 62.6% occupied (many of remainder seasonally vacant)

• 83.9% single-unit detached

Housing age:

• 38.9% built 1939 or earlier

• 5.0% built 2000 or later

Median housing value: $67,100

Median gross rent: $509

Homeownership rate: 77.5%

Economy

Labor force (State of Michigan as of 2021): 6,327

Largest Employers:

• Aspirus Ironwood Hospital

• Gogebic Community College

• Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

• SnowRiver Mountain Ski Resort

• Jacquart Fabric Products

• Ironwood Plastics

Industry by number of workers 16 & over U.S. Dept of Labor as of 2021)(5,978):

• Health care & social assistance: 16.3%

• Manufacturing: 14.6%

• Retail trade: 12.4%

• Accommodation & food services: 9.0%

• Educational services: 6.8%

• Public administration: 6.0%