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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Bessemer Herald
Bessemer is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 1,805. It is the county seat of Gogebic County.

The city is surrounded by Bessemer Township, but the two are administered autonomously. It is on U.S. Route 2 with Ironwood to the west and Wakefield to the east. The Big Powderhorn and Snow River ski resorts are located within a few miles of Bessemer. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also very popular in this area, due to lake-effect snow influenced by nearby Lake Superior; the area is often referred to as "Big Snow Country." Recreational opportunities in the summer months include Bluff Valley Park, the scenic Black River Falls, and access to the Iron Belle Trail.

History

Vintage picture of Downtown Bessemer (Sophie Street)

In 1880, a hunter and trapper Richard Langford, discovered iron ore under an overturned birch tree. However, Captain N. D. Moore is credited with disclosing the ore which led to the development of the Colby property. Mining began in 1883. By 1884, the Milwaukee Lake Shore and Western Railroad (later the Chicago and Northwestern) was being built from Antigo, WI to Ashland, WI by way of the new mines. The railroad company plotted the town of Bessemer in 1884. On June 4, 1886 Gogebic County was separated from Ontonagon County. In March 1887, 360 voting members assembled and voted to organize the village of Bessemer. In the same year Gogebic County was officially created by the Michigan Legislature. Also in the year Bessemer and Ironwood called an election to see which city would be the county seat and also have the Gogebic County Courthouse. Ironwood men traveling to Bessemer to vote were made drunk and the train did not stop at the voting site. Ironwood lost and Bessemer gained the county seat. From 1884 to December 31, 1958, a period of seventy-five years, the iron ore shipment from all of Gogebic County totaled over 245 million tons. In 1966 the last mine in Bessemer, the Peterson Mine, closed. Many left the area to work in car factories in Kenosha, and the local economy underwent a serious decline.

Bessemer is named for Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898), English inventor of steel manufacturing.

Government

Bessemer is operated by an elected 5-member city council with day-to-day operations run by an appointed city manager. Staff also consists of administrative staff, public works department, and library staff. Bessemer also belongs to the Gogebic Range Water Authority.

City Council

  • Mayor Adam Zak (2017 - )
  • Mayor Pro-Tem Rob Coleman (2016 - )
  • Councilman Terry Kryshak (2017 - )
  • Councilman Charlie Tirpik (2021 - )
  • Councilwoman Linda Nelson (2009 - )

City Manager

  • Jennifer Adams (2022 - )
  • Charly Loper (2016 - 2022)
Bessemer City Hall, Public Library and Fire Hall.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.47 square miles (14.17 km), all land. Majority of Bessemer is situated on the north side of Colby Hill and the city consists of many hills and valleys.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,566—
19003,91152.4%
19104,58317.2%
19205,48219.6%
19304,035−26.4%
19404,0801.1%
19503,509−14.0%
19603,304−5.8%
19702,805−15.1%
19802,553−9.0%
19902,272−11.0%
20002,148−5.5%
20101,905−11.3%
20201,805−5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the 2020 census, its population was 1,805.

News/media

Newspapers

Area radio station coverage

Local television station coverage

Transportation

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood, while Gogebic County operates a small public bus system, the Gogebic County Transit Authority.

Commercial air service is available at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD) north of Ironwood.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ^ "Western U.P. Skiing - Big Snow Country Downhill and Cross Country Skiing - Ironwood, Bessemer, Wakefield, Porcupine Mountains, Upper Peninsula Michigan". www.westernup.com. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  6. ^ "History of Bessemer". www.cityofbessemer.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  7. ^ "City Council". City of Bessemer, Michigan. Archived from the original on 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  8. ^ "City Manager". City of Bessemer, Michigan. Archived from the original on 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "St. Ignace–Sault Ste. Marie–Ironwood" (PDF). Indian Trails. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  12. ^ "Al Rossi". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2014-01-17. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  13. ^ 'Richard A. Sofio-obituary,' Ironwood Daily Globe, March 4, 2009, pg. 8
Wikisource has the text of a 1905 New International Encyclopedia article about "Bessemer".
  • Bessemer Herald, Google news archive. —PDFs of 1,343 issues, dating from 1894 to 1970.

Media related to Bessemer, Michigan at Wikimedia Commons

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