Statue of "Old Ish" in downtown Ishpeming
Ishpeming (pron: ˈɪʃpəˌmiŋ) is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,686 at the 2000 census. This is down from a higher population in the 1950s and 1960s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had a much higher employment level. Ishpeming Township is located to the northwest of the city but is administratively autonomous.
Ishpeming is considered the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States and is the home to the National Ski Hall of Fame.
The name Ishpeming comes from the Anishinaabe language ishpiming, meaning "on top" or "from above" or "upon high." Ishpeming, in the Ojibwa dialect of the Anishinaabe language, also means "Heaven". A statue of a Native American figure has stood in the small town square since 1884 and is referred to as "Old Ish".
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.2 square miles (24.0 km²), of which, 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it (6.16%) is water. Ishpeming's elevation is 1,436 feet (438 m) above mean sea level, which is over 800 feet (240 m) higher than that of nearby Lake Superior. The highlands of Ishpeming and the surrounding area, including the city of Negaunee to its east, receive an unusually high yearly average of lake effect snow.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,686 people, 2,915 households, and 1,757 families residing in the city. The population density was 769.8 per square mile (297.1/km²). There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of 369.6/sq mi (142.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.29% White, 0.06% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population. 25.5% were of Finnish, 14.4% Italian, 14.1% English, 12.4% French, 7.3% German, 5.7% Swedish and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.8% spoke English and 1.9% Finnish as their first language.
There were 2,915 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,347, and the median income for a family was $38,924. Males had a median income of $36,310 versus $21,104 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,946. About 8.0% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Ishpeming, which is part of the greater Marquette area, is served by Sawyer International Airport with trips to Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.
Marquette has a bus system called the "MarqTran" that runs through Ishpeming and also to nearby places such as Sawyer International Airport & Negaunee.
Highways
US 41 passes through the northern portion of Ishpeming, running westerly and northerly toward Houghton, easterly toward Marquette and southeast to Escanaba.
M-28 travels westerly toward Wakefield and east to Marquette.
BUS M-28 serves the downtowns of both Negaunee and Ishpeming.
Historical events
- The movie Anatomy of a Murder was filmed in Ishpeming and surrounding areas in 1959, based on the novel by Ishpeming native John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver.* Extensive 50th Anniversary Celebrations are ongoing throughout 2009.[3]
Notable people
Points of interest
Education
Schools consist of:
- Ishpeming High School: The school nickname is the Hematites, after the iron ore mined in the city.
- C. L. Phelps Middle School: The school nickname is the Panthers.
- Birchview Elementary School
Places of worship
- Bethany Lutheran Church
- Good News Assembly of God
- St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
- St. Joseph Catholic Church
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Bethel Lutheran Church
- Trinity Lutheran Church
- Hope Free Evangelical Lutheran Church
Festivals and events
Notes
External links
Coordinates: 46°29′19″N 87°40′03″W / 46.48861°N 87.6675°W / 46.48861; -87.6675
