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Introduction
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Marquette County covers 1870 square miles and is the largest of Michigan's 83 counties. The County and largest city were named for Father Jacques Marquette, famous Jesuit missionary and explorer who made several canoe trips along the south shore of Lake Superior between 1668 and 1671 visiting the Native Americans between Sault Ste. Marie Michigan and Ashland, Wisconsin. Members of the Ojibwa Tribe were the first landholders of the Upper Peninsula and migrated to the Lake Superior shore during the summer months for fishing, hunting and blueberry gathering. When the game moved south for the winter, the Native Americans followed. The Ojibwa ceded their rights to the Upper Peninsula with two treaties, the Treaty of 1836 and the Treaty of LaPointe in 1842.
In September of 1844, William Austin Burt conducted a survey of the area that is now Marquette County. South of Teal Lake(Negaunee), strange compass readings were observed. Large bodies of iron ore were found. This discovery led to the settlement of the county. Philo M. Everett and the Jackson Iron Company opened the first pit mine near Negaunee.
The first post office in the county was established at the Jackson Iron Company's Carp River Forge, between Negaunee and Marquette, in 1847. In July of 1849, Amos M. Harlow, Robert Graveraet, and other Massachusetts businessmen formed the Marquette Iron Company, purchased the land for the City of Marquette and began operation of a forge and sawmill. More importantly, Marquette was the shipping port for the iron ore and also provided the harbor for the importation of food, equipment, mail and supplies to sustain a growing population.
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In addition to shipping, transportation was facilitated by a plank road from Negaunee to Marquette which was completed in 1855. The first ore docks were also built in 1855. The Iron Mountain Railroad was constructed in 1857 and this revolutionized the transportation of iron ore, people and supplies.
The first immigrants to arrive were the Cornish, recruited to work in the mines. They were followed by Finnish, Swedish, Germans and Italians. In addition to working in the iron industry, the new residents found employment in lumbering, commercial fishing, tourism and gold and silver mines. There was very little agricultural development during the early years due to the heavy forestation, short growing season and large rocks.
As the population increased formal village governments were incorporated at Marquette in 1859; Negaunee in 1865; and Ishpeming in 1871. Later, city governments were established as more government services were necessary. Marquette was the county seat. The first county court house was constructed in 1855 and the current court house was dedicated in 1904.
Cultural development included several theaters, opera houses and many organizations that have advanced appreciation and financial support of the arts and culture. The evidence of this appreciation is seen today with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, museums, and support of local and traveling art exhibitions.
Mining continues to be major source of employment in the County. Northern Michigan University, the Marquette Branch Prison, Marquette General Hospital and state and federal governments are among the other leading sources of employment. As Marquette County continues to grow, the residents are very interested in the quality of life and carefully monitor the development of the area.
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