Michigan’s Copper Country Boomtown
Houghton County, nestled in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has a history as rich as the copper veins. Those veins once made it a national mining powerhouse. From its earliest settlers in the 1840s to its booming copper industry after the Civil War, this county played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s economy and culture.
The Rise of Copper Country
On March 19, 1845 Houghton County was organized. Named after Douglass Houghton, Michigan’s first state geologist, the county quickly grew into the heart of the Copper Country. By the 1870s, the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company was responsible for half of the nation’s copper production, fueling an economic and population explosion. By 1900, Houghton County boasted 66,000 residents, making it the fourth most populous county in Michigan at the time.
An Immigration Melting Pot
The allure of work in the copper mines attracted immigrants from all over the world. By 1910, a staggering 40.6% of the county’s 88,098 residents were foreign-born, with Finnish immigrants making up a significant portion. Even today, the county retains its strong Finnish heritage. Over 32% of residents claiming Finnish ancestry in the 2010 census.
A Changing Landscape
Like many boomtowns, Houghton County saw its fortunes shift as mining declined. The population steadily dropped, and today, the county is home to about 37,000 residents. Yet, its legacy lives on in its historic sites, cultural traditions, and Michigan Technological University, which was founded in 1885 to train mining engineers and continues to be a major presence in the region.
From its early mining days to its modern identity, Houghton County remains a fascinating chapter in Michigan’s history. Whether you’re a history buff, a descendant of Copper Country immigrants, or just love a good boomtown story, Houghton’s past is one worth exploring!
Historical Marker
Houghton County/Houghton County Courthouse
Statehood Era (1815-1860) – Registered in 1974 and erected in 1989 – ID #S431A
Located at 401 East Houghton Street, Houghton – Lat: 47.12049900 / Long: -88.56928700
Houghton County
Organized in 1845, Houghton County once comprised the entire Keweenaw Peninsula. Eagle River was its first county seat. In 1861, after the state legislature split the county into Keweenaw and Houghton, the village of Houghton became the new seat of Houghton County government. Finnish settlers were predominant in the county. There were also Scandinavians, as well as Cornish, Germans and French Canadians. Jobs were plentiful, since Houghton County was the center of the copper boom. In 1874 Michigan produced 88 percent of the nation’s copper, of which Houghton County mines supplied 79 percent. Two years later, Michigan copper production peaked at 90 percent of the nation’s output. The Michigan Mining School opened in Houghton in 1886. In 1964 it was renamed Michigan Technological University.
Houghton County Courthouse
The opulent High Victorian design of the Houghton County Courthouse testifies to the prosperity that the copper boom brought to the area in the late nineteenth century. The building’s irregular form and polychromatic exterior make it one of Michigan’s most distinctive nineteenth-century courthouses. The red sandstone trim and copper roof were products of the Upper Peninsula. The architect, J. B. Sweatt, was from Marquette. Originally from Chicago, Sweatt typified the many architects who worked in Houghton and participated in the building rush that occurred during the copper boom. Dedicated on July 28, 1887, the courthouse replaced a frame structure constructed in 1862.
Learn more about the rich history of the Western Upper Peninsula.
