Marquette, Michigan

Marquette is a city located in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,661, making it the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. It is the county seat of Marquette County⁶. The city is the home of Northern Michigan University.

The city was originally named New Worcester, after Worcester, Massachusetts. It is now named for the French explorer Jacques Marquette. Marquette has always been a shipping port for iron ore and now taconite from nearby mines. The city includes several small islands (principally Middle Island, Presque Isle Pt. Rocks, Ripley Rock and Picnic Rocks) in Lake Superior. The Marquette Underwater Preserve lies immediately offshore. A regional medical center, Marquette General Hospital, serving much of the Upper Peninsula is located in the city. Marquette Mountain, used for skiing, is located in the city, as is the majority of the land of Marquette Branch Prison. Trowbridge Park is located to the west, and Marquette Township to the northwest of the city.

The area in and around the city is the legendary home of the Marquette Monster, which is depicted at the top of the Old City Hall plaque. The film "Anatomy of a Murder," dramatizing an incident that happened in the area, was filmed in Marquette, much of it in the old county courthouse.

In 2004, President George W. Bush made a campaign stop in Marquette, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Michigan's Upper Peninsula since William H. Taft in 1911. The Roman Catholic Bishop Frederic Baraga is buried at St. Peter's Cathedral.

Marquette is the sister city of Kajaani, Finland and Yokaichi, Japan.

Contents

1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Neighborhoods of Marquette 4 External links 5 Festivals and events

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 50.2 km² (19.4 mi²). 29.6 km² (11.4 mi²) of it is land and 20.6 km² (8.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 41.09% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 19,661 people, 8,071 households, and 4,067 families residing in the city. The population density is 665.3/km² (1,723.9/mi²). There are 8,429 housing units at an average density of 285.2/km² (739.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 95.04% White, 0.82% African American, 1.74% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 8,071 households out of which 23.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 49.6% are non-families. 37.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.13 and the average family size is 2.81.

In the city the population is spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 25.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $29,918, and the median income for a family is $48,120. Males have a median income of $34,107 versus $24,549 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,787. 17.0% of the population and 7.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.3% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Neighborhoods of Marquette

Marquette consists of a number of neighborhoods; however, Picnic Rocks are not included in one of these:

• Central
• Condominiums
• East
• East Central
• North
• Northeast
• North Lakeshore
• Northwest
• Orianna
• Shiras Hills
• South Central
• Southwest
• West Central
• Trowbridge

There is a chiefly commercial district on part of Third Street known as "The Village."

External links

• http://www.mqtcty.org/
• http://www.mapsnet.org/

Festivals and events

Art on the Rocks art festival at Presque Isle Park Hiawatha Music Festival at Tourist Park