Bessemer, Michigan

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.^[4]

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Bessemer, Michigan
City
City of Bessemer
Downtown Bessemer along S. Sophie Street
Location within Gogebic County
Bessemer Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Bessemer Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 46°28′41″N 90°03′05″W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Gogebic
Settled	1880
Platted	1884
Incorporated	1887 (village) 1889 (city)
Government
• Type	Council–manager
• Mayor	Adam Zak
• Manager	Vacant
Area [1]
• Total	5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2)
• Land	5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,424 ft (434 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,805
• Density	328.24/sq mi (126.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code(s)	49911
Area code	906
FIPS code	26-07960[2]
GNIS feature ID	0621184[3]
Website	Official website

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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."^[5] Recreational opportunities in the summer months include Bluff Valley Park, the scenic Black River Falls, and access to the Iron Belle Trail.

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.^[6]

Bessemer is named for Sir Henry Bessemer (1813-1898), English inventor of steel manufacturing.^[6]

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^[7]

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

City Manager^[8]

• Jennifer Adams (2022 - )
• Charly Loper (2016 - 2022)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.47 square miles (14.17 km²), all land.^[9] Majority of Bessemer is situated on the north side of Colby Hill and the city consists of many hills and valleys.

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

• US Highway 2 is the Upper Peninsula's longest US Highway, stretching from St. Ignace to neighboring Ironwood.
• County Road 513 (Moore Street/Black River Road) begins in Bessemer at junction with US 2 and runs 15 miles (24 km) north to Black River Harbor on the shore of Lake Superior. A section of the road is designated the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway.
• County Road 200 (Old County Road) begins at the southwest end of Bessemer and travels west to Ironwood.

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood,^[11] 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.

• Otto Binder, science fiction and comic book author (Mary Marvel, Legion of Super-Heroes, and Supergirl); born in Bessemer
• Kevin Borseth, women's basketball coach at The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; born in Bessemer
• Jay W. Johnson, U.S. congressmen for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district; born in Bessemer
• Arthur Redner, halfback for Fielding H. Yost's 1901 "Point-a-Minute" football team; lived in Bessemer
• Al Rossi, Olympic bronze medalist in rowing at the 1952 Summer Olympics; born in Bessemer^[12]
• Richard A. Sofio, Michigan state representative and educator; born in Bessemer.^[13]