Escanaba, Michigan


Escanaba is a port city in Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located on Little Bay de Noc in the state's Upper Peninsula. The population was 12,616 at the 2010 census, making it the third-largest city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie. It is the seat of government of Delta County.
There is also Escanaba Township, which is north of the city and is not adjacent to it, although a portion of the urban area around the city extends into the township. Both are named for the Escanaba River, which flows into the Little Bay de Noc of Lake Michigan just north of the city at. The names are derived from the Ojibwa language.

History

Escanaba was the name of an Ojibwa village in this area in the early 19th century. The Ojibwa are one of the Anishinaabe, Algonquian-speaking tribes who settled and flourished around the Great Lakes. The word "Escanaba" roughly translates from Ojibwe and other regional Algonquian languages to "land of the red buck", although some people maintain that it refers to "flat rock".
As a European-American settlement, Escanaba was founded in 1863 as a port town by surveyor Eli P. Royce. Early industry was the processing and harvesting of lumber, dominated in this area by Daniel Wells Jr., Jefferson Sinclair, and Nelson Ludington. Ludington later moved his headquarters to Chicago, where he also entered banking. I. Stephenson established a successor lumber company in the area and also became a capitalist.
Before the war, iron ore was being mined from the Marquette Range, which shipped out on barges from Escanaba. By the time of the American Civil War, this port was important to the Union as a shipping point for these ores, in addition to lumber. The Menominee Range and Gogebic Range of Michigan became important for iron ore after the war, in the 1880s. Michigan still produces about 25% of the iron ore nationally. Initially lumber was still integral to shipbuilding, and supported the construction of houses in cities throughout the developing Midwest. Iron ore supported industrialization, and became part of steel and other industries in the Midwest.
As shipping increased, a lighthouse was needed to warn of a sand shoals in Little Bay de Noc, which extended from Sand Point, a sandspit located just south of and adjacent to the harbor area. The United States Lighthouse Service approved construction of the Sand Point Lighthouse at a cost of $11,000. Construction began in the fall of 1867 and was completed in early spring 1868.

Present day

Until 2017, Escanaba continued to serve as an important shipping point for iron ore to other Great Lakes ports, especially south to Chicago and northern Indiana. The local paper mill, for many years owned by Mead Corporation's Publishing Paper Division, is currently operated by Verso Corporation. Located on the outskirts of the city alongside the Escanaba River, it is now Escanaba's largest employer.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Climate

This climatic region is classified as humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb", according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. It is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters. Escanaba is described as being in the banana belt of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. While most of the peninsula is affected by significant lake-effect snow, Escanaba's winter climate is much milder due to its location on the leeward Lake Michigan shoreline.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,616 people, 5,622 households, and 3,090 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 6,178 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 0.4% African American, 2.6% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 5,622 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.0% were non-families. Of all households 38.2% were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,140 people, 5,800 households, and 3,294 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,038.3 inhabitants per square mile. There were 6,258 housing units at an average density of 494.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 95.66% White, 0.11% African American, 2.61% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population. 17.0% were of German, 16.5% French, 11.4% French Canadian, 8.8% Swedish, 6.4% Irish and 5.2% English ancestry, according to Census 2000.
There were 5,800 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. Of all households 37.0% were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,125, and the median income for a family was $36,995. Males had a median income of $32,310 versus $21,204 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,589. About 10.8% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Culture and contemporary life

In his poem The Song of Hiawatha, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow described how Hiawatha "crossed the rushing Esconaba", referring to the river.
Although the Upper Peninsula is part of the state of Michigan, Escanaba and the western Upper Peninsula sometimes have closer cultural ties to the state of Wisconsin.

Yooper culture

Pasties are a significant tourist attraction, and have a particularly unusual history. Many ethnic groups adopted the pasty for use in the Copper Country copper mines; the Finnish immigrants within the region mistook it for the traditional piiraat and kuuko pastries. The pasty has become strongly associated with all cultures in this area.

Theater and performing arts

Escanaba is home to the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center, The Waterfront Art Festival, The Players de Noc, The Bay de Noc Choral Society, the Escanaba City Band, and many smaller arts organizations, art galleries, and musical performing groups.

Tourism

Escanaba is home to one the safest natural harbors in the upper Great Lakes, which makes it a natural destination for boaters. Tourism has become significant for the local economy. Tourist draws include Lake Michigan beaches and local fishing and hunting opportunities. Most visitors come from Wisconsin and Illinois.

Shopping and dining

The Delta Plaza Mall, is a small enclosed shopping mall in Escanaba, which features Hobby Lobby, Marshalls, and Dunham's as its anchor stores. Other big box retail stores in Escanaba include, Wal-Mart, Menards, Meijer, Aldi, Walgreens, and Tractor Supply Company.
The downtown district features many small, locally owned retail stores. Viau's Market and Kobosic's Market are small grocery stores that feature on-site butchers. Eateries include: Stone Cup Coffee House & Deli, Ferdinand's, Crispigna's, Hong Kong Buffet, Hereford and Hops, Swedish Pantry, Rosy's Diner, The Stone House, and The Ludington Grill. Other notable restaurants that are outside the downtown district include The Buck Inn, Family Inn, Drifter's Restaurant, Hudson's Grill, and Thai Express.

Parks and recreation

Parks

Government

Escanaba is in Congressional District 1; its Representative since 2017 in Congress is Jack Bergman.

Police and corrections

The Delta County Sheriff's Office along with Escanaba Public Safety, and the Michigan State Police, collaborate with other police agencies in neighboring counties to make up the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team. UPSET utilizes investigators, informants, K-9 units, and other resources to perform clandestine operations to arrest those involved with drug use, distribution and sale across the Upper Peninsula. UPSET is the only federally trained and certified clandestine lab team in the Upper Peninsula.
The Delta County Jail is an 85-bed facility that employs 13 full-time correction officers, under the supervision of Lt. Jason Thibeault. In September 2017, Delta County secured a $17.9 million loan for the construction of a new jail. The new two story jail will be capable of housing 160 beds.

Courts

The Delta County Courthouse serves all of Delta County. The courthouse includes the 47th Circuit Court, the 94th District Court, and Probate Court.

Education

In 2003, the school board opted to completely renovate the historic 1930's junior high school, rather than move it outside of town. Escanaba Area Public Schools operate the public schools in Escanaba, which includes various elementary schools, the middle school, and high school. There is also a private school, Holy Name Catholic School, which teaches pre-school children all the way up to eighth grade.
Bay College, a public 2-year college, was founded in the city in 1962. It offers various two year degrees and certificate programs ranging from welding, public safety, business, nursing, among others.

Media

Local radio stations include KMB Broadcasting's WDBC 680 AM and WYKX 104.7 FM, Lakes Radio's WCHT 600 AM, WGLQ 97.1 FM, WCMM 102.5 FM, and WGKL 105.5 FM, and standalone WUPF 107.3 FM. Escanaba is also served by low-power translator stations of WNMU translator W296AX from Marquette, MI, WRPP translator W254AG from Sturgeon Bay, WI, and WHWL translator W261AI from Marquette, MI. WJMN-TV, the local television station on channel 3, is mostly a satellite of WFRV in Green Bay and carries CBS programming. WLUC-TV in Marquette also operates a translator station in Escanaba on channel 14.
Escanaba's Harbor Tower, an 18-story apartment building, is the tallest building in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Transportation