Kingsford, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Kingsford is a city in Dickinson County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 5,549 at the 2000 census
. It is part of the Iron Mountain
, MI–WI
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
M-95
connects with US 2
and US 141
just a mile or so north in Iron Mountain
. The road crosses the Menominee River
into Wisconsin
where it continues as County Road N in Florence County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (4.64%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,549 people, 2,352 households, and 1,498 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,286.2 per square mile (497.1/km²). There were 2,477 housing units at an average density of 574.1 per square mile (221.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.84% White, 0.22% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.02% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population. 18.6% were of German
, 15.9% Italian, 12.7% Swedish, 8.2% English
, 7.8% French
and 5.8% Polish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,352 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,165, and the median income for a family was $41,283. Males had a median income of $34,280 versus $22,455 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,615. About 9.2% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
.
Neighboring city, Iron Mountain
, is home to Pine Mountain Ski Resort, home of one of the largest ski jumps in the world. This site formerly hosted The International Ski Jump Championship, and currently holds The National Ski Jump Championship every February.
Kingsford was the site of a Ford Motor Company
factory which built wooden station station wagon bodies beginning in 1931. During World War 2 Ford built a glider factory which manufactured more than 4,000 wooden frame Waco gliders for the US military. Scrap wood from the Ford factory was used to make charcoal. That charcoal operation was the foundation of the Kingsford Charcoal company.
Kingsford borders the Menominee River
which divides Kingsford from Aurora, Florence County, Wisconsin
.
Pine Mountain Ski Lodge and Ski Hill are located in Breitung Township which is part of Dickinson County. Kingsford also has the only airport in the area, the Ford Airport, which serviced the World War 2 Ford Glider factory.
Kingsford has its own Public Safety Department which includes the Police and Fire Departments as well as its own City Council.
City infrastructure includes city-pumped well water and its own filtration waste plant.
Dickinson County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,472 people, 11,386 households, and 7,583 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 13,702 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 5,549 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is part of the Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
, MI–WI
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Iron Mountain micropolitan area
The Iron Mountain Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in Michigan and one in Wisconsin – anchored by the city of Iron Mountain, Michigan...
.
M-95
M-95 (Michigan highway)
M-95, designated as the Leif Erickson Memorial Highway, is a state trunkline highway in the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. Running from Kingsford to near Champion in Humboldt Township, it is the main connection between Iron Mountain and Marquette along with US 41.M-95 was previously...
connects with US 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
and US 141
U.S. Route 141
U.S. Route 141 is a north–south highway in the U.S. states of Michigan and Wisconsin. US 41 is its parent route. Its northern terminus, on US 41, is near Covington, Michigan; its southern terminus, with I-43 near Bellevue, Wisconsin; it remains in existence in Green Bay, Wisconsin as a...
just a mile or so north in Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
. The road crosses the Menominee River
Menominee River
The Menominee River is a river in northwestern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the United States. It is approximately 118 mi , draining a rural forested area of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Michigan...
into Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
where it continues as County Road N in Florence County
Florence County, Wisconsin
Florence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 5,088. Its county seat is Florence.Florence County is part of the Iron Mountain, MI–WI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
Geography
Kingsford is located at 45°47′40"N 88°04′36.09"WAccording to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (4.64%) is water.
Highways
US 2U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
US 141U.S. Route 141U.S. Route 141 is a north–south highway in the U.S. states of Michigan and Wisconsin. US 41 is its parent route. Its northern terminus, on US 41, is near Covington, Michigan; its southern terminus, with I-43 near Bellevue, Wisconsin; it remains in existence in Green Bay, Wisconsin as a...
M-95M-95 (Michigan highway)M-95, designated as the Leif Erickson Memorial Highway, is a state trunkline highway in the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. Running from Kingsford to near Champion in Humboldt Township, it is the main connection between Iron Mountain and Marquette along with US 41.M-95 was previously...
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,549 people, 2,352 households, and 1,498 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,286.2 per square mile (497.1/km²). There were 2,477 housing units at an average density of 574.1 per square mile (221.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.84% White, 0.22% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.02% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population. 18.6% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 15.9% Italian, 12.7% Swedish, 8.2% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 7.8% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
and 5.8% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 2,352 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,165, and the median income for a family was $41,283. Males had a median income of $34,280 versus $22,455 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,615. About 9.2% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Some of Kingsford's main sources of work are Grede Foundries and a nearby paper mill, which is located between Kingsford and NorwayNorway, Michigan
Norway is a city in Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,959 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Iron Mountain, MI–WI Micropolitan Statistical Area....
.
Neighboring city, Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Iron Mountain is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,154. It is the county seat of Dickinson County, in the state's Upper Peninsula....
, is home to Pine Mountain Ski Resort, home of one of the largest ski jumps in the world. This site formerly hosted The International Ski Jump Championship, and currently holds The National Ski Jump Championship every February.
Kingsford was the site of a Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
factory which built wooden station station wagon bodies beginning in 1931. During World War 2 Ford built a glider factory which manufactured more than 4,000 wooden frame Waco gliders for the US military. Scrap wood from the Ford factory was used to make charcoal. That charcoal operation was the foundation of the Kingsford Charcoal company.
Recreation
Activities include camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, snowmobile trails and a number of different water activities.Kingsford borders the Menominee River
Menominee River
The Menominee River is a river in northwestern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin in the United States. It is approximately 118 mi , draining a rural forested area of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan into Lake Michigan...
which divides Kingsford from Aurora, Florence County, Wisconsin
Aurora, Florence County, Wisconsin
Aurora is a town in Florence County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,186 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Aurora is located in the town...
.
Pine Mountain Ski Lodge and Ski Hill are located in Breitung Township which is part of Dickinson County. Kingsford also has the only airport in the area, the Ford Airport, which serviced the World War 2 Ford Glider factory.
Kingsford has its own Public Safety Department which includes the Police and Fire Departments as well as its own City Council.
City infrastructure includes city-pumped well water and its own filtration waste plant.