Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula, commonly referred to as the U.P., is the northern and western portion of the State of Michigan. Separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, the region is bordered by three of the five Great Lakes and contains some of the most remote, scenic, and resource-rich landscapes in the United States.

The Upper Peninsula encompasses approximately 29 percent of Michigan's land area but contains only about 3 percent of the state's population. The region is renowned for its forests, freshwater coastline, mining heritage, outdoor recreation, and distinct cultural identity.

Residents of the Upper Peninsula are commonly known as Yoopers, a nickname derived from the initials “U.P.”

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The Upper Peninsula is bounded by:

* Lake Superior * Lake Michigan * Lake Huron * Canada (across Lake Superior and the St. Marys River) * Wisconsin

The region contains:

* Dense forests * Rugged hills * Thousands of inland lakes * Rivers and waterfalls * Lake Superior shoreline * Great Lakes wetlands

More than eighty percent of the Upper Peninsula is forested.

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The Upper Peninsula consists of fifteen counties:

* Alger County * Baraga County * Chippewa County * Delta County * Gogebic County * Houghton County * Iron County * Keweenaw County * Luce County * Mackinac County * Marquette County * Menominee County * Ontonagon County * Schoolcraft County

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The largest communities include:

* Marquette * Sault Ste. Marie * Escanaba * Houghton * Hancock * Iron Mountain * Ishpeming * Negaunee * Menominee * Munising

Marquette serves as the Upper Peninsula's largest city and regional economic center.

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For thousands of years the Upper Peninsula was inhabited by Native American peoples, including:

* Anishinaabe * Ojibwe * Odawa * Potawatomi

European exploration began during the seventeenth century through French fur traders and missionaries.

The region later became known for:

* Fur trading * Copper mining * Iron mining * Timber harvesting * Great Lakes shipping

During the nineteenth century, discoveries of copper and iron transformed the Upper Peninsula into one of North America's most important mining regions.

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Mining remains one of the defining features of Upper Peninsula history.

Major mining districts included:

* Copper Country * Marquette Iron Range * Gogebic Iron Range * Menominee Iron Range

Important resources included:

* Copper * Iron ore * Gold * Silver * Limestone

Mining helped build many of the region's cities and transportation networks.

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The northwestern Upper Peninsula is commonly known as:

* Copper Country

This region includes:

* Houghton County * Keweenaw County * Portions of Ontonagon County

The area became internationally known for its rich native copper deposits and mining industry.

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Major industries include:

* Healthcare * Tourism * Education * Forestry * Mining * Government services * Manufacturing * Transportation

Tourism and outdoor recreation have become increasingly important economic drivers.

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Major educational institutions include:

* Northern Michigan University * Michigan Technological University * Bay College * Lake Superior State University

These institutions contribute significantly to regional economic development and workforce training.

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The Upper Peninsula is one of North America's premier outdoor recreation destinations.

Popular activities include:

* Hiking * Camping * Fishing * Hunting * Snowmobiling * Skiing * Kayaking * Boating * Wildlife observation

Millions of visitors travel to the U.P. annually.

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Major protected lands include:

* Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore * Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park * Tahquamenon Falls State Park * Keweenaw National Historical Park * Fayette Historic State Park * Seney National Wildlife Refuge

These areas preserve many of Michigan's most iconic natural and historic resources.

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Major transportation infrastructure includes:

* Interstate 75 * U.S. Highway 2 * U.S. Highway 41 * M-28

Important transportation facilities include:

* Mackinac Bridge * Sawyer International Airport * Chippewa County International Airport * Delta County Airport

The Mackinac Bridge provides the primary connection between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

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Upper Peninsula culture reflects influences from:

* Native American communities * French settlers * Finnish immigrants * Cornish miners * Italian immigrants * Scandinavian settlers

The region is known for:

* Yooper culture * Mining traditions * Outdoor lifestyles * Winter recreation * Strong community identity

The Upper Peninsula possesses one of the most distinct regional cultures in the Midwest.

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* Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore * Tahquamenon Falls State Park * Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park * Mackinac Bridge * Mount Arvon * Keweenaw National Historical Park

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* Copper Country * Northern Lower Michigan * Marquette County * Marquette * Mackinac Bridge * Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

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* United States Census Bureau * Michigan Department of Natural Resources * National Park Service * Michigan Economic Development Corporation * Michigan History Publications * Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Resources

regions upper_peninsula u_p yoopers lake_superior copper_country northern_michigan great_lakes