Iron Mountain, Michigan 2025

Iron Mountain is a city in the southwestern part of Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city population was 7,832.

Iron Mountain was founded in 1879, when John S. (“Jack”) Kelly and a group of investors formed the Iron Mountain Iron Company. They opened a mine and erected a blast furnace along the Menominee River to process the locally abundant iron ore. The town that grew up around the mine and furnace took its name from the surrounding geological deposits. Iron Mountain became a city in 1887.

Local Attractions

Dickinson County Historical Museum. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Free admission.

Iron Mountain Iron Mine. From the visitor’s center, you can take a guided tour 900 feet underground to learn about underground mining. The mine was operational from 1877 to 1947.

Iron Mountain Cemetery. Several “residents” have come back to life to share their stories on the second Sunday of each month during the summer.

Fume Cliffs. A great way to experience the scenic view from Breitung 340 feet below the surface. Drive south out of town and take the exit off US-2 to Fume Cliffs.

Florence County Historical Society and Museum. About 12 miles outside of Iron Mountain in Florence, Wisconsin, this museum sits at the junction of US-2 and US-70. Florence was the first county seat of Dickinson County, before it was moved to Iron Mountain.

Lake Antoine Park. Former mining land that features a 600-foot shoreline along the Menominee River. It’s a popular picnic and recreation spot.

Cornwall Iron Furnace. It moved from Pennsylvania to Vulcan, Michigan, and is now a living history museum and historic site, where interpreters wear period clothing.

Menominee Range Historical Museum. This museum explores the history of the Menominee Iron Range and shares the history of early mining history.

Iron Mountain’s close proximity to Lake Michigan, the adjacent Menominee River, and the surrounding hardwood forests provide plenty of recreational activities including fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, waterfall tours, snowmobiling, snow skiing, ice fishing, and more.

Cultural Activities

Hiawatha Arts Center. Holds cultural and musical performances throughout the year.

Iron Mountain Civic Center. Home of the local minor league hockey team, the Iron Mountain Iron Mountain Maulers.

Winter frolic: A collection of community events and activities held every February in Iron Mountain with attractions such as snocross, snowshoe races, hockey games, and a torchlight parade.

Pumpkin Festival. Mid-October festival held in downtown Iron Mountain with decorations, games, crafts, food and beverages, and a haunted house.

For festivals and cultural events, every second Saturday of the month, residents and visitors can witness and take part in “Living History Days” in the cemetery and park. The community comes together to celebrate the rich history of Iron Mountain.

People

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,157 people in the city. There were 3,513 households, and 2,274 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,126.6 per square mile. There were 3,683 housing units at an average density of 508.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 97.58% White, 0.58% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

Education

Iron Mountain Central Elementary School (Grades K–5)

Iron Mountain Middle School (Grades 6–8)

Iron Mountain High School (Grades 9–12)

Iron Mountain-Kingsford Public Library

Food

It's not a visit to the U.P. without sampling a pasty, a buttery, flaky pie crust filled with savory meats, vegetables, and herbs. Many restaurants and cafes throughout the region serve pasties, but Lawry’s Pasty Shop in Iron Mountain has been serving them since 1948.

Another specialty of the region is smoked fish. The region boasts multiple establishments that smoke fish and meat ranging from Lake Superior whitefish, lake trout, and salmon to beef, pork, and venison. In nearby Menominee, Michigan, the Menominee Fish Market on the Waterfront offers fish boils on weekends that include whitefish and lake perch, prime rib, and chicken.

History

Iron Mountain was founded in 1879, when John S. (“Jack”) Kelly and a group of investors formed the Iron Mountain Iron Company. They opened a mine and erected a blast furnace along the Menominee River to process the locally abundant iron ore.

The post office opened in 1881.

In 1887, the village of Iron Mountain was incorporated as a city.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.1 square miles, all of it land.