Houghton County

Houghton County is the region’s largest center of economic activity, home of the renowned Michigan Technological University, two hospitals, and strong high-tech and manufacturing sectors - underlain by a rich copper mining history and beautiful natural environment.

The county has three distinct west-east sections: a southern third that is inland and forested, a middle third that begins to venture up the peninsula with coasts on both sides and has a somewhat less isolated feel, and a northern third that holds the region’s largest population cluster and several diverse cities and villages. The northern third is crossed by the Portage Waterway, which essentially cuts off the landmass, known as “Copper Island,” from the rest of the Upper Peninsula. The waterway is spanned by Portage Lake Lift Bridge - the busiest highway segment in the U.P.

Houghton County is the only Upper Peninsula county whose population grew from 2010 to 2020, and the City of Houghton is the U.P.’s fastest-growing city.

WUPPDR’s headquarters is located in Hancock on the northern coast of the Portage Waterway. Hancock is the northernmost city in Michigan and one of the snowiest in the United States, and it has a rich Finnish heritage - a remnant of immigration during the mining era..

People

Total population:

• 2020 Census: 37,361

• Projected (State of Michigan), 2045: 41,241

Median age: 33.0

Median household income: $43,183

Median year-round full-time earnings: $43,321

Poverty:

• All persons determined: 20.2%

• Children under 18 years old: 15.4%

Unemployment rate, age 16 & over: 5.3%

Education

Primary and secondary schools:

• 9 public & 1 charter school districts

• Total public & charter school enrollment (Michigan Dept of Education): 5,264 (2022-23)

Copper Country Intermediate school district

Gogebic Community College (satellite campus) 

Michigan Tech University 

Educational attainment:

• Less than high school diploma/equivalent: 7.2%

• High school diploma/equivalent: 33.1%

• Some college or associate’s degree: 27.1%

• Bachelor’s degree: 18.7%

• Graduate or professional degree: 13.9%

Housing

Housing units - total: 18,798

• 71.2% occupied (many of remainder seasonally vacant)

• 73.1% single-unit detached

Housing age:

• 40.3% built 1939 or earlier

• 12.4% built 2000 or later

Median housing value: $108,700

Median gross rent: $640

Homeownership rate: 66.9%

Economy

Labor force (State of Michigan as of 2021): 16,150

Largest Employers:

• Michigan Tech University

•  UP Health System Portage

• Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital

• Copper Country Mental Health Services

• BHK Child Development Board

• Calumet Electronics

Industry by number of workers 16 & over (U.S. Dept of Labor as of 2021) (15,275):

• Health care & social assistance: 16.3%

• Manufacturing: 7.7%

• Retail trade: 12.8%

• Accommodation & food services: 8.9%

• Educational services: 20.4%

• Public administration: 3.3%