People are asking, “Why does Michigan have the upper peninsula?” The Peninsula should have been Wisconsin’s property, not Michigan’s. However, something that happened years ago made the Peninsula Michigan’s.
Michigan was declared the 26th state of the union in 1837. However, Michigan’s journey to statehood wasn’t a smooth one. It was packed with drama and surprises. But how did the Peninsula end up with the “Great Lake State?” We’ll discuss more on this shortly. Keep reading!
Why Does Michigan Have The Upper Peninsula?
Here is how it happened. Michigan would have been a state in 1835. The federal government enacted a law that would have made Michigan a state, but its ascension into statehood was delayed. Why? The dispute with Ohio caused it.
Michigan and Ohio had an intense land dispute called the Toledo War from 1835 to 1836. The war started when Ohio claimed the mouth of the Maumee River, land in Michigan’s territory.
The Toledo War, also called the Ohio-Michigan War or Michigan-Ohio War, was a serious dispute. Several people were arrested and injured, but there were no deaths.
Here is how the Upper Peninsula became Michigan’s. A compromise had to be reached to settle the land dispute between Ohio and Michigan. Ohio got Toledo, while Michigan got the Upper Peninsula.
A Handy Tip: Michigan is the only state in the country with two peninsulas. It boasts the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, separated by the Straits of Mackinac.
Why The Upper Peninsula Highly Important To Michigan
The Upper Peninsula’s contributions to Michigan’s economy are well-documented. The mining and forestry industry helped jumpstart the state’s economy.
The Upper Peninsula’s mines generated more mineral wealth than the California Gold Rush, particularly when shipping started improving following the Soo Locks’ opening in 1855. The docks in Marquette around 1859 gave investors a reason to flock to the area.
The Upper Peninsula was a hub of mineral resources and became the lifeline of many industries in America. For instance, the Upper Peninsula supplied 90% of the copper Americans were getting in the 1860s. Michigan was also America’s largest ore supplier in the 1890s.
Production continued to increase from one year to another and peaked in the 1920s. Unfortunately, shortly after it was picked, it began to decline. The decline in production Michigan recorded was devastating. All its copper mines started closing gradually, with the last mine shutting down in 1995.
The mining boom not only caused a massive boost to the Michigan economy. It also led to the state’s population explosion, as thousands of people flocked to the area thanks to the copper and ore boom.
The first immigrants were from Cornish. Their visit to Michigan during the mining boom was interesting because they had centuries of mining experience.
In addition to Great Britain, other people that moved to Michigan during the mining boom included Irish, Germans, and French Canadians.
A Handy Tip: Michigan’s Eagle Mines, a nickel-copper mine, opened its door for business in 2014.
Is The Upper Peninsula of Michigan A Good Place To Live?
If you fancy the greenery, you’ll find the Upper Peninsula (UP) a good place to live. Whether you’re moving for educational purposes, work, retirement, or fun, UP won’t disappoint you. There is an abundance of indoor and outdoor activities to keep you engaged throughout your stay.
Here are things that make the Upper Peninsula a good place to live.
1: Tahquamenon Falls:
If gazing at the waterfall is one of the things on your to-do list, Tahquamenon Falls should be your must-visit places. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park boasts one of the largest waterfalls in the United States of America.
The Upper Fall measures 200 feet across, and water drops from 50 feet. Another thing that makes this park a must-go is its 50,000 acres of wilderness. This place brings you closer to nature, and lets you feed your eyes with the beauty of lush vegetation.
2: Visit Marquette:
Marquette is another must-visit if you’re heading to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. It is UP’s largest city, with a population of 20,696, according to the 2020 census.
There are plenty of things to do in this city. You can even view the lake from Marquette. It is home to the prestigious North Michigan University, making it an ideal destination for families with kids.
Your kids will receive proper education in Marquette, as the public schools are above average. Marquette senior high school is ranked #3,078 in the national ranking.
Living in Marquette gives you that dense suburban feel. In addition, many of the people in this city rent their homes. In other words, around 52% of residents rent their homes, while 48% own theirs.
There are numerous parks and bars in this beautiful city. So, if you want to feed your eyes or quench your taste, Marquette is the right place to be.
Many professionals live in this city. It is a port city famous for its iron mining and export. The iconic Ore Dock is one of the things that shows how much mining is done in Marquette.
A Handy Tip: Marquette was incorporated as a village in 1859 and a city in 1871.
The medium age of residents in Marquette is 30.2 years. That is 30.7 for males and 28.6 for females.
Furthermore, 95.7% of the residents in this city speak only English, while 4.3% speak other languages. The largest group that speaks non-English language includes the other Indo-Europeans, who’re just 1.93% of Marquette’s population.
3: Visit Sault Ste. Marie:
What makes Sault Ste. Marie a must-visit? Firstly, it’s the third oldest city in the U.S., as the inhabitants settled in around 1668.
The population of this city has increased over the years. It now ranks as the second most populated city in UP, with a population of 14,324. Furthermore, this city has so much you can explore and enjoy.
Sault Ste. Marie boasts the Soo Locks, regarded as the world’s busiest Locks. The city also borders Canada, and there is a Sault Ste. Marie in Canada too.
This city is the oldest in Michigan and the birthplace of the state. It celebrated its 354th anniversary in 2022.
Sault Ste. Marie is a good place to raise a family. It is small, quiet, and boasts a small-town feel. But you’ll love life here. It is an international port of entry to the U.S. and an important destination for travel, business, and trade.
There are a lot of things to do in Sault Ste. Marie. You can go hiking, dine in local restaurants, embark on a bird’s eye adventure, visit the museum ship valley camp, Voyageur Island, Tower of History, and more.
4: Visit the Mackinac Bridge:
The historic Mackinac Bridge is one of the places to consider visiting when you step foot on the Upper Peninsula. It spans the Straits of Mackinac and connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
The Mackinac Bridge is one of the wonders of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. It is the 26th longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.
This bridge gives you a clear view of the Great Lakes of Michigan, Huron, and another island. It is an incredible sight to behold and one of the wonders of the Upper Peninsula.
This bridge is a must-visit if you’re heading to the Upper Peninsula.
Conclusion
Why does Michigan have the Upper Peninsula? The Toledo War gives a clear insight into why Michigan has the Upper Peninsula and not Wisconsin. The Toledo War was an intense land dispute between Ohio and Michigan.
Ohio claimed it owned Toledo, and Michigan claimed the same thing. The dispute led to fights that resulted in injuries but no deaths. Michigan and Ohio finally settled the dispute by a simple agreement.
The agreement was that Ohio could claim Toledo while Michigan could keep the Upper Peninsula. The land dispute delayed Michigan’s recognition as a state. And when it was over, Michigan became the 26th state of the union in 1837.
