Dickinson

Formed January 1, 1891 (83^rd county)

Dickinson County (25,952), Iron Mountain (7,520)

The classic Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse was built in 1896.  It is built of red brick and masonry.  The structure is located on Stephenson Street at C Street.  United States Highway 2 is Stephenson Street in the town.  James E. Clancy is the architect.  The tower is the major feature of the structure.  The county was created on January 1, 1891 from Marquette, Menominee, and Iron counties as the 83^rd and final county.  Iron Mountain has always been the county seat.  The county is named for United States Postmaster Don M. Dickinson.  The county seat is named for local iron deposits. 

Dickinson County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  Three Circuit Court Judges serve Dickinson, Iron, and Menominee counties, Two District Court Judges serve Dickinson and Iron counties, and One Probate Court Judge and a court clerk serve Dickinson County (judicial.) The county is in the southwest part of the northern peninsula.  It borders Wisconsin.  The county center is 18.4 miles Northeast of Iron Mountain nearer Felch.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Marquette and Menominee counties and Wisconsin and Iron County. 

The area of the county is 777 square miles.  It is 40 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 53 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 33.4 persons per square mile making it 49 out of 83 in the state.  Dickinson County has 59.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 2 crosses the southern part of the county east to west from Menominee County to Wisconsin.  The county is mainly rectangular with a notch missing on the east border and a wandering river for its south border.  Iron Mountain is located in the southwest corner of the county.  Iron Mountain is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 29.0% of the county population.  This county is in the Iron Mountain Micropolitan Statistical Area.