Formed February 19, 1875 (78th county)
Baraga County (8,149), L’Anse (1,908)
The county Romanesque courthouse, build in 1884, is a red brick building. The courthouse is on a hill on 3rd Street northeast of Broad Street. United States Highway 41 is six blocks to the southeast of the building. The structure was enlarged in 1912. John B. Sweatt provided the building designs. The county was organized on February 19, 1875 and named for Bishop Frederic Baraga. The county was taken from Houghton County as the 78th county. The county seat’s name is French for “the cove.” L’Anse has always been the county seat.
Baraga County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive). It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.) One Circuit Court Judge and Three District Court Judges serve Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties and Two Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Baraga County (judicial.) Baraga County is on the northwest part of the northern peninsula. Lake Superior is its northern coast. The county center is 5 miles Southeast of L’Anse. The county is surrounded clockwise by Marquette, Iron, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties.
The area of the county is 1069 square miles. It is 30 out of 83 in the state. It ranks 79 out of 83 in population in the state. It has a density of 7.6 persons per square mile making it 75 out of 83 in the state. Baraga County has 46.7% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 41 travels north to east in the county from Houghton County to Marquette County. United States Highway 141 originates and goes south into Iron County. The highest point in Michigan, Mount Arvon, is located in this county. The county looks like a chick’s head. L’Anse is on the northern coast. Baraga is just to the west. L’Anse is the county seat and the largest city. L’Anse is 23.4% of the county population. The county is pronounced BA-RA-GA. The county seat is pronounced LANZ.
Baraga
L’Anse
