Houghton

Formed January 1, 1845 (70^th county)

Houghton County (37,360), Houghton (8,387)                

The 1887 yellow/cream brick High Victorian courthouse of Houghton County is on a square at Houghton, Huron, South, and Dodge streets.  This location is one block to the south of United States Highway 41 in the city.  The architect was John B. Sweatt.  It was enlarged in 1986.  It sits on a hill and features a tower.  Houghton County was formed on January 1, 1845 from parts of Marquette and Ontonagon counties as the 70^th county.  Eagle River was the first county seat until 1861 when Houghton became the seat.  The county and county seat are named for explorer Douglass Houghton. 

Houghton County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 7 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge and Three District Court Judges serve Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw counties and Two Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Houghton County (judicial.) Houghton County is in the northwest corner of the northern peninsula.  Lake Superior forms its northwest border.  The county center is 6.4 miles South of Houghton nearer South Range.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Canada and Keweenaw, Baraga, Iron, and Ontonagon counties and Minnesota. 

The area of the county is 1502 square miles.  It is 20 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 42 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 24.9 persons per square mile making it 54 out of 83 in the state.  Houghton County has 46.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 41 goes north to south in the county from Keweenaw County to Baraga County.  The county looks like a small letter r.  The City of Houghton is located in the northern quarter of the county.  Houghton is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 22.5% of the county population.  The county and county seat are pronounced HOW-TON.  This county is in the Houghton Micropolitan Statistical Area.

South Range