Keweenaw

Formed March 11, 1861 (74^th county)

Keweenaw County (2,055), Eagle River* (65), Ahmeek (114)  

The white wood Colonial Revival courthouse was built in 1866 and remodeled and enlarged in 1925.  John B. Sweatt is the designer.  It features columns.  The county was established on March 11, 1861 from Houghton County as the 74^th county with Eagle River as the only county seat.  The courthouse is on 4^th Street near Main Street.  Michigan State Highway 26 is Main Street.  The county name comes from the peninsula which is Native American for “portage.”  The county seat is named for the river. 

Keweenaw County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a treasurer and a clerk (executive).  It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge and Three District Court Judges serve Keweenaw, Baraga, and Houghton counties and Two Probate Court Judges and court clerk serve Keweenaw County (judicial.) The county is on the northwest corner of the northern peninsula.  Lake Superior surrounds it on three sides.  The county center is 3.6 miles East-Southeast of Eagle River.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Canada and Alger, Marquette, Houghton, and Ontonagon counties and Minnesota. 

The area of the county is 5966 square miles.  It is 1 out of 83 in the state.  It ranks 83 out of 83 in population in the state.  It has a density of 0.3 persons per square mile making it 83 out of 83 in the state.  Keweenaw County has 5.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 41 originates in the county and goes south into Houghton County.  The county looks like a hand and finger sticking into the lake plus an island northwest of the mainland.  Eagle River is on the northwest coastline of the county.  Ahmeek is in the southwest corner of the county.  Eagle River is the county seat and Ahmeek is the largest city.  Eagle River is 3.3% of the county population although it is unincorporated.  Ahmeek is 5.6% of the county population since it is the only incorporated city.  The county is pronounced KEE-WEE-NA.  The largest city is pronounced AH-MEEK.  This county is in the Houghton Micropolitan Statistical Area.