Baraga county was named after Father Frederic Baraga who was the Bishop of northern Michigan in 1853. Baraga county is located in the western UP. Historians speculate that the southern end of Keweenaw bay was probably inhabited by 5000 bc . The areas first visitors were French missionaries and traders who found shelter from Lake Superior on the shores of the Keweenaw Bay in the 1600's. Baraga County features the highest peak in the state, Mount Arvon , that rises 1,979 feet above sea level, however prior to 1982 Mount Curwood also located in Baraga county was believed to be Michigan's highest elevation at 1,978 feet but when the U.S. Dept. Of Interior's survey team gathered new measurements it was determined Mount Arvon was 11 inches higher. The county seat of Baraga County is located at the southern end Keweenau Bay , named L'anse (LONSE). Not only have lumbering and lumber-related manufacturing been important to shaping Baraga's economy, but mining was also big, with deposits of quartz, graphite, iron, slate, and peat found throughout the county. Today Lumbering and lumber products provide most of the income for Baraga's residents (2004). Henry Ford's historic Alberta Sawmill can still be toured today and is maintained by Michigan Technological University . Another of Baraga's attractions is the Hanka Homestead, which over 40 acres features a 1920s Finnish farm complete with, barns, hen house, grainery , blacksmith shop, sauna, root cellar and milk house which reminds visitors how pioneers hacked out a living.

With miles of rugged Lake Superior coastlines, hardwood forests, abandoned mines, and acres of unspoiled wilderness Baraga County is a important part of Michigan History.

Baraga County Websites and Locations of Interest

http://www.ohwy.com/mi/h/hanhomus.htm   - Hanka Homestead

http://www.famousamericans.net/frederickbaraga/ - Frederick Baraga

http://travel.michigan.org/detail.asp?m=2&p=G5128   - Travel Michigan Hanka Homestead Info

http://www.newsupnorth.com/cgi-bin/heritagepr.pl?itemid=mountarvon - Western UP News On Mount Arvon