Houghton County was named after the first state geologist of Michigan , Dr. Douglas Houghton who also had the credits on his resume of Physician, Surgeon and at one time was Mayor of Detroit. Houghton County is located on the Northwestern side of Michigan 's Upper Peninsula encompassing the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula .   Dr. Houghton was the one who confirmed that copper existed in the Keweenaw Peninsula . So much Copper that in the early 1900's due to the success of copper mining, Houghton County became one of the top five most populated counties in Michigan with 88,098 residents in the 1910 census.   When the copper boom was over, the area became mostly ghost towns; today Houghton County boasts a population estimate of 35,883. A couple of cities of interest are Houghton that was named after the county and was at the center of mining, today Houghton is home to Michigan Technological University which was originally known as Michigan Mining School founded in 1885 by the state of Michigan to train mining engineers on ways to operate more efficient mines.   The city of Hancock was named after as you might guess John Hancock as most people know was the first to sign and put the largest signature on our declaration of independence. The city of Calumet formed around copper mines owned by the Calumet and Hecla Mining companies. Today the area calls itself " CopperTown USA " and tourists have many attractions to go see the evolution of Michigan 's Copper Boom.   The word Calumet is said to be the Indian name for the clay stone bowl part of the Indians peace pipe.   Another interesting place is Laurium , Michigan .   On February 18, 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gipp announced the arrival of a new son George Gipp . George Gipp attended the Calumet Public Schools and participated in Track, hockey, and did very well in Baseball.   George never played any high school football but went on to become on of the greatest offensive backs of all time playing for Notre Dame. George Gipp was immortalized in the Movie Knute Rockne- All American, and if you weren't aware, Our just recently passed President of the United States (2004), Ronald Reagan played the part of George Gipp , uttering the most famous words from his death bed as he suffered from Pneumonia, "when the team's up against it, when things are wrong, when the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go in there with all they've got and win one for the Gipper . I don't know where I'll be then, but I'll know about it and I'll be happy. On that note I think we all should take a moment to say a word in silence to the "Great Communicator", our 40th President of the united states Ronald Reagan, let him know we will continue to give it all we got and win one for the gipper and he will be happy!

Houghton County Websites and Locations of Interest

http://www.infomi.com/county/houghton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houghton_County%2C_Michigan