Keweenaw County derives its name from an Indian word for "portage" or "place where portage is made" from the Native American word, "Kee-wi-wai-non-ing". The county is located the farthest north of all of Michigan 's 83 counties. Keweenaw County is located at the top of Michigan 's Upper Peninsula forming a point into Lake Superior . Keweenaw County prospered during the copper mining heyday in the 1860's however today no copper is mined but with its ghost towns and abandoned mines the legacy of Copper Country lives on. One of the most noteworthy historical sites in Keweenaw County is Central, or Central Mine which at one time supported a village of over 1,200 people, and is the site of one Keweenaw's most successful copper mines. The mine opened in 1854 and produced nearly 52 million pounds of copper by the time it closed in 1898. Another facet of Keweenaw County is the 850 square mile archipelago which makes up Isle Royale National park and contains over 200 Islands . Michigan 's State Gem the "Greenstone" or "Isle Royal Greenstone" was discovered on Isle Royal .   The scientific name is Chlorastrolite, which means "green star stone," and it is found chiefly as a small, green, rounded beach pebble, showing a turtleback pattern. Greenstones can still be found on Isle Royale and on some of the mine waste piles of Michigan 's Upper Peninsula , but remember by law they must be left where they were found. Natural beauty is Keweenaw County 's most abundant resource. With over 65 miles of Lake Superior shoreline and many areas accessible only by boat or floatplane this county is a paradise for any sportsperson in Outdoor Michigan.

Keweenaw County Websites and Locations of Interest

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

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