The Keweenaw produced 10.5 billion pounds of copper over a 120-year production period. The beating heart of this mineral extraction was the village of Calumet. Copper production started in the early 1800s, with the mining industry exploding at the end of the 19th century.
In 1890, the village and surrounding area was home to 60,000 residents. This large population prompted the construction of the beautiful red Jacobsville sandstone buildings in downtown Calumet to house the workers and businesses. In the 1870s, Houghton County had a population of nearly 60% immigrants. Nationally, Houghton County ranked third for most diverse at this time.
The mining companies in the Keweenaw were infamous for poor treatment and safety standards for workers. In 1913, a Copper Miners’ Strike halted all copper production in the Keweenaw. This strike resulted in national attention and bankrupted the Western Federation of Miners, the union that called the strike. In 1939 the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company shut down mining operations in the village but continued operation elsewhere until 1969. Today, there are about 800 residents living in Calumet, and the village is recognized by the National Park Service as a protected historic site.
