This Michigan Copper Town Lost 87% of Its People. What Happened?

In 1910, Houghton County, Michigan had 88,098 people, and the Keweenaw copper boom had made it one of the richest places in America. Today, the towns that boom built are almost empty. We count down five Upper Peninsula mining towns that peaked in the copper and iron years and have lost between 67% and 87% of their people: Bessemer, Ironwood, Laurium, Ahmeek and Calumet. Which town should we cover next? Tell us in the comments. CHAPTERS The Keweenaw Peninsula was once the center of the world's copper supply. Explore the rise and fall of this Michigan region. The Keweenaw Peninsula defined early American industrial growth through its massive copper mining operations. By the late 1890s, the region was an economic powerhouse that drew thousands of workers to the Upper Peninsula. This video examines the deep mines that fueled the nation and the communities that grew around them. We also look at the labor struggles that defined the era, including the pivotal 1913 miners' strike that reshaped the local landscape. Beyond industry, we track the area’s unique cultural footprint, from its surprising connection to early professional hockey to the shifting events of 1965 and 1968. This is a look at how Michigan history was forged in the mines. Did your family work in the copper mines? Tell me in the comments. Subscribe for more deep dives into regional history. 0:00 The copper boom 1:22 #5 Bessemer 3:01 #4 Ironwood 4:45 #3 Laurium 6:20 #2 Ahmeek 7:47 #1 Calumet 10:17 Recap POPULATION: PEAK VS 2020 Bessemer: 5,482 (1920) to 1,805 Ironwood: 15,739 (1920) to 5,045 Laurium: 8,537 (1910) to 1,864 Ahmeek: 892 (1920) to 127 Calumet: 4,668 (1900) to 621 2020 counts: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 PL data via the Michigan Municipal League