Marquette County is situated on the shores of Lake Superior, and was founded on the iron ore industry - which continues to be sustained today.  Marquette County is the largest county in the State of Michigan, with over 1,800 square miles; and Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula.   Marquette County is the home of Northern Michigan University and the largest regional health care system in the Upper Peninsula - Marquette General Health Systems.   With the closest larger city being Green Bay, Wisconsin 175 miles away, Marquette County is a major business and retail hub in the Upper Peninsula; with some of the main retail chains being Walmart, Kohls, Target, Best Buy, Menards, Lowes, Gander Mountain, Tractor Supply, JC Penney, Younkers, American TV, Dunhams, Big Lots, ShopKo, Walgreens, Office Max and several other recognized retail chains and restaurant establishments.   Other facts / features include:

• 6 golf courses 
• Major highways include US-41, M-28, M-35, M-94, M-95, and M-553
• deep-water port currently shipping iron ore and coal
• 5 lighthouses
• 16 campgrounds
• 725 campsites
• 3 bed & breakfast facilities
• 1,273 hotel / motel rooms
• 500 miles of hiking, skiing, bike trails
• 450 miles of snowmobile trails
• 8 miles of ORV trails
• 450 miles of scenic highways

Population:

• 67,077 in 2010, and increase from 64,623 in the year 2000 
• Total labor force of 35,500

Education:

• K-12 Schools:   Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (9,916 students)
• Northern Michigan University (9,428 students)