Isle Royal was authorized to become a county by the state 4 March 1875. By 1885 there had only been two elections for local government officials held, and Minong was the county seat. In 1885 it was attached to Houghton Co., Michigan. Just prior to 1880 Isle Mining company ceased operations and moved from the Isle, when it left it took the civil records with theirs. The State of Michigan finally recovered those records and they were taken to Lansing. In 1897 Isle Royale was attached to Keweenaw Co, and sources show that the civil records were moved to Eagle River.

Now a National Park, it housed small communities at one time as mines were set up on the island.

Make sure you check the Ross Collection's newspaper transcriptions as they contain news about the mines and people on the island.

Isle Royal County 1880 Census

History of Isle Royal

Publications Available These books are sold by the Isle Royale Natural History Association. There are journals and biographies, plus history.

National Park System's Isle Royal Page  If you'd like to visit this paradise.............  link not working on 1-2-2000

Beautifully Detailed Map Takes a long time to load, but shows mine sites, communities, cemeteries, etc.