MENOMINEE/MARINETTE

Menominee, Michigan and Marinette, Wisconsin are two neighboring cities located on either side of the Menominee River, which forms the boundary between the two states. The history of these cities is deeply intertwined, as both were originally settled by the Menominee people, a Native American tribe that lived in the region for thousands of years.

The first European explorers to visit the area were French fur traders and missionaries in the late 17th century. They established trade relationships with the Menominee people and built a series of trading posts along the river. In the early 19th century, the United States government began to establish treaties with the Menominee and other Native American tribes, which led to the gradual displacement of the Menominee from their ancestral lands.

In the mid-19th century, the region began to see an influx of European settlers, particularly from Scandinavia and Germany. These immigrants established farms and small towns along the river, and the area became a hub of timber production, thanks to the abundant forests in the region. The Menominee River was also an important transportation route, and the cities of Menominee and Marinette developed as important commercial centers for the region.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Menominee and Marinette experienced significant growth and development. The cities became home to a variety of industries, including lumber mills, paper mills, and shipyards. The region’s natural resources, such as timber and water power, made it an attractive location for industry, and Menominee and Marinette became major centers of production for the Upper Midwest.

Today, Menominee and Marinette remain important commercial and industrial centers, with a diverse range of businesses and industries. The region has faced challenges in recent decades, including declines in the timber and paper industries and environmental concerns related to pollution in the Menominee River. However, the cities continue to adapt and evolve, and they remain important hubs of commerce and culture in the Upper Midwest.