Baraga County is named for Bishop Frederick Baraga, who was a missionary who worked with the local Native American people.
Surrounding County and Canada Courthouses:
N – Keweenaw County, Lake Superior and Ontario, Canada
E – Marquette County
S – Iron County
W – Houghton County
Created: February 19, 1875
County Seat:
L’Anse 1875 – present
County Courthouse – L’Anse
Location: 16 North 3rd Street / East Broad Street
Built: 1883 – 1884
Style: Late Victorian
Architect: John B Sweatt of Marquette
Contractor: William Appleyard
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building sits on landscaped grounds on a hill overlooking the downtown area in the center of L’Anse. The center section projects outward from the building on the northwest and southeast sides and has a peaked roof. There are also peaks on the other sides of the roof. The building has arched windows on the first story. The roof is hipped. In the interior, the large stairs are wooden and carpeted. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located at the center of the second story and has a brown colored judge’s bench and yellow colored chairs. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. An addition has been added to the northeast side. On the south side of the building is the jail constructed in 1912.
See: The architect, John B Sweatt of Marquette, also designed the courthouse in Houghton County and Keweenaw County.
See: The 12th Judicial District includes Houghton Countyand Keweenaw County.
History: The county was created in 1975 and L’Anse was selected as the county seat. In 1875, the first courthouse was rented by the county and was a narrow three story frame building brought by Captain John Bendry on a boat from Hancock in 1872. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1883 to 1884 at a cost of $11,945.
See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky
Note: The highest point in Michigan is Mount Arvon at 1,979 feet ( 608 meters ) which is located in the county.
County Courthouse – L’Anse
County Circuit Court courtroom
County Jail – L’Anse
Photos taken 2007 and 2010