[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S6087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              DELTA COUNTY

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, there are thousands of small and 
medium size counties across our country that form the backbone of our 
shared history and cultural heritage. These communities shape our 
political, economic, and social structure. Each has a unique history 
that defines its region and its citizens. Delta County, MI, set along 
Lake Michigan in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is one such place, and 
since its inception 150 years ago, has contributed much to the rich and 
proud history of my home State.
  While human life in this region dates back to at least 500 A.D. as 
evidenced by cliff paintings found in the area, the area was first 
surveyed in 1843, and in 1861, a triangle shaped section of this land 
was incorporated as Delta County. At one point in the early 1850s, the 
mouth of the Escanaba River was home to the largest timber producer in 
the world; built by one of the county's founding fathers, Nelson 
Ludington. Two years after the county's incorporation, the Chicago and 
Northwestern Railroad constructed Delta County's first iron ore dock. 
Over the ensuing decade, the residents of Delta County witnessed the 
construction of the first frame houses and a hotel, in addition to the 
Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba. The Delta County Historical Society 
restored this lighthouse in 1987, and it still stands today along Delta 
County's majestic coastline.
  The years following Escanaba's establishment were prosperous, as 
Delta County grew as a transportation hub for iron in the north, 
powering the growth of the Great Lakes region's manufacturing prowess. 
In 1877, the city of Gladstone was incorporated at the end of the Soo 
Line railroad. Twenty-one years after its founding, Delta County 
constructed its first courthouse, and a year later, in 1883, the 
village of Escanaba, the county seat, incorporated as a city. Today, 
the county takes pride in its continued role in transporting ore, 
partnered with a diversified paper industry and its popularity as a 
destination for tourists visiting one of our Nation's most pristine 
regions.
  The Hiawatha National Forest accounts for more than half of Delta 
County's land area. This beautiful natural resource stretches across 
Michigan's Upper Peninsula, touching three of the five Great Lakes and 
contains 413 inland lakes, making it a popular destination for campers 
and outdoor enthusiasts. A respect for the environment is a central 
part of the culture of Delta County residents, and in 1991, Delta 
County was awarded one of six statewide ``model'' program grants for a 
recycling and composting program.
  Delta County's sesquicentennial marks a great moment for the 
countless citizens who have contributed much to the success of this 
region and have helped shape the cultural fabric of this area over the 
last century and a half. On June 22, Delta County held a ceremony 
reminiscent of its 100th anniversary celebration, raising a flag and 
exploring in depth the long, rich history of the county. I know my 
colleagues in the Senate join me and thousands of citizens across 
Michigan in wishing the residents of Delta County the best as they 
chart a course for another century of accomplishment.

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