Message from the City Manager….

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the City of Escanaba, the seat of Delta County. We are located along the shores of Little Bay De Noc, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, we had a population of 12,616, making our City the third-largest city in the Upper Peninsula.

Escanaba began as a port town in 1863, gaining importance in the U.S.A. as a shipping point for iron ore, lumber and copper during the Civil War. Escanaba is home to one of the safest natural harbors in the upper Great Lakes, which makes the area a natural destination for boaters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Today, Escanaba and the surrounding area are home to a major wood product manufacturing operation, coated paper manufacturing operation, thermoformed packaging operation, ore shipping, railroad operation, and one of the finest handcrafted bedding manufacturers in the bedding industry, to name a few. 

Escanaba is an ideal city in which to live and do business. Escanaba’s downtown features more than a mile of unique, distinctive shops and service businesses offering free WiFi to visitors, residents and businesses.  We have over 412 acres of maintained parks and playgrounds; we boast about our top-notched public Library that offers extensive services not typically found in a community our size; and we have an Art Center featuring some of the finest community theater and art exhibits in the Midwest. We are also the home of a municipally-supported band, a premier health care system, and a quality educational system, including a community college. We have a modern airport that provides both corporate and general aviation services. 

I, along with all employees of the city invite you to take some time to visit and to experience our outstanding quality of life, including beautiful parks and open spaces, access to one of the best fisheries on the Great Lakes and a very favorable business climate which will embrace you and help make your dreams a reality.

We welcome the opportunity for you to experience first-hand the warm, northern hospitality of Escanaba. And if the office of the City Manager can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to contact me.

James V. O’Toole

City Manager