Happy Belated Mother’s Day, A New Pope and New University Presidents, Nation’s Longest Serving Mayor in the UP, and UP Tourism Spending Increases. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.

More Articles

Outstanding Upper Peninsula Farmers and Promoters of Agriculture

Although often overshadowed by mining, agriculture has quietly shaped Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for over 350 years. Discover the unsung heroes and innovators who made farming flourish, despite challenging soils and harsh climates.

Read More

Touring Cloverland: An Early Auto Adventure Across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

In the summer of 1921, a Grand Rapids couple embarked on an epic 18-day journey through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by automobile. Discover their adventures exploring pristine roads, untouched forests, and remarkable fishing along the legendary Two Heart River.

Read More

Rural Voices

Global Service from Upper Peninsula Roots: Talking to Karen Ogle About Her Foreign Service Career

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Karen Ogle, a Marquette native who has carved out a distinguished career in the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service.

Read More

Diplomatic Paths: From Marquette to the World with Robert Hilton

In the latest episode of the Rural Insights Podcast, David Haynes sits down with Robert Hilton, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army and a Marquette native with a storied international career.

Read More

rural-insights-logo-white-large

We are the primary source for economic and policy research and information in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and beyond, working to ensure that our citizens and policymakers alike have the information they need to make informed decisions.

 

We believe that Truth + Knowledge equals Power, and that the people in rural areas deserve access to these tools just as much as anyone else.

The Issues

More From Our Articles

Congrats to Graduates, Governor Appoints First Yooper to Appeals Court, the UP and Canada, Opinion in Rural Insights, and Stats Around Michigan

Congrats to Graduates, Governor Appoints First Yooper to Appeals Court, the UP and Canada, Opinion in Rural Insights, and Stats Around Michigan. Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.

Read More

Exploring Lake Superior’s Lost History: The Forgotten Expedition of Melanchthon L. Woolsey

Melanchthon L. Woolsey’s little-known letters vividly document Henry Schoolcraft’s 1831 Lake Superior expedition, offering rare glimpses into early exploration, landscapes, and reflections on his brief but remarkable journey.

Read More

Presidential Age Limits Survey Results, UP Planned Parenthood Closing, Line 5 Negotiations, Canadians Visiting Us, and a Gas Tax Increase in Our Future?

Presidential Age Limits Survey Results, UP Planned Parenthood Closing, Line 5 Negotiations, Canadians Visiting Us, and a Gas Tax Increase in Our Future? Read this week’s Rural Whispers, Noise & Rumors by David Haynes.

Read More

Research

Assessing Socioeconomic Trends and Disparities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: A County-by-County Analysis

We occasionally publish research by NMU students, and this article is an…

Read More

Earned Income Tax Credit: Max Steele’s Analysis

Rural areas have several demographic components that lend themselves to having a…

Read More

Recent Population Changes in the U.P. Amidst the Pandemic

The population dynamics of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are well documented. Its population,…

Read More

Boom and Bust: Calumet and Keweenaw National Historical Park 30 Years On

Many communities throughout the Upper Peninsula have developed their sense of place…

Read More

Survey Shows Diversity of NMU’s Student Veterans

Diversity is something that members of America’s armed forces inadvertently come to…

Read More