About Gladstone

Photo Credit: Visit Escanaba

Located in Delta County on Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc, the City of Gladstone is a small town with a long history as a hub of the Upper Peninsula’s resource‐based economy. First settled in 1859 and incorporated as a city in 1889, Gladstone boasts five miles of scenic shoreline, a traditional downtown, and excellent access to natural areas. Split into eastern and western halves by a dramatic bluff, the city is largely residential in character, with a significant industrial corridor centered on US Route 2/41 and the Canadian National Railroad, which runs parallel to each other through the city below the bluff. 

The only other major population center in Delta County is the City of Escanaba, located seven miles to the south on US Route 2/41. Many Gladstone residents work in Escanaba, and the two cities have both experienced difficulty at times due to the decline of the industrial and resource economies. Gladstone has worked to diversify its economy, and after a population recovery during the 1990s, has remained relatively stable and resilient, weathering the 2008 economic crisis, and seeing a significant population growth based off the 2020 census data. 

Though Gladstone’s location is remote, the railroad, US highways, nearby Delta County Airport, Michigan Route 35, and a natural deep-water port strengthen the connection of the city to the rest of the United States. The city is among the premier walleye fishing destinations in the country, and its location on Little Bay de Noc lends it a warmer climate than much of the rest of the Upper Peninsula.