Waterfront living on the Wisconsin-Michigan border
The legacy of logging remains strong in Marinette, a 19th-century lumber town turned haven for outdoor recreation. Located on the banks of the Menominee River and Green Bay, this waterfront city shares roots with neighboring Menominee, Michigan, long considered a sister city. Between logging festivals, summer concerts and kayaking on the river, residents often cross state lines to mingle with Menominee residents. “We have that small town intrinsic value, but we’re only 45 minutes from Green Bay,” says Shawn Katzbeck, director of marketing and tourism with the City of Marinette. “We’re right in this area where there’s a ton of wilderness, and we have the most waterfalls of any county in Wisconsin. So, you can play as hard as you work.”
Boats are stored away in Marinette, waiting for the warm summer months.
The cities of Marinette and Menominee are sister cities sharing the river and its activities.
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Menekaunee Harbor Park pays tribute to the Menominee tribe
Residents and tourists flock to Marinette's shores for kayaking, canoeing and sailing. "We're a huge destination for recreation, both the city and the county," Katzbeck says. "We have some of the best white water rapids in the Midwest, and people come from around the world to fish here. We've even hosted Bass Pro Shop's Cabela's tournament." Boat launches decorate waterfront parks, including Red Arrow Park and Menekaunee Harbor Park. The Menekaunee Restoration Walking Trail honors the original Menominee tribe with elements of the land's original habitat. "We want to show people what the area looked like in the 1400s," Katzbeck continues. He cites that the harbor's famous bear statue is a tribute to the tribe's origin story. In winter, residents head to the ice rinks at the Community REC Center for hockey and ice skating. Overall, the county is home to over 700 miles of snowmobile trails, but snowy hikes and ice fishing are just as common.
Marinette's Menekaunee harbor's famous bear statue is a tribute to the Menominee tribe's origin story.
The Community REC Center in Marinette houses ice rinks for hockey and figure skating.
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Stephenson Island is a hub for sister city events
Situated on the Menominee River, Stephenson Island Park is home to many of the city’s annual events and markets. The Marinette Logging and Heritage Fest overlooks the water, attracting guests from across state lines. “At one point, we were the largest exporter in the U.S. for logging,” Katzbeck says. “The festival pays respect to our rich history that way. There are vendors, food trucks and we have loggers do different things like rolling and cutting.” Concerts in the Park, a summer music series in partnership with Marinette and Menominee, also takes place on the island, as well as the Marinette Farmer’s Market.
The Marinette's Logging history is celebrated with a local museum and festival in the summer.
Stephenson Island Park is part of Marinette, but is a local atraction for the two cities.
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Microbreweries & barbeque are staples in Marinette
Downtown Marinette may not be a hallmark, walkable strip of shops and eats. But Katzbeck notes there are still plenty of staples in the surrounding neighborhood. “Our Main Street is something we’ve been working on for a long time. We do have a microbrewery right in the heart of downtown,” he says, referring to Ironworks on Main. “Then there’s Rail House Brew Pub on the other side of town. They’ve become so popular in our area that a local distributor picked up their beer, and now they have cans.” He cites Mickey-Lu Bar-B-Q as a Marinette staple, among other spots like Joe’s Cheese—one the oldest cheese shops in Wisconsin. As for groceries and retail, residents head south on Route 41 for chains like Walmart Supercenter, Menards and Kohl’s.
The Lodge on Main serves great food in a historic building in Marinette.
Marinette has a comercial shopping area at the south edge of the city.
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Historic homes date back to Marinette’s sawmills
The majority of Marinette's homes are located between Cleveland Avenue and the Menominee River. Ranch-style homes and bungalows line gridded residential streets only a mile or two from the water. Many date back to the city’s origins, when sawmill laborers populated the community. Marinette’s earliest affluent residents often dwelled on Riverside Drive, now a historic district lined with traditional Colonial Revivals and Queen Annes. Altogether, the median price in Marinette is around $165,000—below the national average and nearby Menominee.
According to FBI crime data, violent crimes have increased significantly since the 2019, but have slowly been coming back down in each year as of 2021. Property crime, on the other hand, reached a 10-year low in 2023 and has fallen by nearly 60% since 2016.
On Marinette's Riverside Ave, beautiful examples of architecture are present, like this Classical Revival home.
Bungalow homes in Marinette are a popular option for buyers.
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Citywide unity through the Marinette School District
Local students attend Marinette School District, which earns a C-plus on Niche. Marinette High School is the only secondary school in the district, meaning students graduate together citywide. Private options include St. Thomas Aquinas Academy and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran School. The city is also home to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College-Marinette Campus and the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Marinette Campus. Both offer 2-year programs with various associate certificates.
St Thomas Aquinas Academy in Marinette is one of the private school options for residents.
Marinette High School has a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.
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Marinette Marine is a prominent shipyard
Manufacturing and healthcare are among the largest industries in the area. Marinette Marine, in particular, is a shipbuilding firm employing over 1,000 residents. “This little sleepy area builds some of the most technologically advanced warships,” Katzbeck says. “It’s a juxtaposition. Our north star is hunting, fishing and the outdoors. You’d never expect us to be building warships, but that’s our No. 1 industry.” Closely following are Aurora Medical Center-Bay Area and the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
Menominee commuters need only cross the Route 41 bridge to reach their sister city. The same route heads to Peshtigo and onward to Green Bay, 55 miles south. There, residents can fly commercially from Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine is one of the areas largest employers.
Aurora Medical Center is one of Marinette's bigger emplyers.
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