Ironwood is in Gogebic County, and in the Northern Region. This community is located just east of the Wisconsin state line along US Highway 2 on the banks of the Montreal River near Lake Superior.
Ironwood was named after James R. Wood, an early businessman in the mid 1880s who was known for making deals with mining companies, earning the nickname: "Iron" Wood.
Ironwood's economic base includes lumber processing and forest products manufacturing, concrete production, tool manufacturing and tourism. A popular skiing area during the winter, it has several slopes nearby, including Mt. Zion to the north, which overlooks Gogebic Community College.