From Michigan iron mines to owning professional sports teams, the evolution of Cleveland-Cliffs

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Cleveland-Cliffs began in 1847 as a small mining operation in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Today, it is North America's largest flat-rolled steel producer. Its history spans the industrial revolution, global expansion, and a recent pivot toward domestic manufacturing that even includes ownership stakes in Canadian professional football and soccer teams.

The company's origins trace back to 1847, when Samuel Livingston Mather and six associates founded the Cleveland Iron Mining Company to exploit iron-ore deposits in Michigan. By 1890, a merger with the Iron Cliffs Company established the name Cleveland-Cliffs. Under William G. Mather, who led the firm from 1890 to 1947, the company pioneered industrial logistics, including the construction of the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad in 1892 and the development of specialized bulk-cargo lake freighters.

Throughout the 20th century, Cleveland-Cliffs navigated the rise and fall of the American steel industry. It survived the Great Depression, expanded during the World Wars, and later diversified into uranium, oil, and gas during the 1970s. By the 1980s, the company refocused on its core iron ore business, eventually shedding its international assets to concentrate on North American operations. This strategic shift culminated in major acquisitions, including AK Steel in 2020 and the U.S. operations of ArcelorMittal later that year.

Today, the company operates an extensive integrated network of blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces. Its portfolio includes the world's largest wide-plate rolling mill at Burns Harbor, Indiana, and a hot-briquetted iron facility in Toledo, Ohio. The company's recent history reflects the volatility of the steel market; in 2025, it idled its Dearborn plant and laid off 1,200 workers following reduced automotive demand. Most recently, its 2024 acquisition of the Canadian firm Stelco added a unique asset to its portfolio: minority ownership in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Forge FC.

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