Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan

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Torch Lake Township, Michigan
Location within Houghton County (red) with the administered portion of the Hubbell community (pink)
Location within Houghton County (red) with the administered portion of the Hubbell community (pink)
Torch Lake Township is located in Michigan
Torch Lake Township
Torch Lake Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Torch Lake Township is located in the United States
Torch Lake Township
Torch Lake Township
Torch Lake Township (the United States)
Coordinates: 47°07′42″N 88°24′09″W / 47.12833°N 88.40250°W / 47.12833; -88.40250Coordinates: 47°07′42″N 88°24′09″W / 47.12833°N 88.40250°W / 47.12833; -88.40250
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyHoughton
Established1886
Government
 • SupervisorBrian Cadwell
Area
 • Total93.0 sq mi (240.9 km2)
 • Land80.1 sq mi (207.6 km2)
 • Water12.9 sq mi (33.3 km2)
Elevation
741 ft (226 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total1,860
 • Density23.2/sq mi (9.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49922 (Dollar Bay)
49934 (Hubbell)
49945 (Lake Linden)
Area code(s)906
FIPS code26-80120[1]
GNIS feature ID1627170[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Torch Lake Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population of the township was 1,880.[3] The township was established in 1886 and is one of the largest townships in Houghton County by area. It is surrounded by the Torch Lake, the Portage Lake, and Lake Superior. As well as a large number of unincorporated communities, the township also includes a portion of the Baraga State Forest which lies along the shores of Keweenaw Bay. The township borders Schoolcraft Township to the north, Osceola Township to the northwest, and Chassell Township to the southwest.[4][5][3] The community of Hubbell serves as the major population center of the township, as well as hosting the Township Hall itself.[6][4] The mostly uninhabited 91-acre Rabbit Island, located offshore in Lake Superior, is a part of the township.[7]

Communities[edit]

The sign for Chickensville Location

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 93.0 square miles (240.9 km2), of which 80.1 square miles (207.6 km2) is land and 12.9 square miles (33.3 km2) (13.83%) is water.

Attractions[edit]

  • The White City Park, located in the community of the same name, is a rural recreational area that is quite popular to individuals in northern Houghton County. It is located along the Portage Waterway. Within the park is a beach, swings, picnic shelters, a boat launch, barbecue grills, portable toilets, a pier, and a lighthouse. The beach is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.[4]
  • Rabbit Island, an isolated island in Lake Superior, is within the township even though it is located three miles east of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The island has never been developed and is maintained through conservation efforts. The island is the host of the Rabbit Island Residency, which permits certain artists to reside on the island during the summertime.[12]
  • The historic Jacobsville Finnish Lutheran Church is both a Michigan State Historic Site and on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1886, and its plain yet alluring design is an indication of the scale of the population that once inhabited the Jacobsville area.[13][14][8]
  • The Lake Linden—Hubbell Forest is owned by the adjacent Lake Linden—Hubbell School District. It is a 400-acre forested lot located adjoining Bootjack Road about five miles south of Lake Linden. The area includes opportunities for hiking and cross-country skiing, as well as a grid of geocache sites, a fire pit expanse, archery range, and a log cabin.[4]
  • The Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light is located within the White City Park. Completed in the year 1919, the lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[15][4][8]
  • The "Ernie" Poisson Memorial Park is a community park in Hubbell measuring about 7.3 acres in area. The park has a boat launch, docks, a beach area, picnic tables, a pavilion for more compact gatherings, portable toilets, and swings are present at the recreation area.[4]

Demographics[edit]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,860 people, 740 households, and 523 families residing in the township. The population density was 23.2 per square mile (9.0/km2). There were 1,505 housing units at an average density of 18.8 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.98% White, 0.43% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population. 28.3% were of Finnish, 17.0% French, 12.6% German, 7.7% Italian, 6.9% English and 6.9% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 740 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $35,893, and the median income for a family was $43,077. Males had a median income of $31,307 versus $25,208 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,158. About 6.9% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan
  3. ^ a b "Houghton County Master Plan" (PDF). Houghton County Planning Commission. 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Torch Lake Township 2014-2018 Recreation Plan" (PDF). Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region. 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Monette, Clarence (1975). Some Copper Country Names and Places. Lake Linden, Michigan. ISBN 0-942363-04-3.
  6. ^ a b "Torch Lake Twp., Houghton Co". www.michigantownships.org. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  7. ^ "Rabbit Island". Foursquare. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Molloy, Lawrence J. (2011). A Guide to Michigan's Historic Keweenaw Copper District: Photographs, Maps, and Tours of the Keweenaw—Past and Present. ISBN 978-0-979-1772-1-7.
  9. ^ Monette, Clarence J. (1976). The History of Jacobsville and its Sandstone Quarries. Lake Linden, Michigan.
  10. ^ Eckert, Kathryn Bishop (2000). The sandstone architecture of the Lake Superior region. Wayne State University Press. p. 31. ISBN 0814328075. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  11. ^ a b Romig, Walter (1973). Michigan place names. Wayne State University Press. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  12. ^ "About the Rabbit Island Foundation". Tumblr. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  13. ^ "Jacobsville Chapel – Gloria Dei Lutheran Church". Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  14. ^ "Finnish Lutheran Church / Jacobsville - MichMarkers". www.michmarkers.com. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  15. ^ "Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-08.