Spurr Township, Michigan Explained
| Official Name: | Spurr Township, Michigan |
| Settlement Type: | Civil township |
| Pushpin Map: | Michigan#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Label: | Spurr Township |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States |
| Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Baraga |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 411.9 |
| Area Land Km2: | 390.6 |
| Area Water Km2: | 21.3 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 262 |
| Population Density Km2: | 0.7 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 532 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1745 |
| Coordinates: | 46.5297°N -88.2136°W |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 26-76000[1] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1627115 |
Spurr Township is a civil township of Baraga County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 262 at the 2020 census.[2]
History
The township had been organized while it was part of Houghton County. It was one of the four original townships of Baraga County when it was set off from Houghton in 1875. It is named for "Spurr Mountain", the site of an iron ore mine, first named the "Spurr Mountain Mining Company", organized in 1872. Operations ceased in 1878, and then resumed again in 1881 under a reorganized "Spurr Iron Mining Company".[3] A post office named "Spurr Mountain" opened December 30, 1874, and was discontinued December 15, 1887. It was reestablished June 4, 1890, and operated until June 30, 1896.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 411.9sqkm, of which 390.6sqkm is land, and 21.3sqkm (5.16%) is water.[4]
Communities
There are no incorporated municipalities in the township. There are a few unincorporated communities and historic locales:
- Beaufort Lake is an unincorporated community in the township.
- Nestoria is an unincorporated community at about east of Covington on US 41/M-28. The name comes from the Nestor Lumber Company, which was operating in the area when the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway (now part of the Soo Line Railroad) built its lines in the region. A depot established near the lumber operations in 1871 was called "Nestoria". A post office was established with the name "Nestoria" on May 11, 1887, and the name of the office was changed to the present spelling on June 4, 1887. The office closed on April 30, 1892, but was re-opened on May 7, 1895. The office was discontinued on February 1, 1974.[5]
- Imperial Heights is an unincorporated community located about a mile west of Michigamme on the Spurr River near the west end of Lake Michigamme at .
- Three Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) within the township.
Demographics
According to the 2020 census, the township had a population of 262.[6]
Notes and References
- Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
- Web site: Explore Census Data . 2023-08-04 . data.census.gov.
- http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=micounty;cc=micounty;q1=Spurr;rgn=full%20text;idno=ARG9598.0001.001;didno=ARG9598.0001.001;view=image;seq=00000201 History of the upper peninsula of Michigan
- Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Spurr township, Baraga County, Michigan . dead . https://archive.today/20200212161335/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2601376000 . February 12, 2020 . December 24, 2013 . U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
- Book: Romig, Walter . 1986 . Michigan Place Names . 1973 . Wayne State University Press . Detroit, Michigan . 0-8143-1838-X.
- Web site: Explore Census Data . 2023-08-04 . data.census.gov.
