Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan Explained

Official Name:Torch Lake Township, Michigan
Settlement Type:Civil township
Pushpin Map:Michigan#USA
Pushpin Label:Torch Lake Township
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Michigan
Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Michigan
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Houghton
Leader Title:Supervisor
Leader Name:Brian Cadwell
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1886
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:240.9
Area Land Km2:207.6
Area Water Km2:33.3
Area Total Sq Mi:93.0
Area Land Sq Mi:80.1
Area Water Sq Mi:12.9
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1893
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation M:226
Elevation Ft:741
Coordinates:47.1283°N -88.4025°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:49922 (Dollar Bay)
49934 (Hubbell)
49945 (Lake Linden)
Area Code:906
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:26-80120[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1627170

Torch Lake Township is a civil township of Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population of the township was 1,893.[2] 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.[3] [4] [5] The community of Hubbell serves as the major population center of the township, as well as hosting the Township Hall itself.[6] The mostly uninhabited 91-acre Rabbit Island, located offshore in Lake Superior, is a part of the township.[7]

Communities

Geography

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

Attractions

Climate

Jacobsville is a community in the Torch Lake Township.[16] Jacobsville has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

Demographics

As of the census 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/km). There were 1,505 housing units at an average density of 18.8 per square mile (7.3/km). 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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  2. Web site: Explore Census Data . 2024-05-02 . data.census.gov.
  3. Web site: Torch Lake Township 2014-2018 Recreation Plan. https://web.archive.org/web/20190508022955/http://www.wuppdr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/TorchLakeTownshipRecPlan2014_FINAL.pdf . 2019-05-08 . live. 2014. Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region. 7 May 2019.
  4. Book: Monette, Clarence. Some Copper Country Names and Places. 1975. 0-942363-04-3. Lake Linden, Michigan.
  5. Web site: 2012 . Houghton County Master Plan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120914003131/http://houghtoncounty.net/docs/HoCoMasterPlan2012.pdf . 2012-09-14 . Houghton County Planning Commission.
  6. Web site: Torch Lake Twp., Houghton Co.. www.michigantownships.org. 2019-05-08.
  7. Web site: Rabbit Island. Foursquare. 2019-05-08.
  8. Book: Molloy, Lawrence J.. A Guide to Michigan's Historic Keweenaw Copper District: Photographs, Maps, and Tours of the Keweenaw—Past and Present. 2011. Great Lakes GeoScience . 978-0-979-1772-1-7.
  9. Book: Monette, Clarence J.. The History of Jacobsville and its Sandstone Quarries. 1976. Lake Linden, Michigan.
  10. Book: Eckert, Kathryn Bishop. The sandstone architecture of the Lake Superior region. 2000. Wayne State University Press. 31. 0814328075. 17 July 2011.
  11. Book: Romig, Walter. Michigan place names. 1973. Wayne State University Press. 978-0-8143-1838-6. 15 December 2011. 290.
  12. Web site: About the Rabbit Island Foundation. Tumblr. 2019-05-08.
  13. Web site: Jacobsville Chapel – Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. en-US. 2019-05-08.
  14. Web site: Finnish Lutheran Church / Jacobsville - MichMarkers. www.michmarkers.com. 2019-05-08.
  15. Web site: Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light. www.nps.gov. 2019-05-08.
  16. Web site: Jacobsville (in Houghton County, MI) Populated Place Profile . HomeTownLocator. December 20, 2023.