Baraga Township, Michigan

Baraga Township (/ˈbɛərəɡə/ BAIR-ə-gə) is a civil township of Baraga County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 3,478. The village of Baraga is located in the southeast corner of the township.

Baraga Township, Michigan
Civil township
Location within Baraga County and the administered village of Baraga (1) and the CDP of Pelkie (2)
Location within Baraga County and the administered village of Baraga (1) and the CDP of Pelkie (2)
Baraga Township is located in Michigan
Baraga Township
Baraga Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Baraga Township is located in the United States
Baraga Township
Baraga Township
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 46°44′19″N 88°34′19″W
Country United States
State Michigan
County Baraga
Area
 • Total187.2 sq mi (484.8 km2)
 • Land183.8 sq mi (476.0 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2)
Elevation
863 ft (263 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,478
 • Density21/sq mi (8.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
49908 (Baraga),
49919 (Covington),
49958 (Pelkie)
Area code906
FIPS code26-05340[1]
GNIS feature ID1625882[2]
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Baraga Township has a total area of 187.2 square miles (484.8 km2), of which 183.8 square miles (476.0 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), or 1.82%, is water.[3]

Communities
  • Arnheim is an unincorporated community at 46°55′01″N 88°28′57″W.[4] Arnheim was a station on the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway, midway between L'Anse and Houghton. Storekeeper Martin Erikson became the first postmaster on November 13, 1900. The office closed in either 1915 or 1916[5] and reopened from August 15, 1917, until September 30, 1951.[6][7] Arnheim was named after Jeremiah Arn (died 1911). Jeremiah Arn was employed to strip the Portage Entry quarries until the over-burden of stone was removed. He settled on a farm at Arnheim and started a quarry which he worked for many years. [8]
  • Assinins is an unincorporated community at 46°48′37″N 88°28′38″W.[9] Assinins was founded in 1843 by Catholic missionary Frederic Baraga, who named it for an Assiniboin chief whom Baraga had converted and who remained Baraga's devoted friend. In the 1870s, the settlement was known as the "Catholic Mission". The first post office in the area was named "Fewsville" from 1872, after Gershom B. Few, who operated a distillery, and George W. Few, who became the first postmaster on September 22, 1875. The office closed in 1877. It reopened as "Assinins" on December 6, 1894, with Simon Denomie as the first postmaster and discontinued on May 31, 1914.[6][10]
  • Baraga is a village at the junction of US Highway 41 and M-38 in the east-central portion of the township. The Baraga ZIP code 49908 serves a region in the central part of the township.[11]
  • Bear Town is a named place on US Highway 41 north of Baraga at 46°48′32″N 88°30′35″W.[12]
  • Fewsville – see Assinins.[6]
  • Froberg is an unincorporated community in the township.
  • Iron Bridge is an unincorporated community in the township.
  • Kelsey is an unincorporated community in the township.
  • Keweenaw Bay is an unincorporated community at 46°51′37″N 88°28′54″W.[13] A land patent was issued to Frank Laffrenire by US President Ulysses S. Grant on May 10, 1875. The settlement was known as "Leffenire" until 1898. Annie La Fernier became the first postmaster on March 26, 1898, with the office named "La Fernier". However, Annie had it changed on June 1, 1901, to the name of the large bay on which the village was located. The post office was discontinued on January 16, 1976, and became a CPO of Baraga. It was also a station on the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway. "Keweenaw" (kewawenon) was a Native American word for portage.[6][14]
  • Pelkie is an unincorporated community in the northeast part of the township. The Pelkie ZIP code 49958 serves areas in the northern and northwestern parts of the township.[15]

Demographics

In 2020, its population was 3,478 and as of 2021 census estimates, it had a median household income of $40,403.[16]

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baraga Township, Michigan
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Baraga township, Baraga County, Michigan". US Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Arnheim, Michigan
  5. Romig indicates September 19, 1915 while the GNIS citing David M. Ellis, Michigan Postal History, The Post Offices 1805-1986 indicates July 31, 1916
  6. Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 195. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Arnheim Post Office (historical)
  8. "The L'anse Sentinel, Vol. 31 No 35 - July 08, 1911". Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Assinins, Michigan
  10. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Baraga Township, Michigan
  11. 49908 5-Digit ZCTA, 499 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder, US Census Bureau, 2000 census
  12. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bear Town, Michigan
  13. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Keweenaw Bay, Michigan
  14. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Keweenaw Bay Post Office (historical)
  15. 49958 5-Digit ZCTA, 499 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
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