Mastodon Township, Michigan

Mastodon Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 668, and by 2020 its population was 576.[3]

Mastodon Township, Michigan
Civil township
Location within Iron County (red) and the administered village of Alpha (pink)
Location within Iron County (red) and the administered village of Alpha (pink)
Mastodon Township is located in Michigan
Mastodon Township
Mastodon Township
Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 46°2′2″N 88°19′4″W
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyIron
Area
 • Total135.3 sq mi (350.5 km2)
 • Land126.6 sq mi (327.9 km2)
 • Water8.7 sq mi (22.7 km2)
Elevation
1,365 ft (416 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total576
 • Density5.3/sq mi (2.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code26-52300[1]
GNIS feature ID1626708[2]

Mastodon was so named from the fact mastodon bones were discovered when sinking a mine shaft.[4]

Mastodon may have also been named for the size of the large, iron ore body which was struck at the mine site; as "Mastodon" at that time, being a relatively new discovery, was also being used as a slang adjective, meaning large/huge.

Geography

The Brule River forms the southern boundary of the township, with the Town of Florence in Florence County, Wisconsin on the other side of the river.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 135.3 square miles (350 km2), of which 126.6 square miles (328 km2) is land and 8.8 square miles (23 km2) (6.47%) is water.

Communities
  • The village of Alpha is within the township.

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mastodon Township, Michigan
  3. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 100.
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