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; -88.40250
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 code906
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

The sign for Chickensville Location

Geography

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

  • 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]

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.

Climate data for Jacobsville, Michigan, 1991–2020 normals: 650ft (198m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 49
(9)
61
(16)
79
(26)
76
(24)
90
(32)
92
(33)
92
(33)
93
(34)
90
(32)
87
(31)
77
(25)
55
(13)
93
(34)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 42.4
(5.8)
43.6
(6.4)
57.7
(14.3)
67.5
(19.7)
82.8
(28.2)
86.7
(30.4)
89.2
(31.8)
88.0
(31.1)
83.8
(28.8)
74.8
(23.8)
58.4
(14.7)
45.2
(7.3)
90.5
(32.5)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 23.5
(−4.7)
25.4
(−3.7)
34.3
(1.3)
46.4
(8.0)
59.9
(15.5)
70.1
(21.2)
76.7
(24.8)
75.2
(24.0)
67.4
(19.7)
53.0
(11.7)
39.5
(4.2)
28.5
(−1.9)
50.0
(10.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 16.3
(−8.7)
17.0
(−8.3)
23.8
(−4.6)
36.5
(2.5)
47.9
(8.8)
57.4
(14.1)
63.8
(17.7)
62.8
(17.1)
55.7
(13.2)
43.8
(6.6)
32.4
(0.2)
22.0
(−5.6)
39.9
(4.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 9.1
(−12.7)
8.5
(−13.1)
13.2
(−10.4)
26.5
(−3.1)
35.9
(2.2)
44.7
(7.1)
50.8
(10.4)
50.4
(10.2)
44.0
(6.7)
34.6
(1.4)
25.4
(−3.7)
15.5
(−9.2)
29.9
(−1.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −8.5
(−22.5)
−12.6
(−24.8)
−9.7
(−23.2)
11.6
(−11.3)
25.6
(−3.6)
32.4
(0.2)
40.6
(4.8)
40.0
(4.4)
31.1
(−0.5)
24.1
(−4.4)
9.4
(−12.6)
−2.2
(−19.0)
−14.3
(−25.7)
Record low °F (°C) −18
(−28)
−26
(−32)
−23
(−31)
−1
(−18)
22
(−6)
26
(−3)
36
(2)
35
(2)
28
(−2)
20
(−7)
−1
(−18)
−14
(−26)
−26
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.97
(50)
1.40
(36)
1.46
(37)
2.86
(73)
3.37
(86)
3.26
(83)
3.23
(82)
2.80
(71)
3.49
(89)
2.99
(76)
2.40
(61)
2.40
(61)
31.63
(805)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 29.3
(74)
19.8
(50)
10.3
(26)
11.6
(29)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
trace 1.4
(3.6)
14.1
(36)
27.0
(69)
113.7
(288.11)
Source 1: NOAA[17]
Source 2: XMACIS (2010-2020 snowfall, records & monthly max/mins)[18]

Demographics

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

  1. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Torch Lake Township, Houghton County, Michigan
  3. 1 2 "Houghton County Master Plan" (PDF). Houghton County Planning Commission. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 14, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Torch Lake Township 2014-2018 Recreation Plan" (PDF). Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Monette, Clarence (1975). Some Copper Country Names and Places. Lake Linden, Michigan. ISBN 0-942363-04-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. 1 2 "Torch Lake Twp., Houghton Co". www.michigantownships.org. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  7. "Rabbit Island". Foursquare. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Molloy, Lawrence J. (2011). A Guide to Michigan's Historic Keweenaw Copper District: Photographs, Maps, and Tours of the Keweenaw—Past and Present. Great Lakes GeoScience. ISBN 978-0-979-1772-1-7.
  9. Monette, Clarence J. (1976). The History of Jacobsville and its Sandstone Quarries. Lake Linden, Michigan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. Eckert, Kathryn Bishop (2000). The sandstone architecture of the Lake Superior region. Wayne State University Press. p. 31. ISBN 0814328075. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Romig, Walter (1973). Michigan place names. Wayne State University Press. p. 290. ISBN 978-0-8143-1838-6. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  12. "About the Rabbit Island Foundation". Tumblr. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  13. "Jacobsville Chapel – Gloria Dei Lutheran Church". Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  14. "Finnish Lutheran Church / Jacobsville - MichMarkers". www.michmarkers.com. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  15. "Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light". www.nps.gov. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  16. "Jacobsville (in Houghton County, MI) Populated Place Profile". HomeTownLocator. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  17. "Jacobsville, Michigan 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  18. "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
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