Felch Township is a civil township of Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan, named in honor of Alpheus Felch.[4] The population was 687 at the 2020 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 143.8 square miles (372 km2), of which, 143.1 square miles (371 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (0.47%) is water.
Communities
There are no incorporated municipalities in the township.
- Felch is an unincorporated community on M-69 at 45°59′50″N 87°49′33″W / 45.99722°N 87.82583°W.[5] Felch was a station on a branch of the Chicago and North Western Railway. A post office has been in operation there since 1906.[6]
- Metropolitan was a thriving village established just after 1880 to exploit the iron ore in the nearby Metropolitan Mine. Metropolitan was about one mile west of Felch[7] and was the last station on a branch of the Chicago and North Western Railway coming west from Escanaba. The village was platted by the Metropolitan Mining Company in 1881. A post office was in operation there from 1881 until 1963.[6] The present Zion Lutheran Church of Metropolitan sits almost exactly on the site of the old village, which is now a string of farms along the country roads. Metropolitan was sometimes referred to as Milltown and Farmertown.
- Theodore is an unincorporated community on M-69 about half a mile northwest of Felch at 46°00′05″N 87°50′07″W / 46.00139°N 87.83528°W.[8] It was platted for the Lake Superior Ship Canal, Railway & Iron Company in 1881 by J.A. Van Clive.[6]
- Felch Mountain is an unincorporated community on M-69 about half a mile northwest of Felch. It is immediately adjacent to, and east of, Theodore.[9] Both Theodore and Felch Mountain are located on a steep hill north of M-69, while Felch and Metropolitan are located in the lower land south of M-69.
- Spruce was a station on the Chicago and North Western Railway[6] at 45°59′09″N 87°46′38″W / 45.98583°N 87.77722°W near the junction of Lucas Rd with M-69[10]
Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 726 people, 274 households, and 204 families residing in the township. By 2020, there were 687 people in the township.
References
- ^ Michigan Townships Association (2023). "Felch Township, Dickinson County, Michigan". Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Felch Township, Michigan
- ^ Daly, Matthew L.; Herman, Jennifer L.; Hannan, Caryn (December 1, 2008). Michigan Encyclopedia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-878592-94-1.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Felch, Michigan
- ^ a b c d Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Metropolitan, Michigan
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Theodore, Michigan
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Felch Mountain, Michigan
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Spruce, Michigan
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