Spurr Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Spurr Township is a civil township
of Baraga County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 227 at the 2000 census
.
The township had been organized while it was part of Houghton County
. It was one of the four original townships of Baraga County when it was set off from Houghton in 1875. It is named for "Spurr Mountain", the site of an iron ore mine, first named the "Spurr Mountain Mining Company", organized in 1872. Operations ceased in 1878, and then resumed again in 1881 under a reorganized "Spurr Iron Mining Company". A post office named "Spurr Mountain" opened December 30, 1874 and was discontinued December 15, 1887. It was reestablished June 4, 1890 and operated until June 30, 1896.
, the township has a total area of 159.2 square miles (412.4 km²); 151.9 square miles (393.4 km²) of it is land and 7.3 square miles (19.0 km²) of it (4.60%) is water.
of 2000, there were 227 people, 105 households, and 78 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1.5 per square mile (0.6/km²). There were 300 housing units at an average density of 2.0 per square mile (0.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.68% White, 0.44% Asian, 0.44% from other races
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population. 41.2% were of Finnish, 17.5% German, 6.8% English
and 5.6% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 105 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples
living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.47.
In the township the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 1.8% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,667, and the median income for a family was $40,417. Males had a median income of $27,813 versus $14,821 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,316. About 4.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.1% of those sixty five or over.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
of Baraga County
Baraga County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 8,746 people, 3,353 households, and 2,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,631 housing units...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 227 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
The township had been organized while it was part of Houghton County
Houghton County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,016 people, 13,793 households, and 8,137 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile . There were 17,748 housing...
. It was one of the four original townships of Baraga County when it was set off from Houghton in 1875. It is named for "Spurr Mountain", the site of an iron ore mine, first named the "Spurr Mountain Mining Company", organized in 1872. Operations ceased in 1878, and then resumed again in 1881 under a reorganized "Spurr Iron Mining Company". A post office named "Spurr Mountain" opened December 30, 1874 and was discontinued December 15, 1887. It was reestablished June 4, 1890 and operated until June 30, 1896.
Communities
There are no incorporated municipalities in the township. There are a few unincorporated communities and historic locales:- Nestoria is an unincorporated community at 46°34′13"N 88°15′49"W about 14 miles (23 km) east of CovingtonCovington, MichiganCovington is an unincorporated community in Covington Township of Baraga County in the U.S. state of Michigan, with coordinates of on US 141 near the junction with M-28, which is a few miles west of US 41. Covington uses the ZIP code 49919.-History:...
on US 41U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
/M-28M-28 (Michigan highway)M-28 is an east–west state trunkline highway that almost completely traverses the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan, from Wakefield to near Sault Ste. Marie in Bruce Township...
. The name comes from the Nestor Lumber Company, which was operating in the area when the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic RailwayDuluth, South Shore and Atlantic RailwayThe Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway was an American railroad serving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Lake Superior shoreline of Wisconsin. It provided service from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and St. Ignace, Michigan, westward through Marquette, Michigan to Superior, Wisconsin,...
(now part of the Soo Line RailroadSoo Line RailroadThe Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
) built its lines in the region. A depot established near the lumber operations in 1871 was called "Nestonia". A post office was established with the name "Nestonia" on May 11, 1887, and the name of the office was changed to the present spelling on June 4, 1887. The office closed on April 30, 1892, but was re-opened on May 7, 1895. The office was discontinued on February 1, 1974. - Imperial Heights is an unincorporated community located about a mile west of MichigammeMichigamme, MichiganMichigamme is an unincorporated community in Marquette County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and without any legal status as a municipality. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 287....
on the Spurr RiverSpurr RiverThe Spurr River is a short stream in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises from the outflow of Beaufort Lake at and flows approximately three miles east-southeast into Lake Michigamme at ....
near the west end of Lake MichigammeLake MichigammeLake Michigamme, one of Michigan's largest lakes, reaches a depth of over .. It covers in Marquette and Baraga County, Michigan. Van Riper State Park provides public access. The vast majority of the lake lies in Marquette County, with only its westernmost part extending into Baraga County.The...
at 46°32′01"N 88°07′52"W. - Three Lakes is an unincorporated community a few miles east of Nestoria on US 41U.S. Route 41 in MichiganUS Highway 41 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state via the Interstate Bridge between Marinette, Wisconsin, and Menominee,...
/M-28M-28 (Michigan highway)M-28 is an east–west state trunkline highway that almost completely traverses the Upper Peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan, from Wakefield to near Sault Ste. Marie in Bruce Township...
at 46°33′16"N 88°12′04"W. It is named for nearby Lake Ruth, Lake George, and Beaufort Lake.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 159.2 square miles (412.4 km²); 151.9 square miles (393.4 km²) of it is land and 7.3 square miles (19.0 km²) of it (4.60%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 227 people, 105 households, and 78 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1.5 per square mile (0.6/km²). There were 300 housing units at an average density of 2.0 per square mile (0.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.68% White, 0.44% Asian, 0.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population. 41.2% were of Finnish, 17.5% German, 6.8% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 5.6% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 105 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.47.
In the township the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 1.8% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,667, and the median income for a family was $40,417. Males had a median income of $27,813 versus $14,821 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $17,316. About 4.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.1% of those sixty five or over.