© 2021 Mastodon Township
Address: 1371 Hwy US 2 South, Crystal Falls, MI 49920
Phone: 906-875-6232 Email: mastodonclerk@att.net
Website by North Country Website Design.
Mastodon Township’s original people were the Anishanabe; the
people of the Three Fires, Ojibwa, Odawa and Potawatomi. After
Columbus returned to Spain, a wave of exploration began as
news of the “New World” reached Europe. Some of the earliest
explorers to our area were the French who were zealous to
convert the Native American to the Christian Creed. A young
explorer, Etienne Brule, lived with the Native Americans and
mapped out new water-ways, thus the “Brule River” came to be
as the dividing line between Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1775
President Thomas Jefferson designated all territory west of the
Allegheny Mountains to the Mississippi River and from the Ohio
River to the Canadian Border as the Northwest Territory. Five
states were to be formed from this territory, one of them being
Michigan.
Mastodon Township was formed in 1885 and is located in Iron
County, in the southwest portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Mastodon Township is made up of 83,789.80 acres containing
the Village of Alpha as well as numerous lakes, rivers, streams,
wooded areas, and agricultural land. The permanent resident
population of Mastodon Township according to the 2020 census
was 668. Historically, iron ore mining was the major source of
income for the area. According to local legend, while sinking a
mine shaft, mastodon bones were discovered and, on this basis,
Mastodon Township received its name.
Mastodon Township has an abundance of wildlife, four very
distinct seasons, and numerous activities available. As a result,
our economy is mainly based on small businesses, year-round
tourism and logging. It truly is a quiet, peaceful place to visit,
play and live.
About Us
A Little History
The 4th of July is probably one of the most important days in the
calendar year for both the Township and the Village of Alpha. It is
the time when people from all over the United States "go home" to
visit with family and friends or return to the place they have
vacationed all their lives. The day begins at 9 AM at the Alpha
Village Hall with a flag raising ceremony, a variety of speeches,
followed by a parade led by the local children, and ending with the
driving of the fire truck and the marching of the volunteer fire
department personnel.
Throughout the day there are a variety of activities for both
children and communities to witness the fireworks display. Even
though both the Township and the Village of Alpha contribute
money for the purchase of the fireworks, it still requires additional
donations from businesses and the general public to raise enough
money to purchase the fireworks. There is currently a Fourth of
July committee which handles the donations and events, along
with other volunteers. This event is truly enjoyed by all who attend,
and each year it only becomes more spectacular.
Fourth of July
From Wikipedia:
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.
Communities
The Village of Alpha is within the township.
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.
•
Camp 5 area by Peavy DAM.
•
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 135.3 square miles (350.5 km²), of which, 126.6 square miles
(327.9 km²) of it is land and 8.8 square miles (22.7 km²) of it (6.47%) is water.
•
Coordinates: 46°2′2″N 88°19′4″W
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 668 people, 314 households, and 205 families residing in the township. The population density was 5.3 per
square mile (2.0/km²). There were 689 housing units at an average density of 5.4/sq mi (2.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.40%
White, 0.30% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population. 21.3% were of Polish,
20.8% German, 14.7% Finnish, 6.9% Swedish, 5.9% English, 5.9% Italian and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 314, households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 3.5%
had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had
someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the township the population was spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and
26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 108.8 males. For every 100 females age 18
and over, there were 106.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $39,231. Males had a median income of
$26,667 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,823. About 6.3% of families and 13.2% of the population were
below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3%
of those age 65 or over.
Area
•
Total 135.3 sq mi (350.5 km²)
•
Land 126.6 sq mi (327.9 km²)
•
Water 8.7 sq mi (22.7 km²)
Elevation 1,365 ft (416 m)
Population (2000):
•
Total 668
•
Density 5.3/sq mi (2.0/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code 26-52300
GNIS feature ID 1626708
Mastodon Township, Michigan
© 2021 Mastodon Township
Address: 1371 Hwy US 2 South, Crystal Falls, MI 49920
Phone: 906-875-6232 Email: mastodonclerk@att.net
Website by North Country Website Design.
Mastodon Township’s original people were the
Anishanabe; the people of the Three Fires,
Ojibwa, Odawa and Potawatomi. After Columbus
returned to Spain, a wave of exploration began
as news of the “New World” reached Europe.
Some of the earliest explorers to our area were
the French who were zealous to convert the
Native American to the Christian Creed. A young
explorer, Etienne Brule, lived with the Native
Americans and mapped out new water-ways,
thus the “Brule River” came to be as the dividing
line between Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1775
President Thomas Jefferson designated all
territory west of the Allegheny Mountains to the
Mississippi River and from the Ohio River to the
Canadian Border as the Northwest Territory. Five
states were to be formed from this territory, one
of them being Michigan.
Mastodon Township was formed in 1885 and is
located in Iron County, in the southwest portion
of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Mastodon
Township is made up of 83,789.80 acres
containing the Village of Alpha as well as
numerous lakes, rivers, streams, wooded areas,
and agricultural land. The permanent resident
population of Mastodon Township according to
the 2020 census was 668. Historically, iron ore
mining was the major source of income for the
area. According to local legend, while sinking a
mine shaft, mastodon bones were discovered
and, on this basis, Mastodon Township received
its name.
Mastodon Township has an abundance of
wildlife, four very distinct seasons, and
numerous activities available. As a result, our
economy is mainly based on small businesses,
year-round tourism and logging. It truly is a quiet,
peaceful place to visit, play and live.
A Little History
The 4th of July is probably one of the most
important days in the calendar year for both the
Township and the Village of Alpha. It is the time
when people from all over the United States "go
home" to visit with family and friends or return to
the place they have vacationed all their lives. The
day begins at 9 AM at the Alpha Village Hall with
a flag raising ceremony, a variety of speeches,
followed by a parade led by the local children, and
ending with the driving of the fire truck and the
marching of the volunteer fire department
personnel.
Throughout the day there are a variety of
activities for both children and communities to
witness the fireworks display. Even though both
the Township and the Village of Alpha contribute
money for the purchase of the fireworks, it still
requires additional donations from businesses
and the general public to raise enough money to
purchase the fireworks. There is currently a
Fourth of July committee which handles the
donations and events, along with other
volunteers. This event is truly enjoyed by all who
attend, and each year it only becomes more
spectacular.
Fourth of July
About Us
From Wikipedia:
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.
Communities
The Village of Alpha is within the township.
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.
•
Camp 5 area by Peavy DAM.
•
According to the United States Census
Bureau, the township has a total area of 135.3
square miles (350.5 km²), of which, 126.6
square miles (327.9 km²) of it is land and 8.8
square miles (22.7 km²) of it (6.47%) is water.
•
Coordinates: 46°2′2″N 88°19′4″W
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 668 people,
314 households, and 205 families residing in the
township. The population density was 5.3 per
square mile (2.0/km²). There were 689 housing
units at an average density of 5.4/sq mi
(2.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township
was 99.40% White, 0.30% from other races, and
0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
21.3% were of Polish, 20.8% German, 14.7%
Finnish, 6.9% Swedish, 5.9% English, 5.9% Italian
and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census
2000.
There were 314, households out of which 18.5%
had children under the age of 18 living with them,
56.7% were married couples living together, 3.5%
had a female householder with no husband
present, and 34.7% were non-families. 30.9% of
all households were made up of individuals and
17.5% had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average household size
was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the township the population was spread out
with 17.4% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to
24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64,
and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 50 years. For every 100
females there were 108.8 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.
The median income for a household in the
township was $27,917, and the median income
for a family was $39,231. Males had a median
income of $26,667 versus $23,125 for females.
The per capita income for the township was
$16,823. About 6.3% of families and 13.2% of the
population were below the poverty line, including
22.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3%
of those age 65 or over.
Area
•
Total 135.3 sq mi (350.5 km²)
•
Land 126.6 sq mi (327.9 km²)
•
Water 8.7 sq mi (22.7 km²)
Elevation 1,365 ft (416 m)
Population (2000):
•
Total 668
•
Density 5.3/sq mi (2.0/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
FIPS code 26-52300
GNIS feature ID 1626708
Mastodon Township, Michigan
