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Chippewa County, Michigan

116 topographic sheets cover 56 settlements here, and 26 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

26 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Michigan within the United States
Chippewa County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 719 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 26 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 18 buildings, 5 structures, 2 districts and 1 site.
  • 8 of the 26 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 56 populated places in this county; 56 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

26

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Adams Buildingbuilding201010000218
Birch Lodge Hospital and Summer Resort Sanitariumbuilding199696001376
Central Methodist Episcopal Churchbuilding198484000537
Chippewa County Courthousebuilding198484001381
Church of Our Saviour, Friend of Childrenbuilding198282002831
Church, Philetus S., Housebuilding198282000495
DeTour Reef Light Stationstructure200505000151
Elmwoodbuilding197474000982
Federal Buildingbuilding197777000711
First United Presbyterian Churchbuilding198484000538
Fort Drummondbuilding196969000069
Gowan Blockbuilding201010000219
John Johnston Housebuilding197070000268
Kinross Township Hall and Schoolbuilding200403001549
Lipsett Hardware Buildingbuilding201312001171
M-28-Tahquamenon River Bridgestructure199999001466
New Fort Bradydistrict197272000605
Old Fort Bradysite197171000387
Parker Road-Charlotte River Bridgestructure200000000009
Point Iroquois Light Stationbuilding197575000940
S.S. VALLEY CAMPstructure197272000606
Saint James' Episcopal Churchbuilding199898000272
Sault Ste. Marie Historic Commercial Districtdistrict2020100005683
St. Mary's Pro-Cathedralbuilding198484000540
U.S. Weather Bureau Buildingbuilding196666000394
Whitefish Point Lighthousestructure197373000947

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

303 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 303 of them, burning about 4,291 acres. 28 started naturally and 27 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning86
Missing data/not specified/undetermined72
Equipment and vehicle use42
Natural28
Arson/incendiarism27
Recreation and ceremony18
Power generation/transmission/distribution14
Misuse of fire by a minor7
Smoking5
Fireworks2
Railroad operations and maintenance1
Other causes1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
17 May 1998Debris and open burning1,832 acresHiawatha National ForestCAMP FAUNCE
18 June 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined214 acresHiawatha National ForestBLUEBERRY BLOSSOM
30 April 2005Debris and open burning158 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
30 April 2016Debris and open burning154 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
20 May 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined116 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesSAULT STE MARIE FD F20-093 - 2020
26 April 2003Missing data/not specified/undetermined112 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesSAULT STE MARIE
29 June 2016Debris and open burning82 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 May 2003Debris and open burning67 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1961 to 2025

60 of 119 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 119 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 1 injury and about $796,300 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail54
Thunderstorm Wind49
Tornado7
Flash Flood4
Flood3
Waterspout1
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2021Thunderstorm WindCottage Park1 hurt, $20,000Drone pictures show numerous trees down about 1/4 mile west of M-129 on M-80.
August 1978Tornadonot stated$250,000no account filed
July 1999WaterspoutDrummond Is$200,000Waterspout damaged boat house and storage building on a marina dock.
September 2013Flash FloodSault Ste Marie$125,000Radar estimated that 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in a few hours beginning late in the evening of the 9th, resulting in flash flood in the pre-dawn hours of the 10th. A number of roads were washed out and/or otherwise rendered impassable, in some cases for several days. West Shore Drive, and 1 1/2 Mile Road, were among the roads that suffered considerable damage.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindMunnscong$35,000Dozens of trees were downed and/or uprooted. A camper was moved. Some damage to shingles near Pickford.
August 1977Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 2021Thunderstorm WindNeebish$20,000Drone footage of a swath of trees downed.
April 2020FloodKelden$20,000A culvert was washed out along 20 Mile Road near Kelden.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindRudyard$16,000A barn was destroyed, and several trees were snapped off.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindPickford$12,000Trees downed. A scoreboard at the Pickford High School football field was destroyed.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindKinross$9,000The metal roof of an outbuilding was partially removed. A few trees were also downed.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindGoetzville$8,000A large tree was downed onto a vehicle.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindEckerman$8,000Numerous trees and power lines downed in western Chippewa County.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindRudyard$7,500A shed was damaged, and several large tree limbs were downed.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindDollar Settlement$6,000Multiple trees were downed along Lakeshore Drive.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindShallows$6,000Trees were downed onto power lines.
August 2025Flash FloodWhitefish Pt$5,000Flooding in basements reported at Whitefish Point museums after 4.34 inches of rain fell in 7 hours.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindPickford$4,000Social media reports with pictures showing house siding and horse shelter roof blown off.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindParadise$3,000Trees down near Lower Tahquamenon Falls.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindRaber$3,000Trees and power lines were downed.
May 2008LightningParadise$2,800Lightning struck a large pine tree just outside the administration building of Tahquamenon Falls State Park. The tree was blasted into pieces, and most of the electronic equipment in the admin building was destroyed. Some electrical damage also occurred in a staff building, not quite an eighth of a mile away.
April 1987Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
July 2023Thunderstorm WindEckerman$2,000Trained spotter reported trees downed on McNearney Lake. Time estimated by radar.
July 2017Thunderstorm Wind(Ssm)Ssmarie Muni Ap$2,000Several large tree limbs were downed, and some shingles were blown off of a roof.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindEckerman$2,000Multiple power lines were blown down.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindDe Tour Vlg$1,000Large trees limbs were downed onto a road.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindEckerman$1,000Several pine trees lost large limbs.
July 1987Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
July 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$250no account filed
March 2025HailOak Ridge-Report of 1 diameter hail on Neebish Island.
March 2025HailStirlingville-Multiple reports of accumulating hail up to 0.75inch diameter between Pickford and Barbeau, MI, including report from COOP observer 2NE Pickford.
June 2024HailEckerman-Report of one inch hail.
June 2024HailBrimley-Report from Facebook of up to quarter size hail east of Brimley, MI.
June 2023HailDafter-Media van reported nickel sized hail while driving.
August 2023HailOak Ridge-Report via social media. Pictures of measured 1.5 inch hailstones on far north side of Neebish Island. Time estimated via radar.
July 2023HailBrimley-Fire chief reported quarter sized hail at 6 Mile Road and East Birch Point Trail. Time estimated by radar.
June 2022Thunderstorm Wind(Ciu)Chippewa Co Arp-AWOS at Chippewa County International Airport.
August 2021Thunderstorm Wind(Ciu)Chippewa Co Arp-AWOS station KCIU Kinross - Chippewa County International Airport.
August 2021Tornado (EF0)Munnscong-A brief EF-0 tornado was analyzed in satellite imagery by the Northern Tornadoes Project of Canada. Damage was limited to trees on Neebish Island.
September 2019HailRudyard-Hail covered the ground near Rudyard. The largest hailstones were the size of quarters.
July 2018HailBrimley-Hail covered the ground.
September 2010FloodDryburg-The Pine River near Rudyard crested near 18 feet at midday on the 24th. Flood stage was 17 feet. The river reached the bottom of the Prairie Road Bridge deck.
July 2006HailSault Ste Marie-A cluster of thunderstorms moved through the Whitefish Bay and St Marys River valley region in the morning. One storm produced penny sized hail.
July 2005HailParadise-Several waves of thunderstorms affect the northern Great Lakes region in the morning. Most were not severe.
July 2005HailEckerman-Several strong thunderstorms developed along a cold front in eastern Upper Michigan.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindParadise-Trees down at Tahquamenon State Park
October 2002Thunderstorm WindSault Ste Marie-Numerous trees down.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindCountywide-Numerous reports of trees and power lines down around Rudyard, Sugar Island, Sault Ste. Marie and Paradise.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindHomestead-Two ten inch diameter trees blown down.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindBrimley-Trees and power lines down.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindSault Ste Marie-Several trees were toppled across the city. One tree fell against a house damaging the roof...a porch and some siding.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindSault Ste Marie-Several trees were toppled across the city.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindSault Ste Marie-Wind gusts to 60 mph were reported by ships along the Soo Locks.
July 1995HailSault Ste. Marie-Large hail reported by NWS office and a storm spotter within city.
July 1995HailBrimley-Large hail reported by storm spotter.
July 1995HailSault Ste. Marie-Off-duty National Weather Service employee reported large hail at home.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindWhitefish Bay-Vessel reported a measured wind gust of 70 mph.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindSugar Island-Winds estimated at greater than 58 mph blew over several eight-nine inch diameter trees.
July 1994HailPickford-One-inch diameter hail fell from 1300 EST to 1310 EST near Pickford. Canadian radio news reported crop damage on St. Joseph Island 25 miles East of Pickford, south of Neebish Island. No reports of crop damage in Chippewa County, where only hay is grown.
August 1993Thunderstorm WindDrummond Island Airpo-Winds gusted to 63 mph at the Drummond Island Municipal Airport when gusty thunderstorm winds blew across the Island. No damage was reported.

Mines and quarries

21 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 21 workings inside this county. 17 still produce and 4 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction13
Fire Clay (Refractory)4
Dolomite2
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Silica1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Drummond Dolomite QyStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Montero Sand PitSilicaProducer
Drummond Island Quarry (Dock and Original Quarry)DolomiteProducer1945
Drummond Island Quarry (Inland Quarry)DolomiteProducer1945
Beadle's Brick Yard Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
N. Pickford Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Thornton Brick Yd Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Zeeland Brick Co.Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
C G Sanderson No. 1 Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Chippewa County PitsSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
City Limits PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Fornicola PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gordon PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hopper PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
I L Whitehead Co PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
I L Whitehead Co PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Montero Excavating Inc PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Osborn PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Petkus PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
State of Michigan PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
State of Michigan PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

56

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.