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Dickinson County, Michigan

66 topographic sheets cover 29 settlements here, and 7 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

7 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Michigan within the United States
Dickinson County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 312 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 7 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 2 structures, 2 buildings, 2 districts and 1 site.
  • 1 of the 7 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 29 populated places in this county; 29 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

7

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
Ardis Furnacesite197272000608
Chapin Mine Steam Pump Enginestructure198181000305
Dickinson County Courthouse and Jailbuilding198080001852
Immaculate Conception Churchbuilding199090000562
Iron Mountain Central Historic Districtdistrict201313000763
Iron Mountain Veterans Administration (VA) Hospitaldistrict2022100007870
Upper Twin Falls Bridgestructure201212001028

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

234 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 234 of them, burning about 965 acres. 19 started naturally and 30 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning63
Missing data/not specified/undetermined38
Equipment and vehicle use36
Arson/incendiarism30
Railroad operations and maintenance20
Natural19
Misuse of fire by a minor12
Recreation and ceremony10
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Fireworks2
Smoking1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 April 2020Railroad operations and maintenance103 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesDEJAVU
20 May 1994Equipment and vehicle use87 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
30 April 2020Equipment and vehicle use63 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesBREITUNG TOWNSHIP FD 2020-17 - 2020
27 April 1992Arson/incendiarism54 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
17 March 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined50 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesFLOODWOOD
9 May 1992Recreation and ceremony45 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
12 May 2019Equipment and vehicle use24 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesLAKE ANTOINE
23 May 2015Debris and open burning21 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesAIMONE ROAD

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

Storms, 1961 to 2026

60 of 248 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 248 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $8,828,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind117
Hail89
Flash Flood13
Heavy Rain12
Tornado9
Lightning3
Flood3
Funnel Cloud2

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
September 2002Tornado (F1)Kingsford$7,000,000This tornado developed over northeast Florence County, WI (See Storm Data for Wisconsin, Northeastern, for more information on the beginning portion of this tornado) and crossed the Menominee River just south of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford airport. The storm moved east-northeast into Kingsford and Iron Mountain. As the storm moved into Iron Mountain, the track shifted more to the east and the damage path became more sporadic before the tornado lifted completely on the east side of Iron Mountain. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down, blocking highway US-2 and disrupting electric power and telephone service. Gas lines were ruptured and several commercial buildings sustained substantial roof damage in Kingsford.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindCountywide$500,000Scattered reports of trees down. Part of the roof on the North Dickinson School was torn off and carried several hundered yards east over the football field. The wood framed, sheet metal-sided bus garage was considered a total loss and a bus inside the garage was slightly damaged. Near Merriman, an all-terrain vehicle was crushed, two houses suffered roof damage, and a shed and a van were seriously damaged by falling trees. A pick-up truck was crushed by a falling tree in Hardwood.
June 2000HailIron Mtn$225,000no account filed
October 2016Flash FloodNorway$200,000The Dickinson County Emergency Manager reported two county roads completely cut in two from flooding, one of which was CR-581. Seven other county roads were partially washed out. The total damage estimate was near $200,000.
October 2005LightningIron Mtn$140,000One home in the Breitung Township was totally destroyed by a lightning-strike induced fire. Another home on North Evergreen Drive sustained major damage when lightning struck a nearby pine tree.
April 2023FloodVulcan$100,000Flooding along the Michigamme River including secondary roads and property constituted much of the flood impacts in April for Dickinson County. County Road 577 in Vulcan was also closed from the 15th into the 17th due to high water. Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Dickinson County on the 21st to open up state funds to assist in flood recovery efforts.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$100,000Thunderstorm downburst winds downed trees up to 12 inches in diameter in Iron Mountain, Kingsford and Vulcan. A 60 mph wind gust downed traffic signals in Norway. Several vehicles damaged. There were a total of 16 house and tree fires started by lightning from this storm.
July 2010Thunderstorm Wind(Imt)Iron Mtn Arpt$75,000Numerous trees and power lines were reported down. Damage was also reported to homes and cars from downed trees. Street flooding also occurred.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindFloodwood$70,000The storm survey indicated a four-mile path of straight line wind damage across the Sawyer and Edey Lake area east of Channing. There was evidence of gustnadoes along the main straight line wind core. Straight-line wind speeds were estimated at 60-70 mph with pockets of near 90 mph winds within the gustnado damage. Numerous large trees were uprooted with smaller trees snapped off from the strong winds. Within the area of strongest wind damage several of the large trees fell on houses and vehicles and knocked down power poles and power lines. The 911 call center also reported that numerous witnesses saw a waterspout on Sawyer Lake which moved onshore towards Woodlawn Lane.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$40,000There was a report via social media of a tree downed on a house on E Bar D Road off of Quinnesec-Lake Antoine Road. The time of the report was estimated from radar.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindLoretto$30,000There was a public report of a severe thunderstorm at a cottage on Lake Louise. The cottage sustained roof and chimney damage when a 18-inch diameter 50+ foot high spruce tree was uprooted by thunderstorm winds. The storm also sheared off a flagpole and damaged a kayak, paddleboard and heavy patio furniture.
September 2014Flash FloodAntoine$30,000More than two inches of heavy rainfall in less than two hours caused flash flooding in the Iron Mountain area into early afternoon on the 4th. The Dickinson County Sheriff reported flooding on US Highway 2 with several sections of the road under 2.5 feet of water causing several cars to stall. Several businesses were also flooded.
May 2012LightningIron Mtn$30,000A lightning strike from thunderstorms caused a house fire in Iron Mountain on the evening of the 20th. The home sustained damage in numerous areas, but firefighters were able to keep the damage contained to the second floor and attic. The Iron Mountain Police Department, Beacon Ambulance and Wisconsin Electric were also at the scene of the fire to assist.
July 2011Thunderstorm Wind(Imt)Iron Mtn Arpt$30,000A 40-foot by 70-foot section of the Fontana Terminal Building at the Ford Airport in Iron Mountain was torn off by winds exceeding 60 mph. Two flights were cancelled due to the damage and the passengers were bused to Escanaba to catch alternate flights.
July 1987Tornado (F3)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 2014Flash FloodNorway$20,000Nearly two inches of rain in less than two hours caused flash flooding in Norway on the 4th. The Dickinson County emergency manager reported that two city blocks were flooded with at least two streets closed due to washouts across both lanes. Several businesses also reported flooded basements.
July 1999Flash FloodIron Mtn$20,000Heavy rain from thunderstorms partially washed out several secondary roads and sections of highway US-2 in the Iron Mountain area.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$15,000There was a report via social media of multiple large trees down around Lake Antoine and Lake Antoine Park and Campgrounds. Trees were reported down on Pine Mountain, Bass Lake, and Lake Antoine Roads. Residents in the area reported seeing a tree down across a house on Lake Antoine Road. The time of the report was estimated from radar.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindNorway$12,000The Norway Fire Chief reported that a tree fell on a vehicle on Saginaw Street causing severe damage to the roof.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindKingsford$12,000Numerous trees and power lines down along County Road 607 and near Highway M-95 in Breitung Township. A home along County Road 607 sustained damage when a tree fell on it.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindAntoine$10,000There was a delayed report of multiple trees and power lines down closing roads in the Iron Mountain area. Power was out across the area and phone lines were down as well. Ditches were running full from heavy rainfall.
July 2013Flash FloodFoster City$10,000Nearly four inches of rain caused minor flash flooding in Foster City on the evening of the 25th. Cunard Road in Foster City was washed out.
July 2010Tornado (EF0)Vulcan$10,000The tornado touched down along 7th Avenue in the eastern sections of Norway and then crossed US-2 as it moved east northeastward towards Norway Mountain. The maximum wind speeds were estimated at 70 mph which made it a EF0 tornado. Several trees were knocked down or snapped off from the tornado. Some minor damage also occurred to structures from falling trees and tree limbs.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindFelch$8,000Dispatcher reported multiple downed trees, downed power lines and power outages across Dickinson County. WE Energies outage map indicated outages from the Felch area down to the WI border.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindFloodwood$8,000There was a report of a tree down on a vehicle near the intersection of Woodlawn Lane and Tobin Lane northeast of Channing.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindAntoine$8,000There was a delayed report of multiple large tree limbs down, including a few that fell on and into houses near Bass Lake. Thunderstorm winds also blew a 700-pound trailer approximately ten yards and flipped a portable boat house.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$7,000The observer just northeast of Iron Mountain reported multiple trees down from approximately 14 to 16 inches in diameter. Spotter estimated winds at 70 mph. The power was knocked out.
June 2018Flash FloodVulcan$5,000Broadcast media relayed reports of fields flooded in the Vulcan area. Also, two six-inch diameter trees were downed in the area.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$5,000The Dickinson County Sheriff reported multiple large trees and power lines down in the Iron Mountain and Breitung Township areas. Some trees were blocking roads. The time of the report was estimated from radar.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindAntoine$5,000Large tree was toppled onto a car.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindNorway$5,000Several large oak trees were uprooted and yard furniture was overturned. Power outages and downed power lines were reported across the area as well.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindRalph Arpt$4,000The observer from Norway reported trees and power lines down from three miles to six miles north of Ralph. The time of the report was estimated from radar.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindAntoine$3,000Multiple power outages reported in Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls and surrounding area. Reports taken from the utility outage map and time of the outages estimated from radar.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindAntoine$3,000Report via social media of several trees down throughout Iron Mountain.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindFelch Mtn$3,000Report relayed of multiple trees down in the Felch area, with one large, healthy tree blocking a road.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindGranite Bluff$3,000Significant winds and power outages were reported five miles southwest of Randville. Pictures posted online showed plant and some tree damage. Time of the report was estimated from radar.
October 2016Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$3,000The Dickinson County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and tree limbs down from Iron Mountain through Felch Township.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindGranite Bluff$3,000Numerous trees were reported down on Sportsman Road and other roads north of Iron Mountain. Time of the report was based on radar.
July 2010Tornado (EF0)Vulcan$3,000The EF0 tornado touched down in a wooded area about one mile northeast of Vulcan. The tornado was on the ground for about one-quarter mile and had a width of less than 100 yards. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped off from this tornado as its peak winds were estimated at 70 mph.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$3,000Large trees down on Pine Mountain Road.
June 1981Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500no account filed
August 2024Thunderstorm WindAntoine$2,000A Facebook post and accompanying pictures showed a few large pine trees downed and snapped at Pine Mountain. Time of the damage was estimated from radar.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindAntoine$2,000A Dickinson County official reported phone lines down, including 911 service in Dickinson County. Time of the report was estimated from radar.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindAntoine$2,000A county official in Dickinson County reported a power line down on a house in Iron Mountain.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindHardwood$2,000Convenience store worker reported trees down along Ride Outs Road. Hail also occurred but size was unknown. Time of the report was estimated from radar.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindRandville$2,000There were several trees reported blown down along Highway M-95 southeast of Randville.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindRandville$2,000A convenience store worker reported trees down near North Dickinson County School. Hail also occurred but size was unknown. Time of the report was estimated by radar.
May 2022Flash FloodIron Mtn$2,000More than three inches of heavy rainfall caused partial flooding of roadways and parking lots in Iron Mountain and also caused standing water on Cemetery Road in Foster City.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$2,000Report and picture via Facebook of winds taking off the tops of at least three very tall pine trees in Iron Mountain.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindChanning$2,000Several snapped trees one to one and a half feet in diameter were observed north of Channing. Time of the thunderstorm damage was estimated from radar.
October 2018Thunderstorm WindNorway$2,000Several large hardwood and softwood trees with diameters 8 inches or greater were snapped along Benton Lake Road in Norway Township.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindNorway$2,000There was a delayed report of several large poplar trees down on old Highway 8 south of Norway.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindNorway$2,000Four-inch diameter tree limbs along with other trees reported down just east of Norway. Minor damage to a shed was also reported.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindIron Mtn$2,000Trees down in East Kingsford.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindSagola$2,000Numerous trees down along Leeman Road.
September 2019Thunderstorm WindFloodwood$1,000There was a public report on the social media of a local television news outlet of a tree down on M-95 along with numerous other branches down between Channing and Highway US-41.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindChanning$1,000A spotter reported small trees and small branches down along Highway M-95 from just north of Channing through Silver Lake.
October 2018Thunderstorm WindAntoine$1,000A delayed report via social media indicated a tree down across a power line near Iron Mountain from thunderstorm winds.
October 2018Thunderstorm WindAntoine$1,000The 911 Call Center reported power lines down in Iron Mountain from thunderstorm winds. Time of the report was estimated from radar.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindAntoine$1,000There was a delayed report of a large tree branch snapped off a two-foot diameter maple tree in Iron Mountain. A medium-sized apple tree was also uprooted.

Mines and quarries

64 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 64 workings inside this county. 18 still produce and 46 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Iron45
Sand and Gravel, Construction12
Stone, Crushed/Broken4
Iron, Manganese1
Fire Clay (Refractory)1
Feldspar1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Caspian Const Co MineFeldsparProducer
Groveland MineIron, ManganesePast Producer1891, 1982
Vulcan Brick Co.Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Caspian Const Co QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Felch QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Groveland Pit & MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Metronite Co.Marble QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Caspian Const Co PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Caspian Const Co PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Fayas Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
M-35 Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Miller Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Moon Lake PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ozzelos Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Rudy Olson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sand & Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
State PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
State of Michigan PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
State of Michigan PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Antoine MineIronPast Producer1849, 1895, 1925
Appleton Iron MineIronPast Producer
Aragon MineIronPast Producer1849, 1889, 1932
Bradley MineIronPast Producer1849, 1937, 1959
Breen MineIronPast Producer1849, 1877, 1907
Brier Hill ProspectIronPast Producer1849, 1882, 1883
Bryngelson MineIronPast Producer
Calumet MineIronPast Producer1849, 1882, 1913
Chapin MineIronPast Producer1849, 1880, 1934
Cuff MineIronPast Producer1849, 1899, 1900
Cundy MineIronPast Producer1849, 1896, 1913
Deer Hunt Iron MineIronPast Producer
Emmett MineIronPast Producer1849, 1878, 1884
Federal ExplorationIronProspect
Felch PropertiesIronProspect1851
Few MineIronPast Producer1849, 1907, 1909
Forest MineIronPast Producer1849, 1904
Globe-Cornell MineIronPast Producer1879, 1880
Groveland Mine & PlantIronProducer
Groveland Pellet PlantIronPlant
Hamilton Fe MineIronPast Producer
Hancock MineIronProspect
Indiana MineIronPast Producer1849, 1882, 1920
Juno ExplorationIronPast Producer
Loretto MineIronPast Producer1849, 1893, 1940
Ludington MineIronPast Producer1849, 1880, 1894
Mcclintocks ExplorationIronProspect
Menominee Iron District (Range)IronPast Producer1851, 1877, 1982
Metropolitan MineIronPast Producer1849, 1882, 1888
Millie MineIronPast Producer1849, 1881, 1936
Munro MineIronPast Producer1849, 1903, 1921
Northwestern MineIronPast Producer1849, 1883, 1903
Old Ludington MineIronPast Producer
Penn MinesIronPast Producer1849, 1877
Pewabic MineIronPast Producer1849, 1880, 1918
Quinnesec MineIronPast Producer1849, 1878, 1935
Saginaw MineIronPast Producer1849, 1879, 1909
Stephenson MineIronPast Producer1849, 1879, 1887
Sturgeon ProspectIronProspect1849, 1925
Tom's Iron ShaftIronPast Producer
Turners ExplorationIronProspect
VeronaIronPast Producer1849, 1900, 1904
Vivian MineIronPast Producer1849, 1902, 1913
Walpole MineIronPast Producer
West ChapinIronPast Producer1849, 1922, 1936

Every populated place in the county

29

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.