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Iosco County, Michigan

30 topographic sheets cover 29 settlements here, and 3 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

3 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Michigan within the United States
Iosco County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 351 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 3 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 2 districts and 1 building.
  • 1 of the 3 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

3

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
Alabaster Historic Districtdistrict197777000715
Cooke Hydroelectric Plantdistrict199696000803
Tawas Point Light Stationbuilding198484001453

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

655 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 655 of them, burning about 2,840 acres. 10 started naturally and 69 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning184
Missing data/not specified/undetermined138
Recreation and ceremony82
Power generation/transmission/distribution69
Arson/incendiarism69
Equipment and vehicle use43
Smoking21
Misuse of fire by a minor19
Fireworks11
Natural10
Other causes5
Railroad operations and maintenance4

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
28 April 2003Arson/incendiarism531 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestALDRICH ROAD
24 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined270 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestEXHAUST
2 June 1998Natural125 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestTUTTLE MARSH
25 March 2000Power generation/transmission/distribution74 acresHuron-Manistee National Forest4411
23 July 1998Recreation and ceremony68 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestAIRPORT
18 May 1998Arson/incendiarism62 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestFUELBREAK
27 April 2003Recreation and ceremony52 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestVAUGHN CREEK
29 April 2004Equipment and vehicle use52 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

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

Storms, 1953 to 2025

60 of 164 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 164 reports for this county, causing 4 deaths, 20 injuries and about $7,298,253 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind74
Hail71
Tornado14
Lightning3
Flash Flood1
Flood1

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
June 1953Tornado (F2)not stated4 killed, 13 hurt, $250,000no account filed
July 2003LightningOscoda4 hurt, $10,000Lightning struck a large business sign mounted on a tall pole. The heavy plastic facing of the sign shattered and fell onto vehicles below. One car with four occupants had its windows shattered and tires blown out by the impact. The occupants were treated at the scene by an EMS crew for cuts and bruises. Other vehicles in the vicinity were damaged, but not as severely.
July 2007LightningTawas City2 hurtTwo canoers, one male and one female, were struck by lightning while taking shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. The woman was knocked unconscious, and both suffered significant burns. They were transported to a burn center in Flint to recover.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindHale1 hurt, $18,000Multiple trees were downed. One tree was downed onto an occupied vehicle, injuring an occupant.
March 1991Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
March 1991Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
May 2020FloodAlabaster$1,200,000Widespread areal flooding developed in central and southern Iosco County on the 18th. Many creeks and rivers rose out of their banks, including the Au Gres River system and Silver Creek and its tributaries. Many roads across the county were closed, including Meadow Road in Tawas City. Railroad tracks were also washed out in Tawas City. Townline Road in Tawas Township was washed out by Dead Creek. Flooding along the Lake Huron coastline was worsened by lakeshore flooding thanks to onshore winds.
June 1982Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2014Tornado (EF1)Hale$140,000The tornado caused sporadic but considerable tree damage along its path. When it crossed the town of Hale, several high-profile vehicles were blown over, numerous utility poles were blown over, and several homes and businesses sustained roof damage. Estimated peak winds were 100 mph.
August 2011Tornado (EF0)Alabaster Jct$75,000Several people witnessed the tornado touch down between US-23 and Tawas Bay. The tornado was on the ground for less than a quarter-mile, crossing Douglas Drive just north of Lakeview Drive, before reaching the bay as a waterspout. Forty trees were downed, and six homes suffered damage, mostly roof damage due to those falling trees. Winds were estimated at 70 mph.
July 2006Thunderstorm Wind(Osc)Wurtsmith Afb O$25,000Considerable tree damage extended from just upstream of Cooke Dam to the upper reaches of the Foote Dam Pond. Many trees knocked over at the Sawmill Point Campground in the Huron National Forest. A sign, a boat trailer, and a camper were all destroyed or heavily damaged by fallen trees.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindOscoda$25,000Trees and utility lines were downed. A business sign was blown down, damaging nearby parked cars.
May 1983Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1977Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 1977Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1976Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2006Thunderstorm WindTawas City$20,000Numerous trees and power lines downed. Camper trailer flipped over.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindEast Tawas Iosco Arp$16,000Scattered patches of trees and power lines downed in central Iosco County.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindNational City$15,000A tree was downed onto a truck.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindSand Lake$12,000Multiple trees, tree limbs and power lines were downed. One road northeast of Sand Lake was blocked.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindTawas City$12,000Numerous trees and power lines downed in and west of Tawas City.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindEast Tawas$10,000Metal roof blown off a barn.
September 2001Thunderstorm WindHale$10,000Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front. A couple of storms uprooted 1 and 2 foot diameter trees in Hale. In addition, several roofs were damaged and a tin building was destroyed.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindTawas City$6,000Several trees were uprooted along River Street in Tawas City.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindWhittemore$6,000Trees were downed by damaging winds.
November 2013Thunderstorm WindWhittemore$6,000Multiple trees were downed.
May 2012Thunderstorm WindHale$6,000Numerous large oak trees trees were uprooted near the Alcona and Iosco County line.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindEast Tawas Iosco Arp$5,000Numerous trees were downed near Wilber.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindNational City$5,000Trees and large tree limbs were downed.
November 2013Thunderstorm WindHale$5,000Several trees were downed.
April 2011LightningTawas City$5,000Lightning struck a pine tree, which toppled onto a home, and catching the home on fire.
May 1995Tornado (F1)Saint Clair$5,000A tornado touched down and remained on the ground for a couple of minutes. While on the ground it destroyed a small barn, peeled siding off of a house, and destroyed a high voltage tower.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindLong Lake$4,000A number of trees were downed.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindWhittemore$4,000Trees and power lines were downed in far southern Iosco County.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHemlock$4,000Several trees were downed in Grant Township.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindTawas City$3,000Some tree limbs and numerous power lines were downed.
July 2003Flash FloodOscoda$3,000Widespread street flooding occurred, with over six inches of water covering streets in the business district. Some basements also flooded.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindHale$2,500A few trees were downed.
August 2008Thunderstorm Wind(Osc)Wurtsmith Afb O$2,500A few trees were downed in Wilber Township.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindNational City$2,000Public report of a tree blown down on top of a structure.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindSand Lake$2,000Iosco county dispatch reports trees down near Sand Lake.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindWhittemore$2,000Iosco county dispatch reports trees down near Whittemore.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindTawas City$2,000County dispatch reports trees down in Tawas.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindOscoda$2,000Trees downed across Cedar Road.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindOscoda$2,000A line of thunderstorms organized just before it moved offshore onto Lake Huron. Several trees were downed near Cedar Lake.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindTawas City$1,000County dispatch reported powerlines down in Tawas. Time estimated from radar.
June 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
April 1993Thunderstorm WindWhittemore$3A spotter reported several large trees uprooted due to thunderstorm winds.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindEast Tawas-Marine wind sensor on Tawas Bay reported wind gust to 60mph.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindWhittemore-Report of a camper blown over near Whittemore.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindEast Tawas-Measured wind gust at Tawas Point.
July 2009HailEast Tawas-Penny sized hail at Red Hawk Golf Course.
July 2008HailLong Lake-Hail covered the ground at a local golf course.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindAu Sable-A trained spotter estimated a 60 mph wind gust.
April 2008HailEast Tawas-Mostly pea sized hail, but a few hailstones as large as nickels.
April 2006HailTawas City-Thunderstorms affected Central Lower Michigan, just ahead of a cold front. Some of the storms produced small hail, and one produced hail as large as pennies near the intersection of M-65 and M-55 in Iosco County.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindHale-Trees were downed.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindEast Tawas-Several trees were downed.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindTawas City-Large tree limbs were downed.

Mines and quarries

12 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 12 workings inside this county. 7 still produce and 5 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Gypsum-Anhydrite9
Clay2
Sand and Gravel, Construction1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Burge Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Tawas City Eastern Clay PitClayPast Producer
Tawas City Western Clay PitClayPast Producer
Alabaster Mine and MillGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Alabaster QuarryGypsum-AnhydriteProducer1865, 2001
Michigan Gypsum Co PitGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Michigan Gypsum Pit & MillGypsum-AnhydriteProducer1960
Michigan Gypsum Pit and MillGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
National City QuarryGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer1925
National Pit & MillGypsum-AnhydriteProducer
Natl Gypsum Co PitGypsum-AnhydritePast Producer
Tawas QuarryGypsum-AnhydriteProducer1950

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.