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Mason County, Michigan

52 topographic sheets cover 24 settlements here, and 10 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

10 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
Mason County within Michigan

What the record shows

  • 242 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 10 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 7 buildings, 2 structures and 1 district.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 24 populated places in this county; 24 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

10

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
Big Sable Point Light Stationbuilding198383004296
William A. and Catherine Cartier Housebuilding201414001007
East Ludington Avenue Historic Districtdistrict2022100007920
Haskell Manufacturing Company Buildingbuilding2020100005785
Lake Michigan Beach House, Ludington State Parkbuilding201313000798
Ludington North Breakwater Lightstructure200505000982
Ludington United States Coast Guard Stationbuilding201010000264
Mason County Courthousebuilding198888000602
S.S. BADGER (carferry)structure200909000679
Scottville Schoolbuilding200101000571

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

232 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 232 of them, burning about 1,019 acres. 8 started naturally and 9 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning83
Missing data/not specified/undetermined45
Recreation and ceremony45
Equipment and vehicle use23
Arson/incendiarism9
Natural8
Power generation/transmission/distribution7
Fireworks4
Other causes3
Smoking3
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
26 June 1995Natural200 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestMEADE
22 April 1994Missing data/not specified/undetermined100 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestBRANCH
5 April 2010Debris and open burning40 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMASON 02
2 April 1997Debris and open burning40 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestGRANT TOWNSHIP
20 March 2012Recreation and ceremony35 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMASON 01
6 April 2008Recreation and ceremony31 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestBUDZYNSKI ROAD
27 May 2018Arson/incendiarism30 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestTAYLOR 2
29 April 2001Debris and open burning30 acresHuron-Manistee National ForestTAYLOR ROAD

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

Storms, 1960 to 2026

60 of 117 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 117 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 13 injuries and about $12,438,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind78
Hail23
Flash Flood9
Tornado5
Flood2

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
April 1972Tornado (F2)not stated8 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindLudington5 hurt, $1,000,000Michigan Department of State Police - Emergency Management Division's (EMD's) Damage and Injury Assessment Report indicated $398,000 in public damage costs, 66 homes damaged, 3 homes destroyed, and 4 businesses damaged. Five injuries were reported, one of which required hospitilization. In addition, 12 vacation/secondary residences incurred major damage and 9 had minor damage. Newspaper and media reports indicated public and private damage costs combined exceeded $1.0 Million. Mason County declared a local state of emergency and was granted a Governor's disaster declaration to activate state assistance for the county. On June 24th, President Clinton granted a Major Disaster Declaration for Mason County, making federal disaster assistance available.
April 2013FloodFreesoil$3,000,000Significant flooding occurred on rivers and streams across Mason county due to significant rainfall from early to mid April.
June 2008Flash FloodHamlin Lake Lake$3,000,000The Michigan Department of Transportation shut down U.S. 31 from Manistee to Scottville when the road washed out. There were four washouts on M-116 on the drive to Ludington State Park. One of those washouts was eight feet deep. The Department of Natural Resources evacuated and then closed Ludington State Park due to flooding and concerns about the Hamlin Lake Dam. Mason county officials shut down 47 roads due to flooding and washouts. ||Damage to public infrastructure (mostly road and bridge washouts) was estimated to have reached close to three million dollars for this event. A presidential disaster declaration for flooding was issued for Mason county. The hardest hit areas received up to eleven inches of rain in only six to eight hours.
July 2019FloodFreesoil$500,000Six to ten inches of rain resulted in several road washouts, a few culvert failures and a couple of bridge washouts.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindBass Lake$500,000Numerous trees were blown down and buildings and homes were damaged in Summit and Riverton townships.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindWalhalla$250,000Mason county emergency management reported that numerous trees were blown down across Mason county.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindHamlin Lake$150,000Wind gusts of up to near 80 mph brought down several trees across portions of Mason county. Extensive tree damage was found along a twenty mile swath starting at Tamarack Park and ending near Lake Emerson. Power poles were also destroyed along Maple road.
September 2021HailFern$100,000Hail up to two and a half inches in diameter was reported across portions of Mason county.
November 2020Thunderstorm WindLudington Arpt$100,000Numerous trees were blown down across portions of Mason county.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindHamlin Lake$100,000The Ludington daily news reported numerous trees down in Ludington State Park that caused damage to camper trailers, vehicles and a park building.
February 2001Flash FloodCountywide$100,000no account filed
May 2012Flash FloodFreesoil$75,000Several roads were either flooded or washed out across portions of Mason county. Radar estimated that up to 5 to 7 inches of heavy rain fell across portions of east central Mason county. A trained spotter reported that Barnett Boulevard was washed out in South Branch.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindBass Lake$50,000Severe storms brought down numerous trees and tree limbs as well as some power lines.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindMillerton$50,000Trees were blown down in Sheridan and Branch townships.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindHamlin Lake Lake$50,000A 61 mph measured gust was reported by a mesonet station at Big Sable Point and several trees were blown down across portions of Mason county.
October 2006Thunderstorm WindFreesoil$50,000Law enforcement reported widespread wind damage (downed trees) across northern Mason county.
May 2001Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
May 2001Flash FloodCountywide$50,000no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindFreesoil$40,000no account filed
October 2006Thunderstorm WindMillerton$30,000Several trees and power lines were blown down across Mason county.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindScottville$25,000Law enforcement reported that trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindFountain$25,000A severe thunderstorm produced a measured wind gust of 65 mph. Two vehicle crashes due to several trees down across Custer rd. were reported with no injuries. A downed high voltage line cut power to most of Ludington.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindWiley$25,000A county official reported that multiple large trees were blown down near Wiley. This storm also brought down scattered branches in Lake and Newaygo Counties.
May 2012HailLudington$25,000A county official reported hail up to one and three quarters inch in diameter in Scottville.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindLudington$25,000A 66 mph peak wind gust was measured near Ludington and many trees and power lines were blown down.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindLudington$25,000Numerous trees were blown down along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindScottville$25,000Several trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts in Scottville.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindLudington$25,000Numerous trees and power lines downed in Ludington. A large tree was blown over onto a house at 907 E. Russell Street. Three vehicles were also damaged at the mentioned residence.
September 1997Thunderstorm WindLudington$25,000A peak wind gust of 57 mph registered at the Mason County Airport just east of Ludington when a line of severe thunderstorms moved onshore around 12:15 AM EDT, Wednesday, September 17, 1997. The Mason County Road Commission reported trees and power lines were downed across the county, cutting power to 500 customers of Consumers Energy and Western Michigan Electric Cooperative. One tree, nine feet in circumference, toppled onto the roof of the Ludington Outboard Club building along the Pere Marquette Lake.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindWiley$25,000no account filed
May 2001Flash FloodCountywide$25,000no account filed
May 2001Flash FloodCountywide$25,000no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindLudington$25,000no account filed
September 2000Thunderstorm WindScottville$25,000no account filed
April 2008Thunderstorm WindFreesoil$20,000An emergency manager from Mason county reported that several trees were toppled by high wind gusts, mainly north of U.S. 10 across the northern portion of the county.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindLudington$20,000Law enforcement reported that several trees were blown down across southern Mason county.
September 2005Thunderstorm WindScottville$20,000Many trees and power lines were blown down in Scottville.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindScottville$20,000no account filed
July 2005Thunderstorm WindScottville$20,000no account filed
July 2000HailScottville$20,000no account filed
June 2014Thunderstorm WindCuster$15,000Mason county officials reported that several trees were blown down across portions of Mason county.
October 2006HailHamlin Lake$15,000Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported at Ludington State Park.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindFountain$10,000Several trees were blown down near Fountain during the early morning hours.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindLudington$10,000Mason county dispatch reported that several trees were blown down across multiple locations in Mason county.
October 2015Thunderstorm WindLudington$10,000An isolated severe thunderstorm near Ludington produced wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph that brought down some scattered trees and power lines. Seven eighths inch diameter hail was also reported in Ludington.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindFreesoil$10,000Several trees were blown down in portions of Mason county including one to three miles west of Freesoil, in Scottville and in Ludington.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindFountain$10,000Several trees were blown down in Fountain.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindWalhalla$10,000Trees were blown down on wires near the intersection of Route 10 and Schoenherr Road.
March 2005HailLudington$10,000A trained spotter reported three quarters inch diameter hail three miles north of Ludington.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindLudington$10,000Law enforcement in Ludington reported that a couple of trees were blown down.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindScottville$10,000An isolated severe thunderstorm during the late evening hours blew down several trees and power lines in Scottville and Ludington (Mason county).
May 2001HailScottville$10,000An isolated severe thunderstorm produced nickel-sized diameter hail 3 miles south of Scottville.
February 1999Thunderstorm WindLudington$10,000Trees were reported downed by strong winds in Ludington.
August 1998Flash FloodWalhalla$10,000slow moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rain over Mason county
September 1997Thunderstorm WindFountain$10,000Trees and power lines were downed in Fountain.
April 2002Thunderstorm WindFountain$10,000no account filed
August 2001Thunderstorm WindWalhalla$10,000no account filed
March 2000HailScottville$10,000no account filed
August 2024Thunderstorm WindFern$5,000A few trees were blown down near Colfax.

Mines and quarries

11 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 11 workings inside this county. 7 still produce and 4 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction4
Magnesite3
Fire Clay (Refractory)2
Bromine, Calcium1
Halite1
Silica1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Dow Chemical - LudingtonHaliteProducerSedimentary
Dow-LudingtonMagnesite, Bromine, CalciumProducer1942
Ludington SiteSilicaPast ProducerSedimentary
Keiser's Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
West Branch Clay PitFire Clay (Refractory)Past Producer
Dow Chemicals--Ludington, Mich.MagnesiteProducer
Harbison-WalkerMagnesitePlant1957
Johnson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ludington MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Ludington PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ludington PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

24

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.

The vanished settlements of Mason County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

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.