Escanaba, Michigan
8 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Escanaba City. It lies in ZIP code area 49829. It lies near Sand Island. The Survey maps it on the Escanaba quadrangle. 12,450 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 600 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Escanaba
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 6 records
Carnegie Public Librarylisted 1977
Delta Hotellisted 1998
Escanaba Central Historic Districtlisted 2014
Peninsula Point Lighthouselisted 1975
Richter Brewerylisted 2009
Sand Lighthouselisted 1997
Population over time
2 figuresEscanaba fell from 12,616 to 12,450 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 12,616 | |
| 2020 | 12,450 | -166 (-1%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 8 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1954 USGS Escanaba quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1957 USGS Escanaba quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Escanaba quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1958 USGS Escanaba quadrangle1:250000
- 1982 USGS Escanaba quadrangle1:100000
- 1985 USGS Escanaba quadrangle1:24000
Fires near this place
62 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 62 fires within 5 miles of Escanaba between 1992 and 2020, burning about 65 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 3 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 16 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 14 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 10 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 9 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 6 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 3 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 2 |
| Natural | 1 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 2008 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | K ROAD |
| 8 August 2001 | Fireworks | under an acre | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 31 August 2012 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | WEST ESKY |
| 9 July 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | ESCANABA DPS 19-4032 - 2019 |
| 7 July 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | FORSYTH TOWNSHIP FD 0001959 - 2019 |
| 6 July 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | ESCANABA DPS 19-3940 - 2019 |
| 3 July 2005 | Natural | 1.5 acres | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 11 July 2009 | Arson/incendiarism | 2.1 acres | Michigan Department of Natural Resources | GUN CLUB |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
3 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Escanaba: 3 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Fire Clay (Refractory), Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolomite Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Algonquin Delta Clay Pit | Fire Clay (Refractory) | Past Producer | ||
| Soo Hill Clay Pit Shale | Fire Clay (Refractory) | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
42 since 1993Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Escanaba in 42 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 14 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 8 heavy rain, 5 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Lightning | Escanaba | $100,000 | Escanaba Public Safety investigator confirmed a lightning strike started a fire causing severe damage at the Bonifas Arts Center and Theater. The theater suffered heavy fire and water damage, with an estimated 6 to 9 months of closure. The arts center was closed for approximately two months. |
| July 2021 | Lightning | Escanaba | $100,000 | The Delta County Sherriff's Department reported two structures fires and a tree fire in Escanaba as a result of lightning strikes. It took over three and a half hours for firefighters to extinguish the first fire which occurred in the attic of a house at 514 South 12th Street. A man and his dog were rescued from one of the apartments at this residence. Fire fighter fatigue was reported to be a major difficulty at this fire due to the heat and humidity, and one firefighter sustained a minor injury while fighting the blaze. Escanaba Public Safety was assisted on the scene by Delta County Central Dispatch, the Escanaba Township and Ford River Township fire departments, Gladstone Public Safety Volunteer Fire Fighters, MSP 84, the Delta County Sheriff's Department, Rampart EMS, DTE, Escanaba City Electric and the Red Cross. ||While responding to the fire on South 12th Street, firefighters had to extinguish a tree fire and a second structure fire at an abandoned residence on 1612 North 20th Street. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $75,000 | Strong winds uprooted several trees in and northwest of Escanaba, damaging roofs and windows. |
| June 1998 | Tornado (F1) | Escanaba | $25,000 | A tornado touched down at the intersection of County Road 414 and 533 northwest of Escanaba. The storm damaged the siding and roof of a house under construction. Fiberglass insulation was blown in a random manner and a cover to a hot tub was blown against the side of a tree. Approximately one half mile east, was a storage shed that had collasped and a pole barn with a door blown in. The parent storm travelled northeast with evidence of another tornado touchdown near M-35 near Brampton, 12 miles north of Escanaba. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $20,000 | Escanaba Public Safety reported widespread trees and power lines downed in Delta County, including the towns of Escanaba, Gladstone and Rapid River. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | North Escanaba | $10,000 | Part of a roof blew off a building in Escanaba and debris was blocking a road. The time of the report was estimated from radar. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $6,000 | The Delta County Sheriff reported a tree down on a truck in Escanaba. Time of the report was estimated from radar. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $4,000 | Trees down across the city...amount and sizes unknown. Widespread power outages. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $3,000 | The UPPCO map showed widespread power outages across the western half of Delta County due to strong thunderstorm winds. More than 2000 customers were without power, most concentrated in Escanaba. The time of the report was estimated from radar. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $1,000 | Facebook photos were relayed by a local meteorologist of large tree limbs down in the Escanaba area. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $1,000 | Law enforcement reported multiple small trees down in north Escanaba. Time of report was estimated from radar. |
| March 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | $1,000 | Many tree branches and a small tree downed. Dime-sized hail was also reported. |
| August 2021 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | Report described flooding between 3rd and 5th Ave on Lincoln (M35/US41) as insane with flooding up to the car doors. Radar estimates were between 1 and 1.25 inches in a little over an hour. |
| June 2017 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | There was a video posted on social media of street flooding over poor drainage areas on Ludington Street in Escanaba from nearly one and half inches of rainfall. |
| May 2017 | Hail | Escanaba | - | A spotter in Escanaba observed heavy rain and pea to nickel sized hail. |
| September 2014 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | Over three inches of rain was reported in Escanaba over a 12 hour period with much of the rain falling over a couple hours in the early afternoon of the 4th. The heavy rain caused minor street flooding in Escanaba. An observer near Cornell also measured nearly two inches of rain in 45 minutes while Stonington received nearly two inches in two hours. |
| August 2014 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | The Delta County Central Dispatch reported water over multiple roads throughout the city of Escanaba. The Escanaba AWOS station measured over 1.3 inches of rainfall in 40 minutes. |
| September 2012 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | Radar estimated that one to two inches of rain fell in Escanaba in a 30-45 minute time period. Several inches of water were reported on the roads in downtown Escanaba. Reports of water on roadways were also received via Twitter. |
| June 2012 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | Intense thunderstorms dropped one to two inches of rainfall over many locations in Delta County on the afternoon of the 18th. The heavy rainfall caused standing water of one to two feet deep on U.S Highway 41 in Escanaba. |
| August 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | - | A six-inch diameter tree limb and several three-inch diameter branches were knocked down. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Escanaba | - | Dime to nickel-sized hail. |
| July 2007 | Flash Flood | Escanaba | - | Flooding reported under the M-35 viaduct. Storm sewers could not keep up with heavy rainfall throughout Escanaba and Gladstone. |
| July 2007 | Flash Flood | Escanaba | - | Water above the curb along Main Street in Escanaba. |
| July 2007 | Flash Flood | Escanaba | - | A few roads closed in Gladstone due to flash flooding with nearly two inches of rain reported in less than two hours. |
| June 2006 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | Brief heavy rain caused ponding of water near the 1200 block of Ludington Street. |
| August 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | - | Several six to eight-inch diameter trees down around 16th Avenue and 16th Street. |
| August 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | - | Several three-inch diameter tree limbs down. |
| October 2005 | Heavy Rain | Escanaba | - | Two to three inches of rain clogged storm sewers and flooded portions of Ludington Street with 2-3 feet of water. Several cars became stranded in water. Damage estimates were not available. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Escanaba | - | Three quarter inch diameter hail was reported. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Escanaba | - | One and a quarter inch hail was reported. |
| October 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | - | A large tree branch was broken off. |
| August 2002 | Hail | Escanaba | - | Golf ball sized hail was reported. |
| August 2002 | Flash Flood | Escanaba | - | Heavy rain flooded the intersection of US-2, M-35 and US-41 with a foot of water. |
| September 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Escanaba | - | Trees up-rooted. |
| July 2007 | Hail | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| May 2006 | Flash Flood | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Funnel Cloud | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Funnel Cloud | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| July 1997 | Hail | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Hail | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Hail | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
| August 1993 | Hail | Escanaba | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | 2.3 miles | 9 | |
| Larch | 3.1 miles | 9 | |
| North Escabana (historical) | 3.6 miles | 9 | |
| Soo Hill | 4.2 miles | 9 | |
| Lake Bluff | 4.7 miles | 9 | |
| Stonington | 4.9 miles | 8 | |
| Groos | 5.0 miles | 9 | |
| Pine Ridge | 5.8 miles | 8 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Escanaba | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1022872 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1619865. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.





