West Branch Township, Dickinson County, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Branch Township, Michigan
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Location within Dickinson County
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 West Branch Township, Dickinson County, Michigan
Location in Michigan
West Branch Township, Dickinson County, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Dickinson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 111.85 sq mi (289.69 km2) |
| • Land | 111.46 sq mi (288.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,158 ft (353 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 51 |
| • Density | 0.46/sq mi (0.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-85520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1627245 |
West Branch Township is a small community located in Dickinson County, in the state of Michigan, United States. It is a type of local government area known as a civil township. In 2020, only 51 people lived here. This makes it one of the least populated places in Michigan.
Contents
About West Branch Township
West Branch Township is one of the least densely populated areas in Michigan. This means there are very few people living per square mile. It has fewer residents than most other places in the state.
Geography of the Township
West Branch Township covers a total area of about 111.85 square miles (289.69 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 111.46 square miles (288.68 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.39 square miles (1.01 square kilometers), is water.
Rivers and Waterways
Several rivers flow through West Branch Township. The north and main branches of the Ford River are found here. The west branch of the Escanaba River also runs through the township.
Schools in the Area
Students living in West Branch Township attend schools that are part of the North Dickinson County Schools district. These schools are located southwest of the township, in the community of Felch.
Communities in West Branch Township
West Branch Township is home to a couple of small, unincorporated communities. These are places that do not have their own separate local government.
Alfred
Alfred is a small community within the township. It is located near where the north branch of the Ford River joins the main branch. Alfred was first settled around 1903. It began as a station along a railroad line called the Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Paul Railroad. A post office operated in Alfred from December 8, 1903, until November 15, 1910.
Ralph
Ralph is another unincorporated community in West Branch Township. This community was settled in 1901. It also started as a station along a railroad, the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad. The community was named after Ralph Wells, whose father, J. W. Wells, was a lumberman from Menominee. A post office opened here on January 17, 1901, first named Bryden. It was renamed Ralph on June 6, 1904. The Ralph post office closed in 2012.
Population Information
In 2000, there were 67 people living in West Branch Township. There were 29 households and 18 families. By the year 2020, the population had decreased to 51 people.
