Detroit Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Detroit Island

Facing the northern side of the island from the harbor
Detroit Island Location in Wisconsin Show map of Wisconsin Detroit Island Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Geography
Location	Door County, Wisconsin
Coordinates	45°19′17″N 86°54′58″W / 45.321487°N 86.916073°W / 45.321487; -86.916073
Area	637.12 acres (257.83 ha)
Highest elevation	594 ft (181.1 m)
Administration
United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Door County
Town	Washington Island

Detroit Island is a mostly privately owned island in Lake Michigan in the southern part of the town of Washington in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The island has a land area of 2.578 km² (0.9955 sq mi, or 637.12 acres). The northern end of the island borders the waters of Detroit Harbor.

Grand Traverse Island State Park was founded in 1970 and protects sightly more than 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land on Detroit Island. It consists of five discontiguous parcels and there is no ferry access.

History

Fishermen working with nets on Detroit Island; from a postcard postmarked in 1909

The border between Wisconsin and Michigan was originally defined as "the most usual ship channel" into Green Bay from Lake Michigan but commercial routes existed both to the north and south of the island which lead to a border dispute. In 1936, the U.S. Supreme Court decision Wisconsin v. Michigan found that Detroit and three other islands were part of Wisconsin.

Nearby islands

Detroit Island is the long and narrow island at center-right. Beneath Detroit Island on the right is the much smaller Pilot Island, with Plum Island is at the lower left. Washington Island is in the distance.

Images for kids

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  Ice stringers along the southeastern part of the island at 1:52:46 PM Central Standard Time on February 22, 2014. North is towards the left in this photo taken during Expedition 38 of the International Space Station