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Ely Township, Michigan facts for kids

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Ely Township, Michigan
Location within Marquette County
Location within Marquette County
Ely Township, Michigan is located in Michigan
Ely Township, Michigan
Ely Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Ely Township, Michigan is located in the United States
Ely Township, Michigan
Ely Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Michigan
County Marquette
Area
 • Total 140.74 sq mi (364.5 km2)
 • Land 137.49 sq mi (356.1 km2)
 • Water 3.25 sq mi (8.4 km2)
Elevation
1,411 ft (430 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,900
 • Density 13.8/sq mi (5.3/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
49814 (Champion)
49849 (Ishpeming)
FIPS code 26-103-25820
GNIS feature ID 1626237

Ely Township is a special kind of local government area called a civil township. It is located in Marquette County in the state of Michigan. In 2020, about 1,900 people lived here.

Exploring Ely Township's Communities

Ely Township is home to several small communities. These places each have their own history and unique features.

Clarksburg: A Historic Iron Town

  • Clarksburg was started in 1862. It is located along the Escanaba River. A company called the Michigan Iron Company once had a large blast furnace here. This furnace was used to make iron. The town was officially mapped out in 1881. Its post office closed in 1894.

Greenwood: A Railway Stop

  • Greenwood is a small community that isn't officially organized as a town. You can find it on US 41/M-28. It's about three miles west of Ishpeming. Greenwood was a stop on the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway. It was first mapped in 1865.

Greenwood's Iron Furnace History

Greenwood was also home to blast furnaces owned by the Michigan Iron Company. Because of these furnaces, it was first known as "Greenwood Furnace." A post office operated here from 1867 until 1875. That was the year the furnaces stopped working.

South Greenwood: Near the Old Station

  • South Greenwood is another small community. It's about one mile south of US 41/M-28. The old Greenwood Station for the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway was located here.

Snowville: A Quiet Spot

  • Snowville is a small community within the township. It is located between Clarksburg and Greenwood.

Geography of Ely Township

Ely Township is found in the western part of Marquette County. It covers a total area of about 140.7 square miles. Most of this area, about 137.5 square miles, is land. The remaining 3.2 square miles are water, like lakes and rivers.

Major Highways in the Township

  • US 41 and M-28 are important roads. They both pass through the northern part of Ely Township. These highways run from east to west.

Understanding Ely Township's Climate

Clarksburg, a community in Ely Township, has a very snowy climate. It's known as a humid continental climate (Dfb). This type of climate is quite close to a subarctic climate (Dfc). It is one of the coldest places in Michigan. The average temperature for the year is about 38.2°F (3.4°C).

Seasonal Weather Patterns

Summers in Ely Township are usually pleasant but can be rainy. Daytime temperatures are warm or hot, but nights are cooler. Summer is also the wettest time of the year. Spring and autumn weather can change a lot. Springs tend to be cooler and have more snow.

Long, Snowy Winters

Winters are very long and cold. They usually last for five to six months. The area gets a lot of snow, averaging over 120 inches (305 cm) each year. This is often due to lake-effect snow. Even during winter, there might be a few milder days.

Growing Season and Temperature Swings

The growing season for plants is quite short here. It lasts only about 88 days, from June 12 to September 8. However, it can sometimes freeze even during the summer months. The temperature can change a lot between day and night, especially in spring and summer.

Climate Records

Here are some interesting weather records for Clarksburg:

  • Hottest Day: 96°F (35.6°C) – recorded on July 16, 2006, and August 1, 2006.
  • Coldest Day: -38°F (-38.9°C) – recorded on February 24, 2015.
  • Warmest Night: 71°F (21.7°C) – recorded on August 21, 2003.
  • Coldest Daytime High: -8°F (-22.2°C) – recorded on February 5, 2007.
  • Most Snow in One Day: 21 inches (53.3 cm) – recorded on December 13, 2004.
  • Deepest Snow: 60 inches (152.4 cm) – recorded on February 24 and 25, 2019.
Climate data for Clarksburg, Michigan, 1991–2020 normals: 1554ft (474m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 48
(9)
58
(14)
80
(27)
84
(29)
94
(34)
93
(34)
96
(36)
96
(36)
93
(34)
85
(29)
74
(23)
52
(11)
96
(36)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 39
(4)
45
(7)
59
(15)
74
(23)
86
(30)
89
(32)
90
(32)
90
(32)
85
(29)
76
(24)
56
(13)
42
(6)
92
(33)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 21.5
(−5.8)
25.3
(−3.7)
36.8
(2.7)
49.4
(9.7)
64.1
(17.8)
74.1
(23.4)
78.4
(25.8)
76.4
(24.7)
68.2
(20.1)
53.3
(11.8)
37.5
(3.1)
26.8
(−2.9)
51.0
(10.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 11.8
(−11.2)
12.7
(−10.7)
22.2
(−5.4)
36.0
(2.2)
49.4
(9.7)
59.3
(15.2)
63.6
(17.6)
61.8
(16.6)
54.7
(12.6)
42.0
(5.6)
29.0
(−1.7)
17.6
(−8.0)
38.3
(3.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 2.2
(−16.6)
0.2
(−17.7)
7.6
(−13.6)
22.7
(−5.2)
34.6
(1.4)
44.6
(7.0)
48.8
(9.3)
47.2
(8.4)
41.2
(5.1)
30.8
(−0.7)
20.5
(−6.4)
8.5
(−13.1)
25.7
(−3.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −22
(−30)
−24
(−31)
−22
(−30)
2
(−17)
20
(−7)
31
(−1)
37
(3)
34
(1)
28
(−2)
17
(−8)
1
(−17)
−13
(−25)
−28
(−33)
Record low °F (°C) −35
(−37)
−38
(−39)
−36
(−38)
−17
(−27)
16
(−9)
27
(−3)
31
(−1)
28
(−2)
22
(−6)
7
(−14)
−14
(−26)
−34
(−37)
−38
(−39)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.58
(40)
1.29
(33)
1.34
(34)
2.51
(64)
2.87
(73)
3.27
(83)
3.92
(100)
2.71
(69)
3.23
(82)
3.50
(89)
2.26
(57)
1.63
(41)
30.11
(765)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 25.10
(63.8)
23.90
(60.7)
14.50
(36.8)
14.70
(37.3)
0.80
(2.0)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
2.70
(6.9)
15.00
(38.1)
21.10
(53.6)
117.8
(299.2)
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: XMACIS (records & monthly max/mins)

People of Ely Township

In 2000, about 2,010 people lived in Ely Township. There were 726 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people living here were White (98.71%). A small number were Native American or from other backgrounds.

Age Groups in the Township

The population of Ely Township includes people of all ages. About 27.8% were under 18 years old. About 7.8% were 65 years old or older. The average age was 37 years.

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