Little Charity Island facts for kids
 Little Charity Island
Location in Michigan
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Saginaw Bay |
| Coordinates | 44°00′09″N 83°27′58″W / 44.00250°N 83.46611°W |
| Area | 5.4 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Arenac County |
| Township | Sims Township |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Little Charity Island is a small island located in Saginaw Bay, which is part of Lake Huron. This tiny island is about 5.4 acres (0.02 square kilometers) in size. You can find it in Sims Township, within Arenac County, in the state of Michigan, United States.
Little Charity Island: A Small Gem
Little Charity Island sits right in the middle of Saginaw Bay. It is located inland from its larger neighbor, Big Charity Island. The island is found about halfway between "Point Lookout" to the northwest and "Sand Point" to the southeast.
Since 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has owned this island. It is managed by staff from the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. This makes Little Charity Island a part of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect important natural areas and wildlife.
Nature's Home
Even though it is small, Little Charity Island is full of life! It has trees that grow near the water, which are called riparian trees. The island is also a special home for waterbirds that nest in groups, like double-crested cormorants. Many people who fish in the bay use the island as a helpful point for navigation.
A Look Back in Time
Little Charity Island has an interesting history. An old map from 1839 shows that it was once called "Ile de Traverse."
In the 1800s and early 1900s, the Bay Port Fish Company owned Little Charity Island. This company was a commercial fishing business in Saginaw Bay. They owned the island because of its special water rights, which were important for their fishing work. After the 1940s, Michigan law changed. Because of these new laws, the island was sold, just like other islands in the bay.
