Mathias Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mathias Township, Michigan
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Location within Alger County
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 Mathias Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Mathias Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Alger |
| Area | |
| • Total | 72.0 sq mi (186.5 km2) |
| • Land | 70.7 sq mi (183.1 km2) |
| • Water | 1.4 sq mi (3.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 787 ft (240 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 532 |
| • Density | 7.84/sq mi (3.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| FIPS code | 26-52360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626710 |
Mathias Township is a small community located in Alger County, in the state of Michigan, United States. It is a type of local government area called a civil township. In 2010, about 554 people lived here. By 2020, the population was 532.
Contents
Exploring Mathias Township's Geography
Mathias Township covers a total area of about 186.5 square kilometers (about 72 square miles). Most of this area, 183.1 square kilometers (70.7 square miles), is land. The rest, about 3.5 square kilometers (1.4 square miles), is water.
Communities in the Township
- Trenary is a small, unincorporated community within Mathias Township. This means it's a recognized place but doesn't have its own separate local government. Trenary is well-known in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the wider Upper Midwest region.
Trenary Toast: A Local Treat
One famous food product from Trenary is "Trenary Toast." This is a type of Finnish rusk bread, similar to a hard, dry biscuit. It's based on a traditional Finnish bread called korppu.
Weather in Trenary
Trenary gets about 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain each year. It's also known for its snowy winters, with an average of 129 inches (328 centimeters) of snow per year.
Understanding the Population of Mathias Township
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 742 | — | |
| 1970 | 644 | −13.2% | |
| 1980 | 680 | 5.6% | |
| 1990 | 563 | −17.2% | |
| 2000 | 571 | 1.4% | |
| 2010 | 554 | −3.0% | |
| Source: Census Bureau. Census 1960- 2000, 2010. | |||
In 2000, there were 571 people living in Mathias Township. The population density was about 8 people per square mile. Most of the people living here were White, with smaller numbers of Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. Some residents also identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many people in the township have roots from different countries. In 2000, a large number had Finnish ancestry. Other common backgrounds included German, English, Swedish, and Irish.
The population of Mathias Township has changed over the years. In 1960, there were 742 people. The number went down to 554 in 2010 and then to 532 in 2020. The median age in 2000 was 45 years old. This means half the people were younger than 45, and half were older.
The Fun Trenary Outhouse Classic
Since 1993, Trenary has been home to a very unique event called the Trenary Outhouse Classic. This fun race happens every year on the last Saturday of February. It attracts around 4,000 people who come to watch!
How the Outhouse Classic Works
Teams build their own special "outhouses" and mount them on skis. These outhouses must have a toilet seat and a roll of toilet paper. Participants then push their outhouse about 500 feet (152 meters) down Main Street in Trenary to the finish line.
Race Categories
There are different groups that can compete in the race. These include categories for kids aged 6-10, teens aged 16-20, and adults in different age ranges (21-35, 36-49, and 50 and over). It's a really silly and fun event for everyone!
