McMillan, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
McMillan, Michigan
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Looking west along M-28
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 McMillan, Michigan
Location in Michigan
McMillan, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Luce |
| Township | Columbus |
| Settled | 1881 |
| Established | 1882 |
| Elevation | 781 ft (238 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49853
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| Area code(s) | 906 |
| GNIS feature ID | 631994 |
McMillan is a small community in Luce County, Michigan. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it's part of Columbus Township. McMillan is located along a main road called M-28. Even though it doesn't have official borders or population numbers, it has its own post office with the ZIP Code 49853.
Contents
History of McMillan
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The community of McMillan started in 1881. This was when the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway built a train line through the area. A train station, called McMillan Station, was opened to serve the people living there. Both the station and the new community were named after James McMillan, who was a leader at the railway company and later a senator for Michigan.
McMillan got its own post office on April 21, 1882. This post office has been open ever since! Today, you can find it at 22579 M-28, right in the middle of the community.
In 1887, McMillan had about 40 people living there. The community grew because of the busy lumber industry, which involved cutting down trees. The railway helped connect McMillan to many other places in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. By 1910, McMillan's population reached its highest point, with about 300 people. It had many stores, hotels, and a sawmill. But when the lumber industry slowed down, the population dropped to about 200 by 1927, and many businesses closed.
In 1919, a state highway called M-25 was built through McMillan. Later, in 1928, this highway was renamed M-28. The train line is still used today by the Canadian National Railway, but trains no longer stop in McMillan. The Columbus Township Cemetery, also known as the McMillan Cemetery, is located in the community.
Lincoln School: A Unique Building
Around 1910, the McMillan School was built for the children living there. This school building was quite unusual because it didn't have any windows on the front! These were called "blind walls" and were designed to control the light in the classrooms. The school didn't even get electricity until 1925.
In 1916, the school joined a larger system called Standard School to help more students in the countryside. That same year, the building got a big addition because more students were coming. Until 1922, the school taught students up to the eleventh grade. Students who wanted to finish twelfth grade had to go to Newberry. In 1923, the school had its first graduating class with four students.
In 1932, the school was renamed Lincoln School. However, due to money problems, some students still had to go to Newberry for their education. The school closed by 1973, and all students started going to Tahquamenon Area Schools in Newberry. The old school building was later bought and used by a company that bottled water from the nearby Tahquamenon River. Today, the original school building is empty.
Geography and Location
McMillan is located in the southeastern part of Columbus Township. It's in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, about 10 miles (16 km) west of the village of Newberry. McMillan sits about 781 feet (238 meters) above sea level. Some areas around the community are part of the Sault Ste. Marie section of the Lake Superior State Forest.
The community of McMillan is centered around M-28 and County Road 415, which is also known as McMillan Avenue. Besides Newberry, other nearby communities include Dollarville to the east, Curtis and Helmer to the south, and Seney to the west. There's also a smaller place called McMillan Corner directly south of McMillan.
McMillan has one of only two post offices in Luce County (the other is in Newberry). The McMillan post office uses the 49853 ZIP Code. This post office serves a large area, including most of Columbus Township and Lakefield Township. It also serves small parts of Portage Township in Mackinac County and Germfask Township in Schoolcraft County. Students in McMillan go to Tahquamenon Area Schools in Newberry, which is the largest public school district in Michigan by area.
The upper part of the Tahquamenon River flows just north of the center of McMillan. The Columbus Township Hall, which is like the local government office for the township, is located in McMillan at 7459 County Road 415.
Media and Radio
- WMJT 96.7 FM is a radio station that plays adult contemporary music. It is licensed to McMillan and serves the Newberry area.
Gallery
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Main Street in 1910 -
The former McMillan Station in 1918 -
U.S. Post Office in McMillan -
The defunct Lincoln School in 2021
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