Mio, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mio, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Community looking south along M-33
Location within Oscoda County
Mio, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Mio, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oscoda
Townships	Big Creek, Elmer, and Mentor
Founded	1881
Area
• Total	8.98 sq mi (23.3 km2)
• Land	8.37 sq mi (21.7 km2)
• Water	0.61 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation	1,020 ft (311 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,826
• Density	218.2/sq mi (84.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48647
Area code(s)	989
FIPS code	26-54660
GNIS feature ID	1620853

Mio ( MY-oh) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Oscoda County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Oscoda County. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 1,826.

Mio is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east, Big Creek Township on the west, and Elmer Township to the northwest. As an unincorporated community, Mio has no legal autonomy as an incorporated municipality.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of which 7.5 square miles (19 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (8.01%) is water.

Geographic features

• Mio is situated in the Au Sable River Valley.
• It is surrounded by the Huron National Forest and near the Rifle River State Recreation Area.
• The area is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties).
• Much of the area sits on the Grayling outwash plain.
• The Oscoda County Park is minutes away.
• Mio is part of Northern Michigan.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,016 people, 826 households, and 537 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 270.1 per square mile (104.3/km²). There were 1,191 housing units at an average density of 159.6 per square mile (61.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.83% White, 0.15% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

Many Mio residents are either Amish, of Amish descent, Mennonite, or of Mennonite descent – with most being non-Anabaptist Christians.

There were 826 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,831, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $29,542 versus $20,927 for females. The per capita income for the community was $13,064. About 13.9% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local attractions and activities

The community is centered in the Huron National Forest along the Au Sable River. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:

• Oscoda County Riverfest
• Amish community with stores and bakeries
• Birding
• Boating, paddling (canoe and kayak)
• Coptic Orthodox St. Mina Retreat Center
• Fishing, particularly trout fishing
• Geocaching
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Kirtland Warbler Habitat and Festival: The Kirtland's warbler has its habitat in the area. There is a Kirtland's Warbler Festival, which is sponsored in part by Kirtland Community College.
• Mennonite Relief Expo & Fair
• Michigan Shore to Shore Riding & Hiking Trail passes through Mio. It runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points north and south. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails.
• Nordic skiing
• ORV, motor cycle and groomed snowmobile trails
• Steiner's Museum of pioneer artifacts is in nearby Fairview.
• Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Shrine

Local recurring events

There are many recurring local events.

• First Dam Canoe Race (MCRA - Canoe Race)
• Mennonite relief sale
• Michigan Magazine Craft Show
• Mio Mud Bogs & Drags
• Nor Easter Folk Music Festival
• Outdoor Sportsmens Expo
• Oscoda County Fair & Forestry Exposition

Historical markers

There are two historical markers in Mio.

• Mio Hydroelectric Plant was built in 1916 on the lower Au Sable River. William W. Tefft, a Consumers Power civil and hydraulic engineer, invented and patented the so-called "conduit spillway", which channels excessive flow through channels built into the plant. This was the first plant to use it, and it is cheaper than other forms of spillways.
• Oscoda County Courthouse was built in 1888. It was destroyed by a fire on May 5, 2016.
• Union Corners is an abandoned "town" situated on Valley Road in Mio, Michigan. It was abandoned in 1882 when its county government moved to where downtown Mio is now located today. Originally, it was a small farming community. However, the farmers moved from the area because of the poor soil quality. Today, there are very few remnants of Union Corners besides a plaque where the town used to be located and various grave sites throughout the area. Some of these grave sites belong to members of the Union Corners community.
• Hinchman Acres Resort has been providing a place for families to come for vacation since 1933. Originally the vision of Chapin and Lera Hinchman, Hinchman Acres Resort is a camping ground with access to the AuSable River, with facilities for canoeists, rafters, and kayakers. In 1965 the Hinchmans parted ways with the Hitchman Acres Resort. After purchasing the resort from Ed and Doris Holloway in 1971, Sam & Natalie Giardina have managed the Hitchman Acres Resort for the last 43 years.

Interesting History

The PBB contamination event of 1973

in 1973 the PBB contamination event caused farmers all over the area to have to destroy their herds. This traumatic event contaminated various animals including cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep with a flame-retardant product. when a dock worker accidentally shipped 500 pounds of Fire Master instead of the feed supplement called Nutrimaster. Shortly after this happened, the farmers noticed deformities and sickness among their livestock as well as the newborn calves. Many had no idea why this was happening. Because of this mistake, more than 35,000 cows had been contaminated and destroyed. Out of these 35,000 cows, 1,300 were dumped into a clay lined pit in Mio, MI in Oscoda county. This event had a profound effect on the people of Mio since they raised the cattle themselves. The people just want to forget about this incident, however thirty years later, the PBB is still showing up in the blood results of people in this area. “PBB was eventually banned by most industrial nations and just last year, the world health organization’s cancer research agency upgraded PBBs from “possibly” to “probably” carcinogenic to humans.”  Joe Higgins, a 44-year-old milk truck driver still worries about the PBB levels in his body even though no health issues have posed any threat.

Education

Mio-AuSable Schools is a Kindergarten through 12th grade school, with all grades contained in one building. Middle school and high school students are enrolled in seven classes each day, and the year routine follows a semester schedule. Mio-AuSable currently offers two Advanced Placement (AP) courses, AP Biology and AP Calculus AB. The school does not offer any Honors courses, but to make up for the lack of advanced classes, students are encouraged to dual-enroll through Kirtland Community College. Sophomores, juniors and seniors can choose to take online classes through the nearby community college, and if the students receive at least a C in a course, they will be granted college credit in that course which may transfer into the university of their choice after high school.

The high school has about approximately 170 students and 17 teachers, some of which double as middle school teachers.

Other notable places

• Union Corners is an abandoned "town" situated on Valley Road in Mio, Michigan. It was abandoned in 1882 when its county government moved to where downtown Mio is now located today. Originally, it was a small farming community. However, the farmers moved from the area because of the poor soil quality. Today, there are very few remnants of Union Corners besides a plaque where the town used to be located and various grave sites throughout the area. Some of these grave sites belong to members of the Union Corners community.
• Hinchman Acres Resort has been providing a place for families to come for vacation since 1933. Originally the vision of Chapin and Lera Hinchman, Hinchman Acres Resort is a camping ground with access to the AuSable River, with facilities for canoeists, rafters, and kayakers. In 1965, the Hinchmans parted ways with the resort. Since purchasing the resort from Ed and Doris Holloway in 1971, Sam and Natalie Giardina have managed the Hinchman Acres Resort.
• The Timberland Quilt Trail. In 2001, Donna Groves (of Adams County, Ohio) started a national movement by painting a quilt block on her barn to honor her mother who was known as a "master quilter". Shortly after, people everywhere started to do the same, until the Timberland Quilt Trail became a national movement. In early 2012, the Timberland Quilt Trail started in Mio, Michigan. Along with more than 30 other states and multiple counties, Mio has helped to contribute to the 3,000+ registered quilt blocks throughout the U.S. Many people want to participate in the Timberland Quilt trail and you might even find "Volunteer" quilt blocks in Mio. Although the "Volunteer" quilt blocks can be found in Mio, they will be found on private property and they are not part of the Timberland Quilt Trail. Every summer multiple quilt blocks are added to the Timberland Quilt Trail and can be viewed from the adjacent public road. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024192305/http://oscodacountymi.org/timberland-quilt-trail/

See also

In Spanish: Mio (Míchigan) para niños