Moffatt Township, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moffatt Township, Michigan
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Location within Arenac County
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 Moffatt Township, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Moffatt Township, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Arenac |
| Area | |
| • Total | 32.1 sq mi (83.1 km2) |
| • Land | 31.5 sq mi (81.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 768 ft (234 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,166 |
| • Density | 36.34/sq mi (14.031/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48610, 48659
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| Area code(s) | 989 |
| FIPS code | 26-54800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1626751 |
Moffatt Township is a community located in Arenac County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 2020, about 1,166 people lived here. It is known for its quiet, natural surroundings.
Contents
Places in Moffatt Township
Moffatt Township is home to a few smaller communities.
Alger Community
Alger is a small, unincorporated community in Moffatt Township. It is found right off I-75 at exit 202. This is where I-75 meets M-33. The ZIP code for Alger is 48610. Alger was first started in 1883 as a railway stop.
Forest Lake Area
Forest Lake is a small community built around a lake of the same name. This lake is a reservoir, meaning it's a man-made lake used to store water. It was created by building a dam on Wells Creek. The water from Forest Lake eventually flows into the Rifle River.
History of Moffatt Township
Moffatt Township was officially formed in 1874. At that time, it was part of Bay County.
How Alger Got Its Name
The community of Alger was named after Russell A. Alger about ten years later. Russell Alger was an important person in Michigan's history. He later became the 20th governor of Michigan and then the U.S. Secretary of War.
Railroads and Logging
Between 1882 and 1883, the Alger area grew because a new railroad junction was built there. This junction connected to the Michigan Central Railroad. It was part of a now-closed railroad line that came from Prescott, Michigan.
These railroads were very busy because of Michigan's huge lumbering (logging) industry. Alger became a popular place with many sawmills, restaurants, and saloons. There were also two smaller towns nearby called Culver and Wells. Culver was about a mile north of Alger, and Wells was about a mile south.
Changes Over Time
In 1896, the railroad from Prescott stopped running. In the early 1900s, as most of the trees were cut down, the logging railroads and businesses disappeared. Today, the towns of Wells and Culver no longer exist. Alger has become a much smaller community, with around 1,000 people.
Geography of Moffatt Township
Moffatt Township covers a total area of about 83.1 square kilometers (32.1 square miles). Most of this area, about 81.6 square kilometers (31.5 square miles), is land. The remaining 1.5 square kilometers (0.6 square miles), or 1.83%, is water.
People of Moffatt Township
In 2000, there were 1,121 people living in Moffatt Township. The population density was about 35.4 people per square mile (13.7 people per square kilometer). Most of the people living here were White (97.86%).
About 24% of the households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.27 people. The average family had 2.75 people.
The population was spread out across different age groups. About 21.1% were under 18 years old, and 21.1% were 65 years or older. The average age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were about 98.4 males.
By the 2010 census, the population had grown slightly to 1,184 people.
Outdoor Camps
Cole Canoe Base is a camp for the Boy Scouts of America located near Moffatt Township. It is on East Greenwood Road, close to the Skidway Lake and Prescott areas. Many scouts visit this camp for outdoor adventures.
