The following is a list of populated islands of the Great Lakes and connecting rivers. The islands listed have a specified year-round population of over 50 residents.
Many islands are popular tourist destinations, and experience a sharp population increase during peak travel seasons.
In 2017, the Great Lakes Island Coalition was founded, a group dedicated to representing the interests of Great Lakes island residents. [1] At an annual summit, related issues of discussion include environmental issues facing the Great Lakes island inhabitants, such as water levels and quality, invasive species, and even government policy topics, such as nuclear water storage and shipment in the Great Lakes region. [2]
Island Name | Lake/River | State/Province | Country | Population | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Algonquin Island | Lake Ontario | Ontario | Canada | 224 | Part of the city of Toronto, this is one of the Toronto Islands, an archipelago in Toronto Harbour. Unlike most of the archipelago, which is made up of parkland and amusement facilities, this island is residential. |
Amherst Island | Lake Ontario | Ontario | Canada | 450 | At 70 square kilometers, the largest island wholly within Lake Ontario (Wolfe Island is larger, but the eastern end of the island is in the St. Lawrence River). The island, which is served by a ferry out of Millhaven, is entirely rural, and is located in Loyalist Township, Lennox and Addington County. |
Barrie Island | Lake Huron | Ontario | Canada | 613 | It is connected to Manitoulin Island by Highway 540A, which crosses the water via a causeway at the narrowest part of the strait. [3] |
Beaver Island | Lake Michigan | Michigan | United States | 616 | The largest island in Lake Michigan and part of the Beaver Island archipelago of Michigan. [4] It lies about 32 miles (50 km) from the city of Charlevoix on the mainland, and can be reached by air or boat. St. James is the name of the unincorporated community on the island. [5] |
Bois Blanc Island (Michigan) | Lake Huron | Michigan | United States | 100 | Southeast of Mackinac Island and almost due north of the city of Cheboygan, Michigan. Plaunt Transportation is the sole provider of ferry services for the island. [6] |
Bois Blanc Island (Ontario) | Detroit River | Ontario | Canada | 60 | Previously the site of the Boblo Island Amusement Park. It is accessed by private ferry from Amherstburg, Ontario [7] |
Cayuga Island | Niagara River | New York | United States | 1,000 | Part of the city of Niagara Falls, New York, several miles upstream of the falls themselves. Part of the LaSalle neighborhood, the island contains a mix of parkland and middle-class housing. |
Centre Island | Lake Ontario | Ontario | Canada | 356 | The largest of the Toronto Islands, an archipelago located in Toronto's harbour. Most of the island's residences and businesses were demolished beginning in 1955 in favor of parkland and other recreational facilities. [8] |
Drummond Island | Lake Huron | Michigan | United States | 973 | Consists of Drummond Township, Michigan. [9] The island lies along the Canada–US border, and is adjacent to Manitoulin Island. |
Grand Island | Niagara River | New York | United States | 21,389 | A suburb of the city of Buffalo |
Grosse Ile | Detroit River | Michigan | United States | 10,777 | The largest island in the Detroit River, it can be reached by two bridges or a small airport. |
Harsens Island | St. Clair River | Michigan | United States | 900 | Opposite Canada's Walpole Island. It is served by Champion's Auto Ferry. |
Kelleys Island | Lake Erie | Ohio | United States | 256 | Consists of the village of Kelleys Island, in Erie County |
Mackinac Island | Lake Huron | Michigan | United States | 583 | An island and resort area, located between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas [10] |
Madeline Island | Lake Superior | Wisconsin | United States | 302 | Contains the town of La Pointe. The island has a rich history and was once the home of a French fur trading post. [11] |
Manitoulin Island | Lake Huron | Ontario | Canada | 13,255 | The largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. It has two incorporated towns and eight townships. [12] |
Neebish Island | St. Marys River | Michigan | United States | 89 | There is one store and one church on the island, and a car ferry service operates April 1 to January 15. [13] |
Pelee Island | Lake Erie | Ontario | Canada | 230 | The largest island in Lake Erie, [14] and is the southernmost populated place in Canada. [15] |
South Bass Island | Lake Erie | Ohio | United States | 631 | Part of Ottawa County, it contains the village of Put-in-Bay. Ferry service connects the community with Catawba Island, Kelleys Island, Port Clinton, and Sandusky. [16] |
St. Joseph Island | Lake Huron | Ontario | Canada | 2,320 | The second largest island in Lake Huron. It is connected to the mainland by the Bernt Gilbertson Bridge spanning the North Channel of Lake Huron along Highway 548. [17] |
Sugar Island | St. Marys River | Michigan | United States | 2,000 | The entire island constitutes Sugar Island Township in Chippewa County at the eastern tip of the Upper Peninsula. [18] |
Walpole Island | St. Clair River | Ontario | Canada | 1,878 | Also known as Bkejwanong, it is the main part of Walpole Island 46 Indian reserve. It neighbors the U.S. Harsens Island. It is accessible by bridge from the Canadian mainland and ferry from the U.S. |
Washington Island | Lake Michigan | Wisconsin | United States | 708 | Located about 7 miles northeast of the tip of Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. The unincorporated community of Detroit Harbor is located on the island. |
Wolfe Island | Lake Ontario | Ontario | Canada | 1,400 | Located at the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River in Lake Ontario near Kingston, Ontario. The resident population is approximately 1400 people, but this number can double or triple during the summer months. [19] |
Renville County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,723. Its county seat is Olivia.
Lake of the Woods County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,763, making it the second-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Baudette.
Presque Isle County is a county in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,982. The county seat is Rogers City. The county was authorized by state legislative action on April 1, 1840, but the county government was not established until 1871. The government was reorganized in 1875.
Huron County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 31,407. The county seat is Bad Axe. Huron County is at the northern tip of the Thumb, which is a sub region of Mid Michigan. It is a peninsula, bordered by Saginaw Bay to the west and Lake Huron to the north and east, and has over 90 miles (140 km) of shoreline, from White Rock on Lake Huron to Sebewaing on the Saginaw Bay. Huron County's most prominent industry is agriculture, as with most of the other Thumb counties. Huron County enjoys seasonal tourism from large cities such as Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw. Much of the tourism is in the Port Austin and Caseville area.
Emmet County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the northernmost county in the Lower Peninsula. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,112, making it the second-most populous county in Northern Michigan. The county seat is Petoskey, which is also the county's largest city.
Chippewa County is a county in the eastern Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,785. The county seat is Sault Ste. Marie. The county is named for the Ojibwe (Chippewa) people, and was set off and organized in 1826. Chippewa County comprises the Sault Ste. Marie, MI micropolitan statistical area.
Charlevoix County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. The county seat is Charlevoix, and the largest city is Boyne City. Located in the Northern Lower Peninsula, Charlevoix County is bisected by Lake Charlevoix, Michigan's third largest inland lake. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 26,054.
Alpena County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,907. The county seat is Alpena. It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
Newton County is a county located near the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 13,830. This county is part of Northwest Indiana as well as the Chicago metropolitan area. The county seat is Kentland. The county is divided into 10 townships which provide local services.
Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 111,231. The county has two county seats — Jonesboro and Lake City. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas Craighead. It is one of several dry counties within the state of Arkansas, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is largely prohibited.
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,260. The county has two county seats, Berryville and Eureka Springs. Carroll County is Arkansas's 26th county, formed on November 1, 1833, and named after Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Peaine Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 266 at the 2020 census.
Drummond Township is a civil township of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 973 at the 2020 census.
Mackinac Island is a city in Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 583.
Fredenberg Township is a township in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,337 at the 2010 census.
Beaver is a borough in, and the county seat of, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located near the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers, approximately 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,438.
Manitoulin Island is an island in Lake Huron, located within the borders of the Canadian province of Ontario, in the bioregion known as Laurentia. With an area of 2,766 km2 (1,068 sq mi), it is the largest lake island in the world, large enough that it has over 100 lakes itself. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archaeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and Archaic cultures dating from 10,000 BC to 2,000 BC.
Essex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario, Canada comprising seven municipalities: Amherstburg, Kingsville, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Leamington, Tecumseh and the administrative seat, Essex.
Cumberland is a city in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,170 at the 2010 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Cumberland. It was incorporated in 1885.