Metz Township, Michigan

Metz Township, Michigan
Civil township
Location within Presque Isle County
Metz Township Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Metz Township Metz Township (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 45°15′14″N83°48′48″W / 45.25389°N 83.81333°W / 45.25389; -83.81333
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Presque Isle
Area
• Total	35.8 sq mi (92.8 km2)
• Land	35.8 sq mi (92.7 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	781 ft (238 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	280
• Density	7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49743, 49776
Area code	989
FIPS code	26-53440 [1]
GNIS feature ID	1626731 [2]

Metz Township is a civil township of Presque Isle County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 280 at the 2020 census. ^[3]

Communities

Metz is a small unincorporated community within the township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.8 square miles (93 km²), of which 35.8 square miles (93 km²) is land and 0.03% is water.

History

In 15 October 1908, a large forest fire consumed 2,500,000 acres (10,000 km²) of Presque Isle County, and most of the area of Metz. Killed were 42 men, women, and children, many of whom were on a train derailed by rails twisted from the fire. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

These included:

• William Barrett, adult
• Leo Buskowski, adult
• Lizzie Cicero, adult; Margaret Cicero, seven years; George Cicero, five years; Gerlen Cicero, two years
• Elizabeth Dost, four years
• Otille Erke, adult; Matilda Erke, six years; Gertrude Erke, eight years; Chearles Erke, four years; Lorene Erke, two years
• Emma Hardies, adult; Pauline Hardies, nine years; Mary Hardies, three years; Minnie Hardies, eight months
• Eufrozyna Konieczny, adult; Joseph Konieczny, three years; John Konieczny, two years; Helena Konieczny, seven months
• Arthur Lee, adult
• John Nowicki, adult; Catherine Nowicki, adult
• John Samp, adult
• Rovert Wagner, eighteen years

Most were of either Polish or German nationality. This became known as the "Metz Fire."

Demographics

As of the census ^[1] of 2000, there were 331 people, 134 households, and 92 families residing in the township. The population density was 9.2 inhabitants per square mile (3.6/km²). There were 207 housing units at an average density of 5.8 per square mile (2.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.89% White, 1.51% Native American, 0.30% Asian, and 0.30% from two or more races.

There were 134 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 3.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the township the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $28,611, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $16,000 for females. The per capita income for the township was $14,191. About 8.8% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Metz Township, Michigan
3. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
4. MAJOR POST-LOGGING FIRES IN MICHIGAN: the 1900's Michigan State University Extension Service adapted from Betty Sodders' book, "Michigan on Fire", and from various issues of Michigan History magazine. Finally, parts of the text above have been paraphrased from C.M. Davis’ Readings in the Geography of Michigan (1964). "Fires, part II".
5. Nagel, Herbert (1979). The Metz Fire of 1908, Presque Isle County, Michigan: The Most Destructive Forest Fire in the History of Modern Michigan. Presque Isle County Historical Society.
6. Dickmann, Donald I.; Leefers, Larry A. (July 19, 2016). The Forests of Michigan (Paperback) (Revised ed.). University of Michigan Regional. pp. 168–169. ISBN   9780472036530.
7. Sodders, Betty (1997). Weeks, Don (ed.). Michigan on Fire. Michigan on Fire Series. Vol. 1 (Illustrated ed.). Thunder Bay Press. pp. 279, 298, 310. ISBN   9781882376520. ISBN 1882376528.{{cite book}}: horizontal tab character in |id= at position 5 (help)
8. "Historical Marker - S299 - The Metz Fire (Marker ID#:S299)" (PDF). Retrieved February 16, 2025.
9. Fancy, Marisa. "The Metz Fire". Northern Michigan History. Retrieved February 16, 2025.