Rapid River, Michigan

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Rapid River, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
2009-0619-RapidRiver.jpg
Rapid River along US 2
USA Michigan location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rapid River
Location within the state of Michigan
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Rapid River
Rapid River (the United States)
Coordinates: 45°55′35″N86°58′01″W / 45.92639°N 86.96694°W / 45.92639; -86.96694
Country United States
State Michigan
County Delta
Township Masonville
Area
[1]
 • Total1.26 sq mi (3.27 km2)
 • Land1.26 sq mi (3.27 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
594 ft (181 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total335
 • Density265.45/sq mi (102.49/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49878
Area code 906
GNIS feature ID1621342 [2]

Rapid River is an unincorporated community in Masonville Township, Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan. [2]

Contents

It is situated on the northern end of the Little Bay de Noc between the mouths of the Tacoosh and Rapid rivers with the mouth of the Whitefish River just to the east. U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) passes through Rapid River and joins with US 41 just west of town; the two then run concurrently from Rapid River south to Escanaba. The Rapid River ZIP code is 49878 and also serves areas in the nearby townships in Delta County of Baldwin, Bay de Noc, Brampton, Ensign, Garden, Maple Ridge, Masonville, and Nahma. It also serves a small area in Mathias Township in Alger County [3]

Sign for Rapid River, Michigan Rapid River Michigan Sign Looking West US2.jpg
Sign for Rapid River, Michigan

The community was first named Rapid Siding as a stop on the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, and subsequently renamed for the nearby river. [4] The name was recorded as Rapid River when the community was platted in 1887. The community never incorporated as a village.

Rapid River has a rich history that spans centuries which included Native American tribe Ojibwe and was also once a thriving logging town with businesses lining Main Street (then called Broadway Street). The first sawmill in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was built along the Rapid River in 1835. The Ojibwe people called the river known as "Rapid River" by the name Waishka. Today a few of the original buildings remain from over 130 years ago. One of the buildings, The Swallow Inn, was built in the 1890s which used to be a boarding house and has been a restaurant and bar for over a hundred years. Another is The Rapid River Pub, while having many different names over the years, this building also was built in the 1890s and was a hotel, restaurant, and bar and continues to be a restaurant and bar. [5]

One scene from the 2001 film Escanaba in da Moonlight was shot in the Swallow Inn, a bar in Rapid River. [6]

Public schools in Rapid River are administered by the Rapid River Schools, the area's school district. [7] The high school's athletic teams are known as the "Rockets". [8] [9] The school's 8-man varsity football team won Division 2 of the Michigan State Championship in 2018. [10]

Fire coverage is provided by the Masonville Township Volunteer Fire Department and Ensign Township Volunteer Fire Department. [11] Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Masonville Township Volunteer EMS service which provide non-transport Basic Life Support services.

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood, Michigan. [12]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020 335—
U.S. Decennial Census [13]

Climate

Climate data for Rapid River, Michigan, 1991–2020 normals
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)24.8
(−4.0)		27.9
(−2.3)		38.0
(3.3)		50.2
(10.1)		63.3
(17.4)		72.6
(22.6)		76.7
(24.8)		75.8
(24.3)		68.3
(20.2)		55.0
(12.8)		41.3
(5.2)		30.3
(−0.9)		52.0
(11.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)15.8
(−9.0)		17.1
(−8.3)		26.6
(−3.0)		39.0
(3.9)		51.9
(11.1)		61.5
(16.4)		66.5
(19.2)		65.4
(18.6)		58.1
(14.5)		45.5
(7.5)		34.0
(1.1)		23.1
(−4.9)		42.0
(5.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)6.8
(−14.0)		6.2
(−14.3)		15.2
(−9.3)		27.8
(−2.3)		40.5
(4.7)		50.4
(10.2)		56.3
(13.5)		54.9
(12.7)		47.8
(8.8)		35.9
(2.2)		26.6
(−3.0)		15.9
(−8.9)		32.0
(0.0)
Average precipitation inches (mm)1.60
(41)		1.28
(33)		1.87
(47)		2.57
(65)		3.49
(89)		2.48
(63)		3.64
(92)		2.89
(73)		3.43
(87)		3.48
(88)		2.79
(71)		1.77
(45)		31.29
(794)
Source: NOAA [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rapid River, Michigan
  3. ↑ 49878 5-Digit ZCTA, 498 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder [ permanent dead link ], U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census
  4. ↑ Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Wayne State University Press. pp. 466–467. ISBN   978-0-8143-1838-6.
  5. ↑ "Pieces of History Near Rapid River, MI" . Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Actor shows loyalty to his home state". Escabana the Movie. Purple Rose Films. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Rapid River Schools" . Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Rapid River can't catch up at Cedarville". TheDailyPress. October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Rapid River (MI) High School Sports - Football, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, and more". MaxPreps. CBS Sports. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  10. ↑ "2018 Finals | Football | MHSAA Sports". Michigan High School Athletic Association. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Rapid River, MI Fire Departments". FireDepartment.net. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  12. ↑ "ST. IGNACE-SAULT STE. MARIE-IRONWOOD" (PDF). Indian Trails. January 15, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Rapid RVR 4SSE, MI". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
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