{{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Sagola Township, Michigan |settlement_type = Civil township |nickname = |motto =
<!-- Images --> |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |image_seal =
<!-- Maps --> |pushpin_map =Michigan#USA |pushpin_label_position =top<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_label =Sagola Township |pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Michigan##Location within the United States |pushpin_mapsize = |image_map = Sagola Township, MI location 2020.png |mapsize = 250 |map_caption = Location within Dickinson County |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 =
<!-- Location --> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Michigan |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Dickinson
<!-- Government --> |government_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|last=Michigan Townships Association|url=https://michigantownships.org/find-a-township/?fips=70600|title=Sagola Township, Dickinson County, Michigan|date=2023|accessdate=October 15, 2023}}</ref> |government_type = |leader_title = Supervisor |leader_name = Donald Minerick |leader_title1 = Clerk |leader_name1 = Julie Roell |established_title = Established |established_date = 1887
<!-- Area --> |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 421.52 |area_land_km2 = 413.65 |area_water_km2 = 7.87 |area_total_sq_mi = 162.75 |area_land_sq_mi = 159.71 |area_water_sq_mi = 3.04
<!-- Population --> |population_as_of = 2020 |population_footnotes = |population_total = 1066 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = 6.67
<!-- General information --> |timezone = Central (CST) |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 413 |elevation_ft = 1355 |coordinates = {{coord|46|07|57|N|88|03|13|W|region:US-MI|display=inline,title}} |postal_code_type = ZIP code(s) |postal_code = 49815 (Channing)<br>49815 Floodwood<br>49801 Randville<br>49881 Sagola |area_code = 906 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 26-70600<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> |blank1_name = GNIS feature ID |blank1_info = 1627022<ref>{{GNIS|1627022}}</ref> |website = {{URL|https://sagolatwp.com/|Official website}} |footnotes = }} '''Sagola Township''' is a civil township of Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,066 at the 2020 census.
==Geography== Much of the township is the Copper Country State Forest. The northwest portion is drained by the Michigamme River. A small portion of the northeast is drained by tributaries of the Escanaba River. The central portion is drained by the Ford River, and the south by the Sturgeon River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of {{convert|162.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which, {{convert|160.3|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2}} of it (1.55%) is water.
==Communities== There are no incorporated municipalities in the township. There are a few small unincorporated communities, all located along Michigan highway M-95. These communities, located directly along the Milwaukee and Northern Railway were developed by the Milwaukee Land Company<ref>{{cite web |title=Heartland Technology, Inc. (Formerly Milwaukee Land Company); Notice of Application |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/12/16/97-32775/heartland-technology-inc-formerly-milwaukee-land-company-notice-of-application |website=Federal Register |publisher=Office of the Federal Register |access-date=16 October 2025 |language=en |date=16 December 1997}}</ref> as a result of land grants in the late Nineteenth Century. The first transaction on every deed for lots names the Milwaukee Land Company<ref>{{cite web |title=Milwaukee Land Company |url=https://milwaukeeroadarchives.com/Construction/Milwaukee%20Land%20Company/Milwaukee%20Land%20Company.htm |website=Milwaukee Road Archive |access-date=16 October 2025}}</ref> as grantor. <ref>{{harvp|Stevens|1977|p= 8}}</ref> ===Channing=== Channing began as a railroad junction called "Ford Siding". The community's name was changed to Channing, in honor of surveyor John Parke Channing, in November 1892. <ref>{{cite web |title=Champion Branch – Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society |url=https://www.mnrhs.org/the-railroad/historic-mn/champion-branch/ |publisher=Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society |access-date=13 October 2025 |location=Neenah, WI |language=en-US |date=2024}}</ref> In 1892 a post office was established. This post office continues to serve ZIP code 49815.<ref name="Romig">{{cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | orig-year= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | isbn = 0-8143-1838-X}}</ref><ref>{{gnis|623079|Channing, Michigan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Berry |first1=Dale |title=michiganrailroads.com - Channing, MI ♦ ♣ |url=https://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/86-dickinson-county-22/716-channing-mi |website=www.michiganrailroads.com |access-date=27 August 2025 |language=en-US |date=2025}}</ref> By the late 1960s, with few riders remaining and the US Postal rail contracts ended,<ref>{{harvp|Stevens|1977|p= 5}}</ref> the Milwaukee Road (and most other big RRs) discontinued many of their long-distance trains. After these passenger services ended, the Channing station continued to be used as a train order office for both the Escanaba and Lake Superior Railroad and the Milwaukee Road.
The Chippewa was discontinued on February 2, 1960.<ref>{{harvnb|Scribbins|1970|p=200}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80415367/the-escanaba-daily-press/| title=Milwaukee Road Drops Channing Chippewa Train| agency=Associated Press| newspaper=The Escanaba Daily Press| location=Escanaba, MI| date=January 23, 1960| page=1| via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80415341/the-escanaba-daily-press/| title=Milwaukee Road Moves Up Date To Curtail Service| newspaper=The Escanaba Daily Press| location=Escanaba, MI| date=February 2, 1960| page=3| via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The Copper Country Limited made its last runs on March 7, 1968.<ref name="Copper">{{cite web |first = Adam |last = Burns |date = December 16, 2021 |url = http://www.american-rails.com/copper-country.html |title=The ''Copper Country Limited'' |work = American-Rails.com |access-date = February 4, 2022 }}</ref> There also were morning and evening trains to Crystal Falls and Iron River.<ref>{{harvp|Stevens|1977|p= 5}}</ref> All services to Crystal Falls and Iron River ended in 1969 when that branch from Kelso Junction (7.7 miles west of Channing) was abandoned.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berry |first1=Dale |title=michiganrailroads.com - Iron River Sub - Milwaukee Road - Kelso Junction to Iron River |url=https://www.michiganrailroads.com/timetables-routes/336-milwaukee-road-cmsp-p-timetables/5028-time-table-milw-iron-river-sub |website=www.michiganrailroads.com |access-date=16 October 2025}}</ref>
===Floodwood=== Floodwood is on M-95 about five miles (8 km) north of Channing and two miles (3 km) south of the Marquette County boundary. It began as a lumber settlement on the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad. A post office was in operation there from 1887 until 1905.<ref name="Romig"/><ref>{{gnis|1617562|Floodwood, Michigan}}</ref>
===Randville=== Randville was originally a mining settlement, that was formed because of the nearby Groveland Mine. Randville was the location of a 4.5 mile spur to the Randville Mine between 1891 and 1913.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berry |first1=Dale |title=michiganrailroads.com - Randville, MI ♦ ♣ |url=https://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/86-dickinson-county-22/726-randville-mi |website=www.michiganrailroads.com |access-date=16 October 2025 |date=2025}}</ref> It was a station on the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad (10 miles south of Channing) in 1880 and a post office was in operation there from 1891 until 1932.<ref name="Romig"/><ref>{{gnis|1617810|Randville, Michigan}}</ref>
===Sagola=== Sagola was formed, when in about 1885, five Chicago men formed the Sagola Lumber Company to harvest pine timber in the area. The mill, which is now owned by Louisiana-Pacific had made oriented strand board (OSB) since 1988 has since switched to LP® SmartSide® in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Press Releases |title=LP Building Solutions Announces First Production of LP® SmartSide® at Sagola, Michigan Facility |url=https://lpcorp.com/about-lp/media-resources/news-releases/lp-building-solutions-announces-first-production-of-lp-smartside-at-sagola-michigan-facility |website=LP Building Solutions |publisher=Louisiana-Pacific Corporation |access-date=14 October 2025 |location=NASHVILLE, Tenn. |language=en-US |date=13 April 2023}}</ref> The name Sagola was derived from the local Indian word for "welcome". A post office was first established there in 1889, and continues today to serve ZIP code 49881.<ref name="Romig"/><ref>{{gnis|636506|Sagola, Michigan}}</ref> Sagola is about five miles south of Channing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Berry |first1=Dale |title=michiganrailroads.com - Sagola, MI ♦ ♣ |url=https://www.michiganrailroads.com/stations-locations/86-dickinson-county-22/727-sagola-mi |website=www.michiganrailroads.com |access-date=27 August 2025 |language=en-US |date=2025}}</ref>
==Demographics== As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,169 people, 475 households, and 323 families residing in the township. In 2020, its population was 1,066. As of the 2010 Census the total population: 1,169, median age: 40 years old, total households: 475 and median household income: $33,333.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Hugh |title=Sagola Township, Michigan Information - Harris State Wide |url=https://harrisstatewide.com/sagola-township-michigan-information/ |website=Harris State Wide Real estate |publisher=UPAR MLS |access-date=27 August 2025 |location=Iron Mountain, Mi |date=17 February 2020}}</ref>
==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} * {{Scribbins-Hiawatha}} * {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GnQpHmvDX5YC |title=Railroads Across North America: An Illustrated History |first=Claude A. |last=Wiatrowski |publisher=Voyageur Press |location=St. Paul, MN |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7603-2976-4}} * {{cite book |last1=Glischinski |first1=Steve |title=Regional Railroads of the Midwest |date=2007 |publisher=MBI Publishing |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |isbn=978-0-7603-2351-9}} * {{cite book |last1=Stevens |first1=Viola |title=A History of Channing, Michigan |date=1977 |publisher=Adams Press |location=Green Bay, WI |page=5 |language=en-US}} {{refend}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://sagolatwp.com/ Sagola Township, Mi.] official website
{{Dickinson County, Michigan}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Townships in Dickinson County, Michigan Category:Iron Mountain micropolitan area Category:Townships in Michigan Category:Michigan placenames of Native American origin Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1887 Category:1887 establishments in Michigan