==Communities==
==Communities==
There are no incorporated municipalities in the township. There are a few small [[unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated communities]], all located along Michigan highway [[M-95 (Michigan highway)|M-95]]. These communities, located directly along the [[Milwaukee and Northern Railway]] were developed by the Milwaukee Land Company as a result of land grants in the late Nineteenth Century. The first transaction on every deed for lots names the Milwaukee Land Company as grantor. <ref name=”Stevens“|page=8 />
There are no incorporated municipalities in the township. There are a few small [[unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated communities]], all located along Michigan highway [[M-95 (Michigan highway)|M-95]]. These communities, located directly along the [[Milwaukee and Northern Railway]] were developed by the Milwaukee Land Company as a result of land grants in the late Nineteenth Century. The first transaction on every deed for lots names the Milwaukee Land Company as grantor. <refStevens|= />
===Channing===
===Channing===
Civil township in Michigan, United States
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.
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 162.8 square miles (422 km2), of which, 160.3 square miles (415 km2) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of it (1.55%) is water.
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 as a result of land grants in the late Nineteenth Century. The first transaction on every deed for lots names the Milwaukee Land Company as grantor. [4]
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. [5] In 1892 a post office was established. This post office continues to serve ZIP code 49815.[6][7][8] By the late 1960s, with few riders remaining and the US Postal rail contracts ended,[9] 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.
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.[6][14]
Randville was originally a mining settlement, that was formed because of the nearby Groveland Mine. It was a station on the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad in 1880 and a post office was in operation there from 1891 until 1932.[6][15]
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.[16] 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.[6][17][18]
As of the census[2] 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.[19]
- ^ Michigan Townships Association (2023). “Sagola Township, Dickinson County, Michigan”. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ a b “U.S. Census website”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sagola Township, Michigan
- ^ Stevens (1977), p. 8
- ^ “Champion Branch – Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society”. Neenah, WI: Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society. 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Channing, Michigan
- ^ Berry, Dale (2025). “michiganrailroads.com – Channing, MI ♦ ♣”. www.michiganrailroads.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Stevens, Viola (1977). A History of Channing, Michigan. Green Bay, WI: Adams Press. p. 5.
- ^ Scribbins 1970, p. 200
- ^ “Milwaukee Road Drops Channing Chippewa Train”. The Escanaba Daily Press. Escanaba, MI. Associated Press. January 23, 1960. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ “Milwaukee Road Moves Up Date To Curtail Service”. The Escanaba Daily Press. Escanaba, MI. February 2, 1960. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Burns, Adam (December 16, 2021). “The Copper Country Limited“. American-Rails.com. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Floodwood, Michigan
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Randville, Michigan
- ^ Press Releases (April 13, 2023). “LP Building Solutions Announces First Production of LP® SmartSide® at Sagola, Michigan Facility”. LP Building Solutions. NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Louisiana-Pacific Corporation. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sagola, Michigan
- ^ Berry, Dale (2025). “michiganrailroads.com – Sagola, MI ♦ ♣”. www.michiganrailroads.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Harris, Hugh (February 17, 2020). “Sagola Township, Michigan Information – Harris State Wide”. Harris State Wide Real estate. Iron Mountain, Mi: UPAR MLS. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
