The Least-Populated Michigan Township Has Only 15 Residents

Which Michigan Township is the Least Populated?

It would be quite a chore to determine which Michigan town or village had the least amount of people, as many of our old villages are almost non-existent with maybe one or two residents. An easier task would be to find out which of our townships is the least populated.....and we have a winner.

That would be Point aux Barques Township, located at the tip of the Michigan Thumb in Huron County. How sparsely populated, you wonder? For the entire township, the 2020 census revealed a total population of 15. Wikipedia refers to it as “the least-populated municipality in the state and the third smallest township by land area”. The name ‘Pointe Aux Barques’ is French for "point of ships", given that title way back in 1760 by French sailors.

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The township may have only 15 permanent residents, but there are still some cool things to do: for example, the Point aux Barques Lighthouse which is said to be haunted.

THE LEGEND:
In 1849, lighthouse keeper Peter Shook drowned while he and a couple of friends were sailing to Port Huron to pick up supplies. He left behind eight kids and his wife Catherine, who took over lighthouse duties. Since then, people have claimed to see Catherine’s mourning apparition walking along the edge of the cliff, and also in the window of the second floor.

Catherine’s footsteps and giggling has been heard, and the odor of Peter’s burning tobacco has been detected. Paranormal investigators truly believe there is some kind of otherworld activity at the lighthouse.

Another very cool thing about Pointe aux Barques Township is the location of Turnip Rock, a favorite tourist destination for well over 100 years. This curious, natural rock formation stands alone, separated from the mainland. It is shaped like a turnip and the trees complete the package by resembling turnip greens. Next to Turnip Rock is another, less-known oddity, the “Thumbnail”, meaning it is the fingernail of Michigan’s Thumb – a flat rock that sticks out just like a fingernail.

So, even though Point aux Barques Township has only 15 people and plenty of wilderness, there are still things there worth seeking out.....now you know!