Dakota Heights, Michigan

Dakota Heights is an unincorporated community in Portage Charter Township,[2] Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is an enclave surrounded on all four sides[3] by the extreme western part of the city of Houghton (on the fourth by Portage Lake (or, depending on definition of terms, the Portage Lake Shipping Canal)); it is non-contiguous with any other part of Portage Township. (However, it was formerly served by the water lines of Adams Township.)[4] Living in Dakota Heights is at least sometimes regarded as living "in town" (Houghton).[5]

Dakota Heights, Michigan
Dakota Heights
Coordinates: 47°07′05″N 88°35′13″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyHoughton
TownshipPortage
Platted1906
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49931 (Houghton)
Area code(s)906

History

Dakota Heights was platted in 1906 and named after the Dacotah Mining Company, which operated briefly in its vicinity.[3] It provided housing for workers on the Copper Range Railroad, which had a number of facilities immediately to the north;[3] the company owned most of the housing. It remains "primarily residential,"[3] though some businesses have opened (and closed) in it over the years, including a former motel, and currently a podiatrist's office, restaurant[3] spa, and bank.

Geography

Dakota Heights originally sat at the west end of Houghton's Sheldon Avenue.[3] West of Dakota Heights was originally countryside, prior to the development of the M-26 corridor that began in the mid-1970s.[6]

Climate

Dakota Heights has a humid continental climate but winters are typically long and snowy with much lake effect snow.

Environmental issues

Pollution in Huron Creek, arguably from inadequate private septic systems[7] [8] has contributed to the growth of algae.[9]

Education

The local school district is Houghton-Portage Township Schools. Students K-12 are served by Houghton Elementary (K-5), Middle (6-8), and High (9-12) schools.

The Rock School formerly served Dakota Heights and the surrounding area.

Infrastructure

Transportation

In 1979 Highway M-26 was rerouted through the community, bisecting it. Park Avenue had formerly served as the main route from Houghton to Atlantic Mine, but this was replaced by the new route of the highway.[3]

Houghton Motor Transit operates a demand bus that serves the community, but "curb to curb" services is only for Houghton residents, and as it is outside the city limits of Houghton rates with one terminus in Dakota Heights are higher.[10] However, there are no regularly scheduled route buses operating in the community.[11]

A snowmobile trail runs along Dakota Heights' Park Avenue.[4]

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References
  1. "Description of the Huron Creek Watershed" (PDF). Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  2. Aslani, Layla (April 14, 2009). "PT Receives Grant for Sewer Work". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, MI. pp. 1A, 12A.
  3. Greer, Gerald. "A Comprehensive Land Use History of the Huron Creek Watershed" (PDF). Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  4. "'Shaping the Future': Survey Comments from Portage Township" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
  5. "Hot-Ads MI - Dozens of Newspapers and Thousands of Ads". Archived from the original on May 14, 2006. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
  6. Albee, Steve. "A Featured River: Huron Creek and its Watershed" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  7. Neese, Garrett (September 9, 2008). "Portage Twp. OKs scoping". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, MI. pp. 1A, 10A.
  8. "SEPTIC SYSTEM: Developing the Huron Creek Watershed Management Plan". Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  9. Gonzalez, Karen M. "Huron Creek Watershed Management Plan: Technical Background" (PDF). sfi.mtu.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 3, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  10. "Houghton Motor Transit Line". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  11. "Downtowner Route Schedule" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2008.
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