Fairview, Michigan
Fairview is an unincorporated community in Oscoda County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located within Comins Township at the intersection of highways M-33 and M-72 at 44°43′30″N 84°03′04″W.[1]
Fairview, Michigan | |
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![]() ![]() Fairview Location within the state of Michigan | |
Coordinates: 44°43′30″N 84°03′04″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Michigan |
County | Oscoda |
Township | Comins |
Elevation | 784 ft (239 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code(s) | 48621 |
Area code(s) | 989 |
FIPS code | 26-27240[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1619884[1] |
Fairview is considered the wild turkey capital of Michigan.[3] The Fairview 48621 ZIP Code serves most of Comins Township, as well as small portions of Clinton Township to the north and Mentor Township to the south.[4]
Geography
Geographic features
- Fairview is situated near the Au Sable River Valley.
- It is surrounded by the Huron National Forest and near the Rifle River State Recreation Area.
- The area is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the
- Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties).
- The Oscoda County Park is minutes away.[5]
- Fairview is part of Northern Michigan.
- Fairview sits on the "Grayling outwash plain", a unique habitat.[6] Glaciers shaped the area, creating a unique regional ecosystem. A large portion of the area is the so-called Grayling outwash plain, which consists of broad outwash plain including sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, some white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.[7]
Major highways
M-33 runs from Alger in Arenac County north to Cheboygan at the tip of the "mitten". M-72 passes through Mio. It is the 133 mile (214 kilometers) road that runs across the lower peninsula from Empire to Harrisville. It is one of three true cross peninsular highways.[8]
Local attractions and activities
Attractions
The community is centered in the Huron National Forest along the Au Sable River. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:
- Amish Community
- Mennonite Relief Expo & Fair
- Michigan Shore to Shore Riding & Hiking Trail passes nearby. It runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points north and south. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails.[9]
- Steiner's Museum of pioneer artifacts is in Fairview.[10]
- The Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad is located in Fairview. It is a ¼ scale, 16 in (406 mm) gauge ridable miniature railway, which offers rides on a passenger train through 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of jack pine country. Riders travel through parts of the Huron National Forest, often with Kirtland's Warblers visible. The roadbed, built by Diane and Howard Schrader, includes two trestles and a tunnel, and took almost ten years to build. The train station is the home of Schrader's Railroad Catalog, also run by the Schraders.[11][upper-alpha 1]
- Cedar Valley Wild Frontier Park and Golf Course is a good attraction to visit in Fairview, Michigan. It is designed to make guests feel like they are in “pure” northern Michigan. Since its existence, it has been a family operated business. The Cedar Valley Golf Course attracts older people and younger people. The public course consists of 18 holes full of sand traps and ponds. A simulator is also available during the winter months. On the property there is also an amusement park and there soon will be a camp ground as well. The amusement park has 18 rides, plus a miniature golf course and batting cages. A picnic table area is also available for visitors. Visitors can also plan parties or group visitations.[12]
Activities
- Birding - Kirtland Warbler Habitat and Festival. The Kirtland's warbler has its habitat in the area.[13] There is a Kirtland's Warbler Festival, which is sponsored in part by Kirtland Community College.[14]
- Boating, paddling (canoe and kayak)
- Fishing, particularly trout fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Cross-country skiing
- ORV, motorcycle and groomed snowmobile trails, including the renowned Bull Gap.[15]
- Every year, Fairview Area Schools puts on Eagle Festival. This festival is in the second week of October, and is a fundraiser for Fairview School's athletic department. The festival includes a parade, soccer games, a silent auction, car shows, kiddie games and more.
References
Notes
- Train rides are free for those under the age of two; all others cost six dollars for a ticket.[11]
Citations
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fairview, Michigan
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- The Capitals of Michigan
- 48621 5-Digit ZCTA, 486 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau, 2000 census
- Oscoda County Park Archived 2007-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
- Regional geography, geology and ecology of the area. Archived June 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- Michigan regional geology. Archived June 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- History of Michigan highways.
- Michigan Shore to Shore Riding and Hiking Trail.
- "Steiner Museum". Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
- Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2019-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Kirtland's Warbler Populations Continue to Grow. Archived 2007-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- "Kirtland Warbler Festival and links". Archived from the original on 2008-01-02.
- Michigan Organizations, Oscoda County Chamber of Commerce.
Sources
Howard and Joann Schrader Dunn, Jon, and Garrett, Kimball. Warblers. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Print. USDA, Forest Service Huron-Manistee National Forests. Biological Opinion Monitoring2006.