About Powell Township
Powell Township, established in 1904, welcomes you our website and to our community. The most common way to arrive in our township and our town of BIG BAY is to drive to the end of County Road 550 or the Big Bay Road. Powell Township is a great place to live and raise a family with the Powell Township School, which won the 2011 Excellence in Education award, serving grades pre-school through 8th grade. It is a peaceful place to retire and enjoy the beauty and wonders of nature. With the “big” city of Marquette, MI on the other end of 550, only 30 minutes away, its a township removed but so easily connected.
Powell Township has a population of 816 with about 70% being year round residents. This estimate is based on the 2010 Census and Voter Registration files. The Township has several lakes and rivers ideal for recreation and approximately 45 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. It also includes the rural town of Big Bay, that has stores and restaurants like CRAM’S GENERAL STORE & HUNGRY HALLOW CAFE, THUNDER BAY INN & RESTAURANT, LUMBERJACK TAVERN, BIG BAY POINTE LIGHTHOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST, PICTURE BAY MOTEL, BIG BAY MOTEL, & BIG BAY OUTFITTERS. For camping purposes there is also Perkins Park operated by Marquette County. We have Dock of the Bay, also operated by Marquette County, for access to Lake Superior by boat. Powell Township maintains four parks, DRAVER PARK & BALLFIELD, THOMAS ROCK, BURNS LANDING, and the Halfway Firehall kids park. Powell Township Parks and Recreation also maintains different trails with Noquemanon Trail Network.
Residents can find information about the Township Board, copies of Board Minutes, applications for voting, Zoning permits and general questions (when our transfer station open, when are taxes due, etc.) and more on this web site. For Assessing and tax information please use the following link. Residents and owners can view their own assessing information for free but there is a fee for others to view.
Powell Township Office hours to serve our citizens are: Monday & Thursdays 9am to Noon. Assessor is available on Thursdays only. Zoning Admin is by appointment only.
The Big Bay Stewardship Council (BBSC) was formed earlier this year by a group of passionate volunteers to facilitate the protection of the unique nature of Powell Township and promote economic development and community improvements. These efforts will be executed through responsible, properly scaled economic development and stewardship of the natural resources and cultural enrichment. Please support these efforts by completing the following questionnaire, which will take 7-10 minutes. You may remain anonymous, and your individual responses will not be shared externally. Data will only be shared in aggregate with other responses.
Your responses will be used to help the Big Bay Stewardship Council create a benchmark for its initiatives in Powell Township, and will be conducted on an annual basis to monitor changes over time.
Your participation is vital to ensure that Powell Township remains a thriving community with a strong sense of place, a supportive foundation for family, and stewardship of pristine landscape and wildlife habitat that is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. For more information about the BBSC, email Sven Gonstead (bigbaypathway@gmail.com), Darlene Turner (supervisor@powelltownship.org), Mark Bevins (mbevins66@comcast.net), or Katie Wilcox (bigbaywilcox@gmail.com).
Click on the following link for the Questionnaire {link}
New information in the Cemetery Department webpage! Plot Information has been posted. With a lot of work from a local resident, John Apo, and the Cemetery Sextant, Peter TenEyck, the Big Bay Cemetery has been digitalized that people can look up plot information.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers for Fire/Ambulance Departments are needed for Powell Township. See their respective pages for further information and/or contact the Fire Chief or Ambulance Coordinator.
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