Powell Township, established in 1904, is a great place to live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The most common way to reach the township and its Big Bay community is to drive to the end of County Road 550, also known as Big Bay Road. With the “big city” of Marquette, Michigan, 25 miles away on the east end of the road, Powell Township is a place removed but so easily connected. Community events provide year-round opportunities, and the peaceful northern pace offers residents and visitors space to relax and enjoy the environment.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Powell Township’s population as 830 in 2023, with about 70% being year-round residents. The township has several lakes and rivers ideal for recreation, and it sits on approximately 45 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. Within the township is the community of Big Bay. In the center of Big Bay is Powell Township School, which received the 2022 Excellence in Education award and serves preschoolers through eighth graders. Big Bay’s stores and restaurants include Drury’s General Store and Cash’s Corner Cafe, Huron Mountain Outfitters, the Lumberjack Tavern, the Big Bay Point Lighthouse and Bed & Breakfast, the Huron Mountain Creamery, the Picture Bay Motel, the Big Bay Motel, and the Thunder Bay Inn. Big Bay also has a locally owned and Michigan certified assisted living facility. For more camping, sailing, and recreation, Perkins Park rests on the shore of Lake Independence, and Dock of the Bay enables boat access to Lake Superior. Both sites are managed by Marquette County. Powell Township staff also maintain four township parks: Draver Park, Pavilion, and Ballfield, Thomas Rock Scenic Overlook, Burns Landing and Pavilion at Mino Kwe Jiigibiik, and the Bill Dionne/Halfway Fire Hall Kids’ Park. Powell Township’s Parks and Recreation Committee also maintains multiple township and Noquemanon Trail Network trails, enabling year-round use.
Residents can find general township information on this website. In addition to the site’s Tax & Assessing page, residents can view their assessing and tax information for free at this link.
