Fox Islands (Michigan)

Fox Islands (Michigan)
Fox Islands
Fox Islands (Michigan) is located in Michigan
{{{alt}}}
Fox Islands (Michigan) (Michigan)
Geography
Location Lake Michigan
Coordinates 45°26′32″N 85°48′36″W / 45.44222°N 85.81°W / 45.44222; -85.81Coordinates: 45°26′32″N 85°48′36″W / 45.44222°N 85.81°W / 45.44222; -85.81
Total islands 2
Area 6.65 sq mi (17.22 km2)
Highest elevation 577 ft (175.9 m)
Country
United States
State Michigan
County Leelanau County
Township Leelanau Township
Demographics
Population Uninhabited

The Fox Islands consist of the North Fox and South Fox islands, in Lake Michigan. The uninhabited islands are approximately 17 miles northwest of Cathead Point near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan and about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Beaver Island. The three islands form part of an archipelago. There is a lighthouse on South Fox that was built in 1867 and operated until 1959. Both islands are part of Leelanau County, Michigan and are administered by Leelanau Township.

Contents

North Fox Island

North Fox (45°28′45″N 85°46′38″W / 45.4792°N 85.7771°W / 45.4792; -85.7771 (North Fox Island)) is the smaller of the two islands, 3.32 km² (1.282 sq mi, or 820.5 acres) in area, roughly 2 miles (3 km) wide by 1 mile (2 km) long. This island was purchased by real estate magnate David V. Johnson in 1994 for $1.3 million, and the entire island was sold back to the State of Michigan for $2.2 million at the end of the year 2000.

In the mid-1970s a child pornography ring was discovered operating on North Fox Island. The proprietor of the island used his position in a large social program to fly boys in his private plane to his island retreat. The Ann Arbor News published a story in their weekend magazine on the proprietor's life, then published a second story when the crimes were uncovered.[citation needed]

South Fox Island

South Fox Island (45°24′56″N 85°50′47″W / 45.4156°N 85.8463°W / 45.4156; -85.8463 (South Fox Island)) is 13.89 km² (5.3635 sq mi, or 3,432.6 acres) in area, and about 5 miles (8 km) long and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide. As of 2001, David V. Johnson also owned about two-thirds of South Fox. The other third was owned by the State of Michigan, including the two lighthouses on the southern tip of the island. There is no ferry service to South Fox, and it has no docks, fuel or sheltered harbor. However, a 5,500 foot private runway can accommodate jet aircraft. The developer, Victor International Corporation, maintains a slide show depicting the construction of the runway.

The Old South Fox Island Lighthouse was built in 1867 and includes a 39-foot (12 m) tall square brick tower attached to a keeper's house. The light itself was a flashing red, 4th order Fresnel lens. It is currently boarded up and abandoned, as is a newer assistant keeper's dwelling next door, built in 1910.

In 1934, a newer 60-foot (18 m) tall,[1] steel skeletal tower was built closer to the shoreline. This light tower came from Sapelo Island, and is a square, pyramidal, cast iron skeletal tower of the 'Sanibel' class. It has an enclosed steel spiral stairway that leads to the 10-sided lantern room at the top. A nearby fog signal building, built 1895, is closed. This tower is currently inactive.

Johnson built a paved runway and a residence on the southern island. Johnson's company Victor international Corporation maintains documentation of the island's development. He had originally proposed swapping North Fox Island with the state for the third of South Fox that he did not own, but he settled in 2003 for a consolidation deal which traded 218 acres (0.9 km2) of state owned land on the southern part of South Fox for 219 acres (0.9 km2) on the north and central parts of the same island. This deal was finalized in March 2003.

Mr. Johnson owns 2,204 acres (9 km2) on the isolated 3,400 acres (14 km2) Lake Michigan island 25 miles (40 km) west of the Leelanau County coast. South Fox Island boasts some of the most spectacular freshwater maritime scenery in the world, including towering dunes, virgin cedars, and untouched beaches.

The island includes a cemetery where members of the Grand Traverse Band of Native Americans are currently buried.

Deer were introduced onto the island in 1915. Hunting is permitted on state land by permit only.

The Fox Island Lighthouse Association (FILA), a non-profit organization, was formed in 2004 to aid in helping to preserve this historic Great Lakes maritime complex. Visit http://southfox.org for further information.

References

  1. ^ South fox Island Light, Inventory of Historic Light Stations: Michigan Lighthouses, National Park Service

Further reading

  • "A Tour of the Lights of the Straits." Michigan History 70 (Sep/Oct 1986), pp. 17–29.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fox Islands — Fox Island(s) may refer to:Canada* Fox Island, QuebecFalkland Islands* Fox Island, Falkland IslandsUnited States*Fox Islands (Alaska) in the Aleutians *The islands of North Haven and Vinalhaven in Penobscot Bay, Maine *Fox Islands (Michigan) in… …   Wikipedia

  • Fox Islands — ist der Name mehrerer Inselgruppen: Fox Islands (Alaska) Die Inseln North Haven, Maine und Vinalhaven in Penobscot Bay, Maine Fox Islands (Michigan) im nördlichen Lake Michigan Fox Islands (Virginia) Siehe auch: Fox Island …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Michigan — This article is about the U.S. state of Michigan. For other uses, see Michigan (disambiguation). State of Michigan …   Wikipedia

  • Islands of the Great Lakes — The Great Lakes islands consist of 35,000 Great Lakes islands created by uneven glacial activity in the Great Lakes Basin.At 1,068 square miles (2,766 km²), the largest lake island in the world is Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron in Canada s… …   Wikipedia

  • List of islands in the Detroit River — Landsat satellite photo showing the Detroit River connecting to Lake Erie to the south. By far, the largest island in the Detroit River is Grosse Ile …   Wikipedia

  • Michigan Central Station — U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

  • Michigan Architectural Foundation — is housed in the historic Beaubien House, one of Detroit s oldest residential properties. The foundation shares office space with the Michigan Society of Architects. The foundation s address on 553 East Jefferson in Detroit, Michigan is near the… …   Wikipedia

  • Fox-Wisconsin Waterway — The Fox Wisconsin Waterway is a waterway formed by the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. First used by European settlers in 1673 during the expedition of Marquette Joliet, it was one of the principal routes used by travelers between the Great Lakes and… …   Wikipedia

  • Islands of the Midwest — This is a partial list of islands of the Midwestern United States.TOCright tatesIllinois*Bardwell Island *Campbell s Island *Chouteau Island *Dillon Island *Gabaret Island *Goose Island *Goose Island *Long Island *Mosenthein Island *Rock Island… …   Wikipedia

  • Fox Theater (Spokane, Washington) — For other uses, see Fox Theatre (disambiguation). Fox Theater or Martin Woldson Theater At The Fox U.S. National Register of Historic Places …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”