Dakota Heights, Michigan

Dakota Heights, Michigan
Dakota Heights, Michigan
Coordinates: 47°07′05″N 88°35′12″W / 47.11807°N 88.5868°W / 47.11807; -88.5868Coordinates: 47°07′05″N 88°35′12″W / 47.11807°N 88.5868°W / 47.11807; -88.5868[1]
Country	United States
State	Michigan
Platted	1906

Dakota Heights is an unincorporated community in Portage 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]

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] and spa.

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.[1]

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

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highway

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]

Public transportation

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]

Snowmobile

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

References

1. ^ "Description of the Huron Creek Watershed". http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~asmayer/HuronCreek/ch2.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
2. ^ Aslani, Layla (April 14). "PT receives grant for sewer work". The Daily Mining Gazette 109 (176): pp. 1A, 12A. http://www.mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/504638.html?nav=5006 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Gerald Greer. "A Comprehensive Land Use History of the Huron Creek Watershed" (pdf). http://www.geo.mtu.edu/~asmayer/HuronCreek/old_page/documents/HuronCreekHistory.pdf. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
4. ^ ^{a b} ""Shaping the Future" Survey Comments from Portage Township" (PDF). http://emml.mtu.edu/gem/community/planning/survey/Port_comm_S.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
5. ^ "Hot-Ads MI - Dozens of Newspapers and Thousands of Ads". http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:i4Q8Ai_XI_IJ:hot-ads.com/newspaper/index.cfm%3FSID%3DMI%26RGID%3D00001000000%26Category%3D3%26Classification%3D301+%22Dakota+Heights%22+portage+township&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us. Retrieved 2007-05-14. ^{[broken citation]}
6. ^ Steve Albee. "A Featured River: Huron Creek and its Watershed" (pdf). http://www.coppercountrytu.org/pages/newsletters/Newsletter_WI06.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-25. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Neese, Garrett (September 9, 2008). "Portage Twp. OKs scoping". The (Houghton, Michigan) Daily Mining Gazette: pp. 1A, 10A 
8. ^ "SEPTIC SYSTEM: Developing the Huron Creek Watershed Management Plan". http://www.social.mtu.edu/GORMAN/HuronCreek/SepticSystems.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-21. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Karen M. Gonzalez,. "Huron Creek Watershed Management Plan: Technical Background" (pdf). http://www.sfi.mtu.edu/REU/research_projects/HuronCreek_Watershed_Mngmt_Karen.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-25. ^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "Houghton Motor Transit Line". http://www.cityofhoughton.com/info-transit.php. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 
11. ^ "Downtowner Route Schedule" (pdf). http://www.cityofhoughton.com/documents/Transit_Map.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 

External links

• Postcard of Dakota Heights
• Obituary of Mrs. Annie Reed Opie from the (Houghton, Michigan) Daily Mining Gazette, July 4, 1927
• "Environmental Decision-Making Class: Planning Resources for Houghton County". Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach. http://emml.mtu.edu/gem/community/planning/survey/survey_rev.html. Retrieved 2008-05-25. 
• The World Knowledge Library Masterliness
• MTU Department of Social Sciences: "Graduate students present their research at a departmental poster session. Some of the titles included Quincy Second Hillside Edition, Home of One's Own, Dakota Heights, Dodgeville, and Coburntown"
• "Preliminary Delineation of Sub Watersheds and Storm Water Runoff" by Anna Hermesmeyer
• Mention in Tech Topics online
• "Introducing the new Copper Island Beach Club" by Dan Boyer in Michigan Tech Lode