Rapid River, Michigan

Rapid River is an unincorporated community in Masonville Township, Delta County in the U.S. state of Michigan.

It is situated on the northern end of the Little Bay de Noc at coord|45|55|37|N|86|58|01|W|, [gnis|1621342] between the mouths of the Tacoosh and Rapid rivers with the mouth of the Whitefish River just to the east. U.S. Highway 2 passes through Rapid River and joins with U.S. Highway 41 just west of town; the two then run concurrently from Rapid River south to Escanaba. The Rapid River ZIP code is 49878 and also serves areas in the nearby townships in Delta County of Baldwin, Bay de Noc, Brampton, Ensign, Garden, Maple Ridge, Masonville, and Nahma. It also serves a small area in Mathias Township in Alger County [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=86000US49878&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=AdvSearch&_lang=en 49878 5-Digit ZCTA, 498 3-Digit ZCTA - Reference Map - American FactFinder] , U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 census]

The community was first named "Rapid Siding" as a stop on the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. The name was recorded as "Rapid River" when the community was platted in 1887. The community never incorporated as a village.cite book | last = Romig | first = Walter | authorlink=Walter Romig | year = 1986 | title = Michigan Place Names | origyear= 1973 | publisher = Wayne State University Press | location = Detroit, Michigan | id = ISBN 0-8143-1838-X]

The community is now known as a beautiful fishing community with world class walleye fishing opportunities.

The 2001 film "Escanaba in da Moonlight" was briefly shot in the Swallow Inn.Fact|date=August 2008

Rapid River is home to the [http://www.rapidriver.k12.mi.us/ Rapid River Public Schools] , a class D school.

References