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Bates Township

3070 East Highway United States 2
906-265-2787

About Us :

Bates Township is one of the original five townships of the county and was granted organization privileges in 1885 under the same legislative act that provided for the separation of Iron from Marquette County.

The following brief history is compiled from the records of the Township minutes book of the first Township meeting and meager bits of information from early settlers.

The Township enjoyed the greatest early concentration of permanent farm settlements when good lands became available through an over-selection of grant lands. The settlers were mainly of sturdy Scandinavian stock that made their way to the frontier stopping center at Norway, Michigan in 1882. Several Polish families settled a short time later, as did one French Family.