Mio, Michigan
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Mio ( ) is an
unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
and
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...
(CDP) in Oscoda County in the U.S. state of
Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
. It is the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of Oscoda County. The population of the CDP was 1,690 at the 2020 census. Mio is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east, Big Creek Township on the west, and Elmer Township to the northwest. As an unincorporated community, Mio has no legal autonomy as an incorporated municipality.


History

The community was founded in 1881 and was originally called "Mioe", in honor of Marla Deyarmond, the wife of town founder Henry Deyarmond. Other founders included Colige Comins, Reirlo Fosdick, and John Randall. A post office named Mioe opened May 3, 1882. The name changed to Mio on November 21, 1883.


State high temperature record

Mio holds the state record for the highest recorded temperature, when it reached on July 13, 1936. An identical temperature was also recorded on the same day in the village of Stanwood, in Mecosta County.


PBB contamination event

In 1973, a polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) contamination event caused farmers in the area to destroy their herds. This event occurred when a dock worker accidentally shipped five hundred pounds of fire retardant Fire Master instead of the feed supplement Nutrimaster, leading to the contamination of various farm animals, including cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep. Shortly after, the farmers noticed deformities and sickness among their livestock and newborn calves. More than 35,000 cows were found to be contaminated and had to be destroyed. Out of these, 1,300 were dumped into a clay-lined pit in Mio. As of 2014, PBB is still detectable in the blood tests of some people in this area.


Detroit-area hunters murdered

For nearly eighteen years, Mio was thrust into the local and national media spotlight due to a case involving two Detroit-area hunters who went missing in the fall of 1985. Progress in the investigation was stymied by area residents' refusal to help, citing fears of violent reprisal. On November 21, 1985, childhood friends David Tyll and Brian Ognjan were beaten to death with baseball bats outside of a local bar. The case was eventually cracked in 2003, when two brothers, Raymond and Donald Duvall, both from South Branch, in
Iosco County Iosco County ( , ) is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan; its eastern border is formed by Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,237. The county seat is Tawas City. Etymology of Iosco ''Iosco'' has traditionally been s ...
, were convicted of murdering the pair near Mio. It was rumored that the murderers had disposed of the bodies by feeding them to pigs. When the two brothers were sentenced to life in prison without parole, Tyll's father said, "They took my son. It doesn't bring him back, but it's something." A true account of the crimes was detailed in ''Darker Than Night'', a 2006 book by Tom Henderson.


Historical markers

There are two historical markers in Mio. * Mio Hydroelectric Plant was built in 1916 on the lower Au Sable River. William W. Tefft, a Consumers Power civil and hydraulic engineer, invented and patented the so-called "conduit spillway", which channels excessive flow through channels built into the plant. This was the first plant to use it, and it is cheaper than other forms of spillways. *
Oscoda County Courthouse The Oscoda County Courthouse was the county courthouse for Oscoda County, Michigan, located in Mio at 311 Morenci Ave ( M-33). The courthouse was a Michigan State Historic Site and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. , the cou ...
was built in 1888. It was destroyed by a fire on May 5, 2016. Construction of a new building officially began on May 20, 2019, and was completed in February 2020.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the CDP had a total area of , of which is land and (6.79%) is water. The Mio post office, with ZIP Code 48647, also serves the northern portions of Mentor Township and the northeastern part of Big Creek Township, as well as a large area of eastern and southern Elmer Township and smaller portions of western Clinton Township and Comins Township.


Geographic features

Mio, part of
Northern Michigan Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan (known colloquially to residents of more southerly parts of the state and summer residents from cities such as Detroit as " Up North"), is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan. A popul ...
, is situated in the Au Sable River Valley. It is surrounded by the
Huron National Forest The Huron National Forest is a National Forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was established in 1909 after the logging era began to decline. In 1945, it was administratively combined with the Manistee National Forest, to create the Hur ...
and near the Rifle River State Recreation Area. The area is part of the
Au Sable State Forest The Au Sable State Forest is a state forest in the north-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Au Sable State Forest is a byproduct of the lumbering boom in Michigan during the ...
, specifically the Grayling Forest Management Unit (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties). Much of the area sits on the Grayling
outwash plain An outwash plain, also called a sandur (plural: ''sandurs''), sandr or sandar, is a plain formed of glaciofluvial deposits due to meltwater outwash at the terminus of a glacier. As it flows, the glacier grinds the underlying rock surface and c ...
. The Oscoda County Park is minutes away.


Education

Mio-AuSable Schools
is a Kindergarten through 12th grade school, with all grades contained in one building. Middle school and high school students are enrolled in seven classes each day, and the year routine follows a semester schedule. Mio-AuSable currently offers two Advanced Placement (AP) courses, AP Biology and AP Calculus AB. The school does not offer any Honors courses, but to make up for the lack of advanced classes, students are encouraged to dual-enroll through Kirtland Community College. Sophomores, juniors and seniors can choose to take online classes through the nearby community college, and if the students receive at least a C in a course, they will be granted college credit in that course which may transfer into the university of their choice after high school. The high school has about approximately 170 students and 17 teachers, some of which double as middle school teachers.


Demographics

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 2,016 people, 826 households, and 537 families residing in the CDP. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 270.1 per square mile (104.3/km2). There were 1,191 housing units at an average density of 159.6 per square mile (61.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.83%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.15%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.55% Native American, 0.10%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.25% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 2.13% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 1.44% of the population. There were 826 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,831, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $29,542 versus $20,927 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the community was $13,064. About 13.9% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.


Local attractions and activities

The community is centered in the
Huron National Forest The Huron National Forest is a National Forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was established in 1909 after the logging era began to decline. In 1945, it was administratively combined with the Manistee National Forest, to create the Hur ...
along the Au Sable River. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles,
Kirtland's warbler Kirtland's warbler (''Setophaga kirtlandii''), also known in Michigan by the common name jack pine bird, or the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (Parulidae), named after Jared Potter Kirtland, an Ohio doct ...
s, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include: *Oscoda County Riverfest *Amish community with stores and bakeries *Birding *Boating, paddling (canoe and kayak) *
Coptic Orthodox The Coptic Orthodox Church ( cop, Ϯⲉⲕ̀ⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̀ⲣⲉⲙⲛ̀ⲭⲏⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲟⲥ, translit=Ti.eklyseya en.remenkimi en.orthodoxos, lit=the Egyptian Orthodox Church; ar, الكنيسة القبطي ...
St. Mina Retreat Center *Fishing, particularly trout fishing *Mio Pond Fishing Tournament (Pike, walleye, and bass) *
Geocaching Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific l ...
*Hiking *Hunting *Kirtland's Warbler Habitat and Festival: The Kirtland's warbler has its habitat in the area. There is a Kirtland's Warbler Festival, which is sponsored in part by
Kirtland Community College Kirtland Community College is a public community college in Grayling, Michigan. History Kirtland was founded in 1966 under the provisions of Michigan's Public Act 188 of 1955, it is the state's largest community college district geographically ...
. *Mennonite Relief Expo & Fair *Michigan Shore to Shore Riding & Hiking Trail passes through Mio. It runs from
Empire An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
to Oscoda, and points north and south. It is a 500-mile interconnected system of trails. *
Nordic skiing Nordic skiing encompasses the various types of skiing in which the toe of the ski boot is fixed to the Ski binding, binding in a manner that allows the heel to rise off the ski, unlike alpine skiing, where the boot is attached to the ski from toe ...
*The Michigan AuSable Valley Railroad is a , 1/4-scale
ridable miniature railway A ridable miniature railway (US: riding railroad or grand scale railroad) is a large scale, usually ground-level railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are often models of full-sized railway locomotives (powered by diesel or petrol ...
, located in
Fairview, Michigan Fairview is an unincorporated community in Oscoda County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located within Comins Township at the intersection of highways M-33 and M-72 at . Fairview is considered the wild turkey capital of Michigan. The ...
. The railroad runs through the scenic
Huron National Forest The Huron National Forest is a National Forest in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It was established in 1909 after the logging era began to decline. In 1945, it was administratively combined with the Manistee National Forest, to create the Hur ...
and the Comins Creek valley. It is away. *ORV, motorcycle, and groomed snowmobile trails *Steiner's Museum of pioneer artifacts is in nearby Fairview. *Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Shrine *Timberland Quilt Trail


Local recurring events

There are many recurring local events, including: *First Dam Canoe Race (Michigan Canoe Racing Association) * Mennonite relief sale *Michigan Magazine Craft Show *Mio Mud Bogs & Drags *Nor-East'r Music & Art Festival *Outdoor Sportsmen's Expo *Oscoda County Fair & Forestry Exposition


Media

The following can be accessed in Mio, Michigan:


Newspapers

* ''The Oscoda County Herald''''The Oscoda County Herald''
/ref> is a weekly publication available on newsstands every Tuesday and by mail on Wednesday. The paper covers news and sports from all of Oscoda County, as well as other nearby communities. It also serves as the paper of record for all municipalities in Oscoda County, and is the only newspaper recognized by the Michigan Press Association that operates inside of Oscoda County. ''The Oscoda County Herald'' is owned by Sunrise Printing & Publishing, which also owns the ''Ogemaw County Herald'' and the ''Arenac County Independent''.


Television


Radio


FM


AM

There are no AM radio stations in range of Mio, Michigan, although WWJ can be heard faintly at night.


Notes


External links


''The Oscoda County Herald'' online



Oscoda County Chamber of Commerce, including calendar of events and attractions

Oscoda County website

Calendar of events, Sunrise side

Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.

Sunrise side travel and information
{{authority control Unincorporated communities in Oscoda County, Michigan Census-designated places in Michigan County seats in Michigan Unincorporated communities in Michigan Census-designated places in Oscoda County, Michigan Populated places established in 1881 1881 establishments in Michigan