Chicagon Mine Road-Chicagon Creek Bridge · National Register of Historic Places
Bates’s story
Bates in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →BatesMI
A town of 927. Nearly 38.1% of it is conserved land.
Population
927
+0.4% since 2010
Median home value
$163K
Census ACS
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
57.5
years
Jobs based here
33
A commuter town
What makes Bates stand out
The thing Bates does most differently from other towns.
Small town
927 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
HematiteIron RiverStambaughCrystal FallsAmasaIron RiverDuncanBates
Bates’s report card
Now in Bates
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bates. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a third of Bates is conserved land
112 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves.
38.1%conserved
38.1%
conserved · 31,823 of 83,484 acres
112 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ottawa National Forest - Kenton Ranger District | 27.9 mi | 17,355 |
| 2. Ottawa National Forest - Iron River Ranger District | 21.3 mi | 11,552 |
| 3. Copper Country State Forest - Crystal Falls Unit | 2 mi | 2,485 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Bates
Most working residents leave Bates for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Iron River (18%), Crystal Falls (15%) and Iron Mountain (8%). Half commute less than 14 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bates1%
Iron River18%
Crystal Falls15%
Iron Mountain8%
Crystal Falls8%
14 mi
median commute distance
33
jobs based in Bates
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 23% of U.S. communities.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland flooding
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Bates has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 67 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
67″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–25°
Spring25–51°
Summer50–76°
Fall32–53°
Sep 9
typical first frost
Jun 6
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Bates is
Bates beats the Michigan average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
32 measures vs. Michigan
3 better18 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Bates | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.1% | 11.9% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.2% | 77.6% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.2% | 7% |
Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics
9.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Bates for work
Where Bates’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
33jobs based in Bates
1%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About Bates
Civil township in Michigan, United States
Bates Township is a civil township of Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,021, though in 2020 its population was 925.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 925
- Area
- 131 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,512 ft