Mio

Mio, Michigan
—  CDP  —
Location of Mio within Oscoda County, Michigan
Mio, Michigan Location within the state of Michigan
Coordinates: 44°39′08″N 84°7′47″W / 44.65222°N 84.12972°W / 44.65222; -84.12972
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oscoda
Township	Big Creek Mentor
Area
- Total	8.1 sq mi (21.0 km2)
- Land	7.5 sq mi (19.3 km2)
- Water	0.6 sq mi (1.7 km2)
Elevation [1]	1,020 ft (311 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,016
- Density	270.1/sq mi (104.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	48647
Area code(s)	989
FIPS code	26-54660[2]
GNIS feature ID	1620853[1]

Mio is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Oscoda County^[3] and is situated along the boundary between Mentor Township on the east and Big Creek Township on the west.

Mio is also a census-designated place (CDP) used for statistical purposes, but has no legal status as an incorporated municipality. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 2,016.

The name of the community is pronounced "MY-oh" (with a long "i" sound), not "ME-oh." The town was founded in 1881, and was originally called “Mioe”, in honor of the wife of town founder, Henry Deyarmond. Other founders are Colige Comins, Reirlo Fosdick, and John Randall.^[4] A post office named Mioe opened May 3, 1882. The name changed to Mio on November 21, 1883.^[5] 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.^[6]

Contents 1 State record 2 Geography 2.1 Geographic features 3 Transportation 3.1 Michigan State Trunklines 3.2 Oscoda County Intercounty Highways 4 Demographics 5 Local attractions and activities 6 Local recurring events 7 Historical markers 8 Media 8.1 Newspapers 8.2 Television 8.3 Radio 8.3.1 FM 8.3.2 AM 8.4 Media spotlight 9 Notes 10 External links

State record

On July 13, 1936, the temperature in Mio climbed to 112°F (44°C), the highest temperature ever recorded in Michigan.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.0 km²) of which, 7.5 square miles (19.3 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.7 km²) of it (8.01%) is water.

Geographic features

• Mio is situated in the Au Sable River Valley.
• It is surrounded by the Huron National Forest and near the Rifle River State Recreation Area.
• The area is part of the Au Sable State Forest, specifically the
  • Grayling FMU (Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, and northern Iosco counties).
• Much of the area sits on the Grayling outwash plain.^[7]
• The Oscoda County Park is minutes away.^[8]
• Mio is part of Northern Michigan.

Transportation

Michigan State Trunklines

• M-33
• M-72

Oscoda County Intercounty Highways

• F-32

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,016 people, 826 households, and 537 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 270.1 per square mile (104.3/km²). There were 1,191 housing units at an average density of 159.6/sq mi (61.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.83% White, 0.15% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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 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 for the community was $13,064. About 13.9% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, 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 along the Au Sable River. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's Warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:

• Amish Community with Stores and Bakeries
• Birding
• Boating, Paddling (canoe and kayak)
• Coptic Orthodox St. Mina Retreat Center
• Fishing, particularly trout fishing.
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Kirtland Warbler Habitat and Festival The Kirtland's Warbler has its habitat in the area. ^[9] There is a Kirtland's Warbler Festival, which is sponsored in part by Kirtland Community College.^[10]
• Mennonite Relief Expo & Fair
• Michigan Shore to Shore Riding & Hiking Trail passes through Mio. It runs from Empire to Oscoda, and points north and south. It is a 500 mile interconnected system of trails.^[11]
• Nordic skiing
• ORV, motor cycle and groomed snowmobile trails.^[12]
• Steiner's Museum of pioneer artifacts is in nearby Fairview^[13]
• The Michigan Au Sable Valley Railroad is located in Fairview. It is 1/4 scale 16 gauge railroad, that offers rides on a passenger train through the scenic Northern Michigan landscape. It operates in jack pine country during the summer months. Riders travel through parts of the Huron National Forest and overlook the beautiful Comins Creek Valley.^[14]
• Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Shrine^[15]

Local recurring events

There are many recurring local events.^[16]

• First Dam Canoe Race (MCRA - Canoe Race)^[17]
• Mennonite relief sale^[18]
• Michigan Magazine Craft Show^[19]
• Mio Mud Bogs & Drags^[20]
• Nor Easter Folk Music Festival^[21]
• Outdoor Sportsmens Expo
• Oscoda County Fair & Forestry Exposition^[22]

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.^[23]
• Oscoda County Courthouse was built in 1888^[24][25]

Media

The following can be accessed in Mio, Michigan.

Newspapers

• The Oscoda County Herald 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 opperates 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

Call Sign	Frequency	City Broadcast From
WJOJ	89.7	Harrisville
WPHN	90.5	Gaylord
WCML	91.7	Alpena
WFXD	92.5	Atlanta
WAVC	93.9	Mio
WKJZ	94.9	Hillman
WCMB	95.7	Oscoda
WUPS	98.5	Harrison
WATZ	99.3	Alpena
WGRY	100.3	Grayling
WMJZ	101.5	Gaylord
WKJC	104.7	Tawas City
WHSB	107.7	Alpena

AM

There are no AM Radio Stations in range of Mio, Michigan.

Media spotlight

For nearly 18 years, Mio was thrust into the local and national media spotlight due to a case involving two Detroit-area hunters that went missing in the fall of 1985. The case was eventually cracked in 2003, when two brothers (one from Hale in nearby Iosco County and one from Monroe, in the southeast region of the state) were convicted of murdering the pair near Mio. A true account of the crimes was detailed in a 2006 book by Tom Henderson, titled Darker Than Night.

Notes

other popular land marks include the Pink Elephant, St. Mary's Church and Shrine, and the Scenic Overlook

External links

• The Oscoda County Herald Online
• Au Sable Valley connection.
• Oscoda County Chamber of Commerce, including calendar of events, attractions.
• Oscoda County Web Site.
• Calendar of Events, Sunrise side.
• Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.
• Sunrise side travel and information

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Oscoda County, Michigan County seat: Mio Townships Big Creek | Clinton | Comins | Elmer | Greenwood | Mentor Unincorporated communities Comins | Fairview | Luzerne | McKinley | Mio

Coordinates: 44°39′08″N 84°07′47″W / 44.65222°N 84.12972°W / 44.65222; -84.12972