Rapid River, Michigan

Rapid River, along U.S. Highway 2

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 45°55′37″N 86°58′01″W / 45.92694°N 86.96694°W / 45.92694; -86.96694,^[1] 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^[2]

Sign for Rapid River, Michigan

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.^[3]

One scene from the 2001 film Escanaba in da Moonlight was shot in the Swallow Inn, a popular bar on Main Street.^[4]

Rapid River is home to the Rapid River Public Schools, a class D school.

Fire coverage is provided by the Masonville Township Volunteer Fire Department. Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Masonville Township Volunteer EMS service which provide non-transport Basic Life Support services.

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Ironwood, Michigan.^[5]

References

v t e Municipalities and communities of Delta County, Michigan, United States County seat: Escanaba Cities Escanaba Gladstone Village Garden Townships Baldwin Bark River Bay de Noc Brampton Cornell Ensign Escanaba Fairbanks Ford Garden Maple Ridge Masonville Nahma Wells Unincorporated communities Bark River Cornell Perkins Rapid River Rock