Bear Lake township, Michigan
Bear Lake township profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Bear Lake township is a geographic entity located in Kalkaska County, Michigan. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 699. The land area covers 71.00 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 699 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 52 yrs | ±8.6 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 334 | ±72 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 983 | ±90 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 334 | ±72 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 649 | ±81 |
| Median Home Value | $188,700 | ±$41,196 |
| Median Gross Rent | Suppressed | — |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,889 | ±$8,440 |
| Per Capita Income | $35,790 | ±$5,705 |
| Poverty Rate | 4.3% | ±2.1% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 32 | ±17 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.3% | ±7.3% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 253 | ±92 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 94.6% | ±4.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 698 (2024)
ID: 128450
|
Township | Official Local Government |
Contact: BEAR LAKE TOWNSHIP CLERK
198 E BEAR LAKE RD NE, KALKASKA MI 49646
|
|
GUS Population: 18,618 (2024)
ID: 106279
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: CHAIRPERSON
605 N BIRCH ST, KALKASKA MI 49646-8414
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career and Technical School Nearby | 09-12 | ROSCOMMON, MI | |
| Special Education School Nearby | KG-12 | ROSCOMMON, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-08 | KALKASKA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | GRAYLING, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | GRAYLING, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 05-08 | GRAYLING, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-12 | GRAYLING, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | KALKASKA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | KALKASKA, MI | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | KALKASKA, MI |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 9 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kirtland Community College
|
College | 11.1 mi away | 4800 W 4 Mile Road, Grayling, MI, 49738 |
9892755000
|
|
CRAWFORD COUNTY LIBRARY
|
Library | 9.7 mi away | 201 PLUM STREET, GRAYLING, MI, 49738 |
(989) 348-9214
|
|
FREDERIC COMMUNITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 10.1 mi away | 6470 MANISTEE STREET, FREDERIC, MI, 49733 |
(989) 348-4067
|
|
KALKASKA COUNTY LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.9 mi away | 247 SOUTH CEDAR STREET, KALKASKA, MI, 49646 |
(231) 258-9411
|
|
LYON TOWNSHIP BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 15.9 mi away | 7851 WEST HIGGINS LAKE DRIVE, HIGGINS LAKE, MI, 48627 |
(989) 821-9111
|
|
MANCELONA TOWNSHIP LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.2 mi away | 202 WEST STATE STREET, MANCELONA, MI, 49659 |
(231) 587-9451
|
|
ROSCOMMON AREA DISTRICT LIBRARY
|
Library | 20.2 mi away | 106 LAKE ST., ROSCOMMON, MI, 48653 |
(989) 281-1305
|
|
ALDEN DISTRICT LIBRARY
|
Library | 22.6 mi away | 8751 HELENA ROAD, ALDEN, MI, 49612 |
(231) 331-4318
|
|
FIFE LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 22.9 mi away | 77 LAKECREST LANE, FIFE LAKE, MI, 49633 |
(231) 879-4101
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at KALKASKA 11SE, MI US, located 9.4 miles from Bear Lake township. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.9° | 9.8° | 16.8° | 2.26" | 28.5" |
| February | 27.4° | 8.0° | 17.7° | 1.99" | 25.3" |
| March | 37.4° | 16.0° | 26.7° | 2.14" | 15.4" |
| April | 51.1° | 28.3° | 39.7° | 3.49" | 9.5" |
| May | 65.3° | 39.8° | 52.6° | 3.65" | 0.5" |
| June | 74.0° | 49.2° | 61.6° | 3.55" | 0.0" |
| July | 76.6° | 52.5° | 64.6° | 3.27" | 0.0" |
| August | 75.7° | 52.1° | 63.9° | 3.57" | 0.0" |
| September | 68.2° | 43.4° | 55.8° | 3.54" | 0.0" |
| October | 54.6° | 34.3° | 44.4° | 3.77" | 2.6" |
| November | 41.0° | 25.3° | 33.2° | 3.03" | 14.0" |
| December | 30.2° | 17.6° | 23.9° | 2.22" | 30.5" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Lake CDP | CDP | 3.2 mi | — |
| Manistee Lake CDP | CDP | 8.9 mi | — |
| Grayling city | City | 9.6 mi | — |
| Kalkaska village | Village | 14.2 mi | — |
| Mancelona village | Village | 17.2 mi | — |
| Lakes of the North CDP | CDP | 17.3 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 2607906440. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.