Indian River

History

The area of Indian River was first settled as early as 1876. The community was founded two years later by land owner Floyd Martin and surveyed and platted by Oliver Hayden by 1880. The new settlement was named after the Indian River, which flows through the community. A post office was established on September 22, 1879. The North Central State Trail goes through the town. The National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, an open-air sanctuary, is located in Indian River and dedicated to Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (36.27%) is water. Indian River is situated along the course of the Indian River, which connects Burt Lake and Mullett Lake. The Sturgeon River also drains into Burt Lake within the community. Burt Lake State Park is located within the community on the southeastern shores of Burt Lake. * runs south–north through the center of the community and continues north to the Mackinac Bridge. * runs from Alanson and runs through the southern portion of the community, meeting I-75 and continuing east to Onaway and Rogers City. * follows former route of US 27, has its southern terminus at I-75 within Indian River and continues north to Cheboygan.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,027
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,833
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,767
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,363
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  1,307
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,274
• Common Grackle

  Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,228
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,182

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2016-06-28
  8 km ESE of De Tour Village, Michigan
• M 2.5 — 2015-02-16
  5 km WNW of Alpena, Michigan