Hannahville Indian Community | |
|---|---|
 Locations withinMenominee County (left) andDelta County (right) | |
  Hannahville Location within the state of Michigan | |
| Coordinates:45°38′52″N87°20′42″W / 45.64778°N 87.34500°W /45.64778; -87.34500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Delta andMenominee |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Tribal council |
| • Chairperson | Kenneth Meshigaud |
| Population (2013) | |
• Total | 891 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | 49807 |
| Area code | 906 |
| Website | Official website |
TheHannahville Indian Community is afederally recognizedPotawatomitribe residing inMichigan's Upper Peninsula, approximately 15 miles (24 km) west ofEscanaba on a 8.5755-square-mile (22.210 km2)reservation. The reservation, at45°46′59″N87°25′23″W / 45.78306°N 87.42306°W /45.78306; -87.42306, lies mostly inHarris Township in easternMenominee County, but small parts are located in northeasternGourley Township, in Menominee County, and inBark River Township in adjacent southwesternDelta County.
The2020 census reported a resident population of 720 persons within its territory, most of whom were of Native American heritage.[1] As of June 3, 2013[update], the tribe had an enrolled membership of 891 people.[2]
The people of Hannahville are descendants of Potawatomi people who refused to leaveMichigan in 1834 forIndian Territory during the greatIndian removal.[3] For a period, they moved away from Michigan, living with theMenominee in northernWisconsin and theOjibwe andOttawa peoples inCanada. The Potawatomi, the Ojibwe, and Odawa are part of the Council of the Three Fires. In 1853, some Potawatomie returned to Michigan. It was at this time they settled along the mouth of theBig Cedar River atLake Michigan.
According to theMethodist Church,Peter Marksman was sent to the area as an assistant minister. During this time, he was credited with finding a parcel of land and moving the Potawatomi people to the current location. Some church records report that, as the Potawatomi were very fond of Marksman's wife, Hannah, they named their community after her.
The first designation of this area as specifically Potawatomi land was recorded by the US federal government in 1870.[4] The reservation was established by an act of Congress in 1913.
Under theIndian Reorganization Act of 1934, the tribe wrote a constitution and organized an elected form of government. The federal government officially recognized it in 1937. Members elect a 12-person Tribal Council, which makes decisions for governing the community.
In 1966, the tribe joined with three others in Michigan to establish theInter-Tribal Council of Michigan, Inc. Other founding members wereKeweenaw Bay Indian Community,Bay Mills Indian Community, andSaginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. These small tribes wanted to work together for joint welfare, to manage joint projects, and to improve relations with the state and federal governments.
In 1966, the reservation acquired electricity for the first time. The "Lights for Christmas Project" was a multi-agency sponsored effort. Agencies involved included the Upper Peninsula Committee for Area Progress (UPCAP), the Community Action Agency, theBureau of Indian Affairs, and theMarquette Catholic Diocese. In December 1966, linemen from the Alger-Delta Cooperative Electric Association ofGladstone, Michigan, began running electrical lines from the Harris area (i.e., West U.S. 2) onto the Hannahville Indian Reservation. A team of 40 volunteer electricians from throughout the state began wiring 16 reservation homes to receive electricity. All 40 electricians were members of the International Brotherhood of Electricians. The 16 homes were completed and ready for "flipping the switch" late that evening. On December 23, 1966, at 3 p.m. EST, a few local county officials and community members watched as "hotlines" were activated at Hannahville for the first time, the cable installation completed on the same day.[5]
The Marquette Catholic Diocese donated the $6,000 abandonment deposit required by the Alger-Delta Cooperative Electric Association. Each of the 16 households to receive electricity paid the Cooperative membership fee of $5. During this same period, the BIA had approved a housing project for new residences in Hannahville. The cooperative required the deposit against the contingency that the new houses might not be built.[citation needed]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the Hannahville Indian Community in 2020 had an area of 5.57 square miles (3,560 acres; 14.4 km2), all of it land. The community also had 3.57 square miles (2,280 acres; 9.2 km2) ofoff-reservation trust land. The combined reservation and off-reservation trust land have a total area of 9.14 square miles (23.7 km2).[6]
As of thecensus of 2020,[1] the population of the Hannahville Indian Community and off-reservation trust land was 720. Of these residents, 325 lived within the community, and 395 lived on off-reservation trust land. Thepopulation density was 78.8 inhabitants per square mile (30.4/km2). There were 262 housing units at an average density of 28.7 per square mile (11.1/km2). The racial makeup of the reservation and off-reservation trust land was 75.1%Native American, 13.1%White, 0.1%Black orAfrican American, 0.1% fromother races, and 11.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.4%Hispanic orLatino of any race.
According to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing for Michigan, the per capita income for the Hannahville community in 1989 was $4,625, whereas the per capita for the state of Michigan was $14,154.[7]
Approximately 100 additional members live nearby and access services on the Reservation. Since the late 20th century, the Tribe has been committed to developingenvironmental protection programs to ensure a healthy and safe environment for current and future generations.
Hannahville Indian School is the tribal school.
 Native American tribes in Michigan | |
|---|---|
| Federally recognized | |
| State recognized |
|
Municipalities and communities ofDelta County, Michigan,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Village | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofMenominee County, Michigan,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Civil townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |