Pinnebog River
Encyclopedia
The Pinnebog River is a 39.4 miles (63.4 km) river
in the Thumb
region of the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The river flows into Lake Huron
on the west side of the "tip" of the "thumb".
The entire length of the Pinnebog lies within in Huron County
and is fed by various agricultural ditches and drains. It is formed by the confluence of the Colona and Colfax drains near the southern boundary of section 28 in Colfax Township
, on the south side of M-53
(Van Dyke Rd.) about 4 miles (6 km) south-southwest of Bad Axe. It flows southwest for about 2 miles (3 km) around the unincorporated community of Popple where it is fed by the Cameron and McLean drains. It then bends northward around Popple and flows northwest for about 5 miles (8 km) past the east side of the village of Elkton
. North of Elkton, the river flows mostly northward to its mouth in Lake Huron in Port Crescent State Park
at 44°00′23"N 83°03′39"W, about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Port Austin
. Other tributaries include the Elkton Drain, Nettle Run, Hill Drain, Southworth Drain, McMullen Drain, Oliver Drain, Bad Axe Creek, Musselman Drain (which empties Rush Lake in the Rush Lake State Game Area. Before reaching Lake Huron, it turns to flow east-northeast for about 3 miles (5 km) to its mouth. Just before its mouth, it is joined by the Taft and Schram drains.
The river's watershed drains all or portions of the following townships:
Bingham
,
Chandler
,
Colfax
,
Dwight
,
Hume
,
Lake
,
Lincoln
,
Meade
,
Oliver
,
Sheridan
, and
Verona
.
The unincorporated community of Pinnebog is situated on the Taft Drain. The Pinnebog River passes about 1 miles (1.6 km) to the west. Pinnebog Road runs from 2 miles (3 km) north of Pinnebog due south about 13 miles (20.9 km) to Van Dyke Road just north of Popple. Pinnebog Road is also designated as County Road L for its entire length.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Thumb
The Thumb
The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten; thus the Thumb is the area that looks like the thumb of the mitten. The Thumb is generally considered to be in the Mid-Michigan area of the state, located east of Flint/Tri-Cities...
region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The river flows into Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
on the west side of the "tip" of the "thumb".
The entire length of the Pinnebog lies within in Huron County
Huron County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-53* M-142-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36,079 people, 14,597 households, and 10,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 20,430 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
and is fed by various agricultural ditches and drains. It is formed by the confluence of the Colona and Colfax drains near the southern boundary of section 28 in Colfax Township
Colfax Township, Huron County, Michigan
Colfax Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,954 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The city of Bad Axe is on the eastern boundary and has incorporated land that had formerly been in the township....
, on the south side of M-53
M-53 (Michigan highway)
M-53 is a gateway route to The Thumb region of the US state of Michigan, carrying vacationers to the many cottages and resorts located on Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in the vicinity of Caseville and Port Austin. This highway is also used to transport agricultural and manufactured products from the...
(Van Dyke Rd.) about 4 miles (6 km) south-southwest of Bad Axe. It flows southwest for about 2 miles (3 km) around the unincorporated community of Popple where it is fed by the Cameron and McLean drains. It then bends northward around Popple and flows northwest for about 5 miles (8 km) past the east side of the village of Elkton
Elkton, Michigan
Elkton is a village in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 863 at the 2000 census. The village is within Oliver Township, along the Pinnebog River....
. North of Elkton, the river flows mostly northward to its mouth in Lake Huron in Port Crescent State Park
Port Crescent State Park
Port Crescent State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Michigan. The park is located in Huron County at the tip of The Thumb of Michigan...
at 44°00′23"N 83°03′39"W, about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Port Austin
Port Austin, Michigan
Port Austin is a village in Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 737 at the 2000 census. The village is within Port Austin Township.-Geography:...
. Other tributaries include the Elkton Drain, Nettle Run, Hill Drain, Southworth Drain, McMullen Drain, Oliver Drain, Bad Axe Creek, Musselman Drain (which empties Rush Lake in the Rush Lake State Game Area. Before reaching Lake Huron, it turns to flow east-northeast for about 3 miles (5 km) to its mouth. Just before its mouth, it is joined by the Taft and Schram drains.
The river's watershed drains all or portions of the following townships:
Bingham
Bingham Township, Huron County, Michigan
Bingham Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,751. The township is named for Kinsley S. Bingham, a U.S. Representative and U.S...
,
Chandler
Chandler Township, Huron County, Michigan
Chandler Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 501 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
,
Colfax
Colfax Township, Huron County, Michigan
Colfax Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,954 at the 2000 census.- Communities :* The city of Bad Axe is on the eastern boundary and has incorporated land that had formerly been in the township....
,
Dwight
Dwight Township, Michigan
Dwight Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 930 at the 2000 census.The village of Kinde is located on the boundary between Dwight Township and Lincoln Township, with about half of the village in both...
,
Hume
Hume Township, Michigan
Hume Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 801. The township is named after the first white settler in the area, Walter Hume, who arrived and built the first house in the 1850s...
,
Lake
Lake Township, Huron County, Michigan
Lake Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 996 at the 2000 census.Albert E. Sleeper State Park and Rush Lake State Game Area are both within the township.-Geography:...
,
Lincoln
Lincoln Township, Huron County, Michigan
Lincoln Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 873 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
,
Meade
Meade Township, Huron County, Michigan
Meade Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 799 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.7 square miles , all land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 799...
,
Oliver
Oliver Township, Huron County, Michigan
Oliver Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,626 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.3 square miles , of which, 35.3 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square...
,
Sheridan
Sheridan Township, Huron County, Michigan
Sheridan Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 736 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Appin Appin, Michigan was a settlement founded by people from Scotland...
, and
Verona
Verona Township, Michigan
Verona Township is a civil township of Huron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,349 at the 2000 census.The city of Bad Axe is on the western boundary of the township, but is administratively autonomous.-Geography:...
.
The unincorporated community of Pinnebog is situated on the Taft Drain. The Pinnebog River passes about 1 miles (1.6 km) to the west. Pinnebog Road runs from 2 miles (3 km) north of Pinnebog due south about 13 miles (20.9 km) to Van Dyke Road just north of Popple. Pinnebog Road is also designated as County Road L for its entire length.