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Michigan›Iron County
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AlphaMI

A town of 124, settled in 1883.

Population
124
2025 Census estimate · +0.8% since 2020
Median home value
$34K
Census ACS
Household income
$39K
median
Median age
58.7
years
Land area
1 sq mi

Is Alpha a good place to live?

Alpha has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

124 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Crystal Falls · 4 miMastodon Township · 5 miFlorence · 9 miGaastra · 11 miCaspian · 12 miIron River · 13 mi
Alpha (village), MI
Alpha (village), MI, 2018
Alpha’s story

143 years in pictures

Census counts: 818 in 1920, 126 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1899 on.

  • 1883Alpha is settled
Explore the history →
Getting set up

Moving to Alpha: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Alpha, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerUpper Michigan Energy Resources17.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAlpha water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Alpha’s trash rules yet
SchoolsForest Park School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereMastodon Township ClerkMastodon Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4990249902 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Alpha.

Natural hazards

Very low risk in Alpha, with cold waves at the top

Alpha’s risk rating from FEMA is 10 of 100, below both Michigan’s towns (25 of 100) and U.S. towns (44 of 100). Expected losses in Alpha break down as 78% from cold waves and 14% from inland flooding.

10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
10Very low riskLowerHigher
Cold wavesInland flooding
Full pageAlpha’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery low riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters5 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready6.3 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in Alpha

The peak summer temperature for Alpha comes to 78°F.

66″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter6–25°
Spring26–51°
Summer51–76°
Fall33–53°
Sep 25
typical first frost
May 24
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageAlpha’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 78°, January lows 3°Rain & snow66″ of snow a winter · 31 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy Alpha is

A quarter of Alpha adults have been diagnosed with depression. Against the Michigan average, Alpha comes out ahead on 4 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 10. Among adults here, 15% have diabetes and 16% report frequent physical distress.

AlphaMichigan townsU.S. towns
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)43%36%35%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)15%12%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)16%14%14%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)14%17%16%
32 measures vs. Michigan
4 better18 too close to call10 worse
What stands outAlphaMI
Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off6.7%8.7%
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity9.2%11.9%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth18.7%10.2%
Aspirus Iron River Hospital & Clinics
12.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
Full pageAlpha’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby12.2 miles to an ER · Aspirus Iron River Hospital & ClinicsHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than MI on 4 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

0% of Alpha is conserved land

1.1 miles of trail.

0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 627 acres
1.1 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
Full pageAlpha’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map1.1 miles of trail, mappedPick a walkPick a walkConserved land0% conserved · 0 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Alpha?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Alpha

16pages on Alpha
The big questions
HealthBetter than MI on 4 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingWork & commute$39K median household incomeNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 10% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
Outdoors1 mi of trails · 0% conserved landPlacesLibraryCrystal Falls District Community LibraryColleges
The story
HistorySettled 1883Town Hall & politicsClimate78° summer highs · 66″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 49902Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Alpha; the nearest are

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · LAnse49.9 mi$5,000 in-state tuitionNorthern Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marquette58.5 mi$14,277 in-state tuition

About 1 of every 100 Alpha residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

About Alpha

Village in Michigan, United States

Alpha is a village in Mastodon Township, Iron County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 126 at the 2020 census. Alpha is the only village of Iron County.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1883
Area
1.0 sq mi
Elevation
1,424 ft
ZIP code
49902

Questions about Alpha

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Alpha, MI a good place to live?

Alpha has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.