BackusTownshipRoscommonMI, 2009
Backus Township’s story
Backus Township in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2009 and a map from 1963 on.
Explore the history →Backus TownshipMI
A town of 299.
Population
299
2025 Census estimate · +3.8% since 2020
Median home value
$168K
Census ACS
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
53.3
years
Jobs based here
61
Balanced
Is Backus Township a good place to live?
29% of residents are 65 or older in Backus Township, against 19% in Michigan’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Backus Township’s trail density is 1.9 miles per square mile, above both the Michigan town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). The biggest park or preserve is Backus Creek State Game Area, at 1,281 acres. Backus Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
299 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Higgins TownshipDenton TownshipRichfield TownshipNester TownshipBackus Township
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Backus Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Backus Township, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Backus Township’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections hereBackus Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes48656, 4865148656 56% · 48651 44%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 Backus Township.
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Backus Township
Backus Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Backus Township is 81°F.
66″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–30°
Spring31–54°
Summer54–78°
Fall37–57°
Sep 23
typical first frost
May 19
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Outdoors
Backus Township has set aside 13.8% of its land for conservation
68 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
13.8%conserved
13.8%
conserved · 3,149 of 22,878 acres
68 mi
of trails · 1.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Au Sable State Forest - Roscommon Unit | 51.3 mi | 14,521 |
| 2. Backus Township park | 0.5 mi | 41 |
| 3. Backus Creek State Game Area | 0.2 mi | 1,281 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commute
Most of Backus Township’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Backus Township for work: only 1% work in town. 14% of Backus Township residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Denton Township (14%), Roscommon Township (7%) and Grayling (6%).
1%work in town
| Backus Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Backus Township1%
Denton Township14%
Roscommon Township7%
Grayling6%
Higgins Township6%
28 mi
median commute distance
61
jobs based in Backus Township
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Health
Backus Township stands out in Michigan and nationally, with more of its adults who have high blood pressure
47% of adults have high blood pressure in Backus Township. Backus Township beats the Michigan average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 17% of adults have diabetes in Backus Township.
| Backus Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 36% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 12% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 16% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 19% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
1 better17 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Backus Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83% | 77.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.4% | 8.1% |
Mymichigan Medical Center West Branch
15.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Backus Township faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Backus Township
17pages on Backus Township
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Backus Township; the nearest are
Mid Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Harrison23.8 mi$6,132 in-state tuitionCentral Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Mount Pleasant48.6 mi$14,760 in-state tuition
About 9 of every 100 Backus Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
About Backus Township
Civil township in Michigan, United States
Backus Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 294 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,168 ft
Questions about Backus Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Backus Township, MI a good place to live?
Backus Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.