Living in Palmer, MI: what to set up and who to call
The Richmond Township water system reported 3 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: a bacteria testing requirement (Revised Total Coliform Rule) ×2, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 77% of systems its size reported none. Palmer has no town government of its own, so Marquette County runs its elections and most services, and its children attend Negaunee Public Schools.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Palmer, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Palmer.
Power comes from Upper Michigan Energy Resources
Upper Michigan Energy Resources (Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp.), an investor-owned utility, serves all of Palmer. Its homes paid an average of 17.5¢ per kWh in 2025, about $101 a month (its average across Michigan).
Start or move service: www.uppco.com · (800) 562-7680
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Richmond Township water system
The Richmond Township water system supplies almost all of Palmer. It draws ground water and serves 489 people in all.
3 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a bacteria testing requirement (Revised Total Coliform Rule) ×2, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions), the latest beginning Oct 2024. 77% of the 15,074 systems serving 101–500 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan 2022–Dec 2024, was 5.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. That’s higher than 90% of similar systems’ latest results.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0 (EPA’s estimate). Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. MI0005160.
5 home internet providers serve Palmer
98% of 171 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 8% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Cable | 95% | 1,000/35 |
| Highline Internet | Fiber | 6% | 1,000/1,000 |
| T-Mobile | Fixed wireless | 45% | 100/20 |
| Board of Trustees, Northern Michigan University | Fixed wireless | 5% | 25/5 |
| AT&T | Fixed wireless | 3% | 25/3 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Palmer’s trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Palmer.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Palmer is in Negaunee Public Schools.
Test scores and every school: see Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
No town hall: the county runs things
Palmer is unincorporated, so Marquette County is the local government.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Nov 2025; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Palmer is in ZIP code 49871
ZIP codes where Palmer residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Palmer | ZIP’s residents in Palmer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49871 | Palmer, MI | 100% | 79% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Palmer
Who supplies Palmer’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Richmond Township water system (EPA ID MI0005160). It reported 3 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a bacteria testing requirement (Revised Total Coliform Rule) ×2, a lead and copper treatment requirement (Lead and Copper Rule Revisions). 77% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 5.0 ppb (Jan 2022–Dec 2024), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Palmer?
Upper Michigan Energy Resources (Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp.), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 17.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Palmer?
Spectrum, Highline Internet, T-Mobile, Board of Trustees, Northern Michigan University, AT&T (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Palmer?
49871. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Palmer in?
Negaunee Public Schools.
How do I register to vote in Palmer?
In 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). Elections here are run by the Richmond Township Clerk. Check your registration at mvic.sos.state.mi.us.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.