Victoria Dam, West branch of Ontonagon River, 4.5 miles southwest of Rockland
Rockland Township’s story
173 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper and 3 maps from 1956 on.
- 1853Rockland Township is settled
Rockland TownshipMI
A town of 223, settled in 1853.
Population
223
2025 Census estimate · +0.5% since 2020
Median home value
$73K
Census ACS
Household income
$46K
median
Median age
35.6
years
Jobs based here
2
A commuter town
Is Rockland Township a good place to live?
28% of residents live below the poverty line in Rockland Township, above both the Michigan town median (8.9%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 2 of the 702 Michigan towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Rockland Township. 44% of the land in Rockland Township is conserved, where Michigan’s towns sit at 4.4% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Ontonagon Wild And Scenic River, at 3,626 acres with 3.1 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Rockland Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
223 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Ontonagon TownshipStannard TownshipMcMillan TownshipGreenland TownshipMatchwood TownshipRockland Township
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Rockland Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rockland Township, and how to reach them.
PowerUpper Michigan Energy Resources17.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRockland Township water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers91% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rockland 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 hereRockland Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes49960, 49953, 4994849960 85% · 49953 14% · 49948 1%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 Rockland Township.
Outdoors
nearly a third of the land in Rockland Township is protected from building
There are 111 miles of trail across 4 parks and preserves. For Rockland Township, the concentration of trails is 1.2 miles per square mile.
43.5%conserved
43.5%
conserved · 25,983 of 59,711 acres
111 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ottawa National Forest - Bergland Ranger District | 16.6 mi | 17,444 |
| 2. Ottawa National Forest - Ontonagon Ranger District | 8.8 mi | 7,564 |
| 3. Ontonagon Wild And Scenic River | 3.1 mi | 3,626 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazards
Very low risk in Rockland Township, with inland flooding at the top
Rockland Township’s natural-hazard score from FEMA is 10 of 100. The national flood insurance program has paid 6 claims locally since 1980. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 52% come from inland flooding and 35% from cold waves.
10risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
6
paid flood claims since 1980
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
With only 0.0 jobs per working resident, most people in Rockland Township work out of town
The median commute is under 38 miles. For Rockland Township, the median household income is $46,000. The top destinations are Ontonagon Township (33%), Marquette (5%) and Portage Township (5%).
0%work in town
| Rockland Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Rockland Township0%
Ontonagon Township33%
Marquette5%
Portage Township5%
Ishpeming4%
38 mi
median commute distance
2
jobs based in Rockland Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Climate
The climate in Rockland Township brings snowy winters and pleasant summers
The midsummer high for Rockland Township comes to 78°F.
180″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–25°
Spring27–51°
Summer52–76°
Fall35–54°
Sep 27
typical first frost
May 26
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Rockland Township stands out in Michigan and nationally, with more of its adults who have high blood pressure
The share of adults in Rockland Township who had a checkup this year: 83%. The town does better than the Michigan average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 11. Two figures for adults here: 16% have diabetes, 17% report frequent physical distress.
| Rockland Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 36% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
4 better17 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Rockland Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.5% | 11.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.3% | 8.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.9% | 7% |
Baraga County Memorial Hospital
40.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rockland Township
17pages on Rockland Township
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Rockland Township; the nearest are
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · LAnse40 mi$5,000 in-state tuitionMichigan Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Houghton46 mi$19,123 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Rockland Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Get outside
111 miles of trails in Rockland Township
43.5% of the town is conserved land, across 4 parks and preserves.
3
Ontonagon Wild And Scenic River3.1 mi of trails · 3,626 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
About Rockland Township
Census-designated place & unincorporated community in Michigan, United States
Rockland is a census-designated place (CDP) and the primary community in Rockland Township, Ontonagon County, Michigan, United States. It is along US Highway 45, which leads north 11 miles (18 km) to its terminus at Ontonagon on Lake Superior, and south 61 miles (98 km) to Eagle River, Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, Rockland had a population of 173. Rockland was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,178 ft
- ZIP code
- 49960
Questions about Rockland Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rockland Township, MI a good place to live?
Rockland Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.