About the Township
Au Train Township, centrally located in Alger County, in the Heart of the Hiawatha National Forest. It begins along the southern shores of Lake Superior, traveling east along State Highway M28, through Christmas and continuing along and south of State Highway M94. Au Train Township is one of the biggest municipal land mass areas in Upper Michigan, covering 158 square miles. It has a population of 1,019, with about 65% being year round residents. This estimate is based on the 2020 Census and Voter Registration files. We have several distinct areas within our Township: The Village of Au Train, The Village of Christmas, Dixon location, Forest Lake/M94, and the 16 Mile Lake Area.
Our current Board serves residents from the Township Hall/Offices located at N7569 Spruce Street, Au Train, MI 49806. Our Township Hall also services as the official voting precinct. We have an active Volunteer Fire Department with three halls located in Au Train, Christmas and the 16 Mile Lake area.
Helpful Resources
Upcoming Events:
- May 5, 2025
- Au Train Township Special Joint Meeting with Planning CommissionAu Train Township Special Joint Meeting with Planning CommissionTime: 7:00 pm
The Au Train Township Board will hold a Special Joint Meeting on Monday, May 5th at 7:00 PM with the Planning Commission to discuss Short Term Rentals, Zoning Amendments for boundary corrections on Ridge Road and upcoming Zoning Ordinance Amendments with the assistance of CUPPAD. This meeting, as noted, will have a start time of 7:00 pm to accommodate full attendance of members. The Au Train Township Board will be the recording Board for the official minutes of this Joint Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Au Train Township Hall, N7569 Spruce Street, Au Train MI 49806 (906)892-8265 This notice is posted in compliance with Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, the Open Meetings Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Persons requesting assistance in attending in person should contact Mary Walther Johnson, Au Train Township Clerk at marywaltherjohnson@charter.net or call (906)892-8265. Au Train Township Hall
N7569 Spruce St
Au Train MI 49806
- Au Train Township Special Joint Meeting with Planning CommissionAu Train Township Special Joint Meeting with Planning CommissionTime: 7:00 pm
- May 12, 2025
- Au Train Township Regular Board MeetingAu Train Township Regular Board MeetingTime: 6:00 pm
Regular Monthly Meeting of the Au Train Township Board. Any persons requiring assistance to attend the meetings in person, should contact the Au Train Township Clerk at 906/892-8265, so that necessary arrangements can be made in advance. N7569 Spruce Street
Au Train MI 49806
- Au Train Township Regular Board MeetingAu Train Township Regular Board MeetingTime: 6:00 pm
- May 14, 2025
- Au Train Township Planning Commission - Special Meeting CUP HearingAu Train Township Planning Commission - Special Meeting CUP HearingTime: 6:00 pm
**NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AU TRAIN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION** Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Au Train Township Planning Commission on:
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 6:00PM at the Au Train Township Hall, located at N7569 Spruce Street, Au Train MI 49806, Alger County, Michigan, to receive public comment on the following: • Kevin Kolbus is requesting a Conditional Use Permit
for a Short -Term Rental located at: E7781 Carr Lake Dr, Christmas, MI 49862
Parcel ID# 001-179-001-15 Zoning: Town Development
• Kevin Kolbus is requesting a Conditional Use Permit
for a Short -Term Rental located at: E7779 St Hwy M28, Christmas, MI 49862
Parcel ID# 001-650-024-00 Zoning: Town Development
• Daniel Risch is requesting a Conditional Use Permit
for Construction of an accessory building exceeding
3500 sq ft located at: E7139 Carlson Rd, Munising, MI 49862
Parcel ID# 001-212-029-00 Zoning: Lake Shore/River 2 The Au Train Township Zoning map and ordinance text are available online at www.autraintownship.gov Written comments regarding the public hearing will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the hearing. For questions, contact D Shields, Au Train Township Zoning Administrator at (906) 450-1182 or autrainzoning@gmail.com.
This notice is posted in compliance with Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, the Open Meetings Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Au Train Township Hall
N7569 Spruce St
Au Train MI 49806
(906)892-8265
- Au Train Township Planning Commission - Special Meeting CUP HearingAu Train Township Planning Commission - Special Meeting CUP HearingTime: 6:00 pm
News / Notices
**NOTICE OF 63-DAY COMMENT PERIOD ON PROPOSED AU TRAIN TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN**
The Au Train Township Board has authorized the distribution and public comment period on its proposed Master Plan pursuant to the Michigan Planning Enabling Act. The public comment period will be open April 21 to July 1, 2025. After this period, the Au Train Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to accept additional comments on the proposed Master Plan.
Copies of the proposed Master Plan may be viewed at the Au Train Township Hall by appointment. Digital copies of the plan may be viewed at www.autraintownship.gov and www.cuppad.org.
Written comments, questions and requests for accommodation may be sent to:
Au Train Township Planning Commission Attn: Donna Shields, Zoning Administrator
In writing: PO Box 33, Au Train, MI 49806 or by email: autrainzoning@gmail.com
https://www.autraintownship.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DRAFT-Master-Plan-04072025.pdf
**MEETING NOTICE**
The Au Train Township Board will hold a Special Joint Meeting on Monday, May 5th at 7:00 PM with the Planning Commission to discuss Short Term Rentals, Zoning Amendments for boundary corrections on Ridge Road and upcoming Zoning Ordinance Amendments with the assistance of CUPPAD. This meeting, as noted, will have a start time of 7:00 pm to accommodate full attendance of members.
The Au Train Township Board will be the recording Board for the official minutes of this Joint Meeting.
The meeting will be held at the Au Train Township Hall, N7569 Spruce Street, Au Train MI 49806 (906)892-8265
This notice is posted in compliance with Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, the Open Meetings Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Persons requesting assistance in attending in person should contact Mary Walther Johnson, Au Train Township Clerk at marywaltherjohnson@charter.net or call (906)892-8265.
**UPCOMING – SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY**
The Township will be offering a Spring Clean up at the GFL Wood Island Landfill on Saturday June 7th from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. More details to follow. Mark your calendars!
Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Au Train Township Planning Commission on: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 6:00PM at the Au Train Township Hall, located at N7569 Spruce Street, Au Train MI 49806, Alger County, Michigan, to receive public comment on the following:
· Wyatt Seaberg is requesting a Conditional Use Permit for Accessory use – (12×60 addition to existing shop) located at: N7840 Ridge Rd, Munising, MI 49862 – Parcel ID# 001-325-020-00
Town Development
· Duane Newton is requesting a Conditional Use Permit for a Short-term rental located at:
N7566 Spruce, Au Train, MI, 49806 – Parcel ID# 001-362-009-00
Town Development
The Au Train Township Zoning map and ordinance text are available online at www.autraintownship.gov
Written comments regarding the public hearing will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the hearing. For questions, contact D Shields, Au Train Township Zoning Administrator at (906) 450-1182 or autrainzoning@gmail.com.
This notice is posted in compliance with Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, the Open Meetings Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Au Train History
Located on M-28 in Alger County, Au Train was the original county seat for Alger County.
Au Train, a French term meaning “at the shortcut or traverse” was one of the earliest sites visited by white man as they traveled along Lake Superior’s south shore. The river was part of an ancient Indian route between Lakes Superior and Michigan, the region itself known as the Land of Hiawatha.
One of Alger County’s oldest settlements, Au Train was first inhabited by white men in 1856 when William Cameron began hunting and trapping here.
Logging had began along the Au Train River in 1861. The Au Train River and its tributaries were filled with the big logs bound for mills in Lower Michigan, Rock River, Marquette, and later, to Munising. By 1873 the Sault Ste. Marie and Grand Island State Road Extension was completed to the Village.
The population of Au Train had a big increase in 1877 when a number of families moved from Bay Furnace near Munising when that iron-making community was destroyed by fire. They built small shingled cabins and in time, the town consisted of thirty homes, one blacksmith shop, a bay furnace, another sawmill and a government lighthouse.
The Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette Railroad reached the village in 1881. A school was built shortly thereafter, which also served as the social, political and religious center of the community. In 1883 a post office was established.
A high point in Au Train’s history came in 1885 when the northern part of Schoolcraft County was organized as Alger County, with Au Train becoming the county seat. The next year, a town site was platted and a shingle mill was built. A business district typical of a county seat and sawmill town soon developed. There were several stores, two hotels, saloons and the Au Train Alpha–the county’s first newspaper.
Commercial fishing became an important industry and the beautiful Au Train Lake and River attracted a growing number of tourists after advent of the railroad in 1881. After the turn-of-the-century, the Standard Tie Company began extensive logging operations in the area, but by 1919, the last logs were boomed on the Au Train River, ending a colorful era.
In 1902, the county seat was moved to Munising, which was rapidly becoming the county’s industrial and commercial center. During its history, Au Train was an important transit and stopover point for both Indians and white men, a sawmill town, county seat, commercial fishing port and resort center. Tourism and recreation now give the village its livelihood.