CHAPTER 2
THE COMMUNITY
Water features, including the

Prior
to European settlement, ancestors of the Ottawa Indians were fur trappers,
capitalizing on water-dependent animals, such as beaver. Historical remnants of the Indians can still
be found in Brooks Township. Ancestors
of the Ottawa Indians left burial grounds, now called Mallon
Mounds, located near Brooks Lake.
Also
prior to European settlement, there were...
large prairie openings of 600-1500 acres.
Surrounding these openings were barrens, park-like areas with
trees. Dense forests covered much of the
remainder of the township. The frequency
of fires, along with soils,
determined where prairies, barrens, and
forests grew.
Before
1837, lumbering was established in
Later,
area settlers attempted to capture the hydrologic energy afforded by the flow
of the
Emerald and
The river and the lakes also attracted people pursuing
recreation and proximity to natural resources.
This formed the basis of tourism in the area and the building of
cottages and homes along various shoreline areas of the river, tributaries, and
lakes.
Advancements
in technology, the development of the automobile and the extension of electric
and other services, resulted in the establishment of many full-time residents
in the area now known as Brooks Township.
Land Use Trends
The
land use trends in
The
series of maps on the following pages are plat maps, from prior 1955, 1955,
1982 and 1998. These maps show the
division of land in Brooks Township.
Highlighted are parcels 40 acres and larger. These parcels have been highlighted to show
how land has been fragmented through ownership.
Ownership also largely affects the use of the land.
Several
significant land events occurred during the time period depicted by these plat
maps. First, platting around the lake
happened prior to 1955. Also prior to
1955, much of the land that was originally settled for farming that was not
well suited for agriculture, was abandoned. This land reverted to State and Federal
organizations and became what is now the
In
1967, the Subdivision Control Act was enacted allowing 40 acres to be split
into 4 without the formal platting process.
This caused the creation of many 10 acre bowling alley lots, parcels
with narrow frontage on county roads.
Perhaps this had the largest affect on the changing character of the
township.


BROOKS
TOWNSHIP TODAY
Land Use Trends
|
Land Use Categories |
1978 Land Use (acres) |
1999 Land Use (acres) |
Difference 1978
and 1999 (acres) |
% Change |
Annual
Loss Or Gain (acres) |
|
Single
Family Residential |
911 |
2,059 |
1,148 |
126% |
52 |
|
Multi-Family
Residential |
--------- |
2 |
--------- |
--------- |
--------- |
|
Manufactured
|
27 |
34 |
7 |
26% |
0.31 |
|
Commercial |
32 |
34 |
2 |
6% |
0.09 |
|
Public/Quasi-Public |
132 |
132 |
0 |
0% |
0 |
|
Industrial/Extractive |
82 |
82 |
0 |
0% |
0 |
|
Agricultural |
801 |
305 |
-496 |
-62% |
-23 |
|
Vacant
Land |
1,843 |
1,741 |
-102 |
-5% |
-5 |
|
Natural Features |
1978 (acres) |
1999 (acres) |
Difference 1978
and 1999 (acres) |
% Change |
Annual
Loss Or Gain (acres) |
|
|
16,985 |
16,476 |
-509 |
-3% |
-23 |
|
Wetlands |
357 |
300 |
-57 |
-16% |
-3 |
|
Water |
1,495 |
1,500 |
5 |
0% |
0 |
|
Total
Approximate Acres |
22,792 |
22,792 |