Regional Location 

Secord Township comprises an area of 23.4 square miles, of which 22.5 square miles is land and 0.9 square miles is water.  The Township and Range numbers for Secord Township are T. 19 N .- R. 1 E. – Coordinates 44°2’34”N, 84°20’17”W. 

Secord Township is located west of I-75 in Gladwin County.  The township is bounded by Clement Township to the north, Grim Township to the east, Gladwin Township to the west and Hay Township to the South.  Historical records reflect that Gladwin County was organized in 1875 and Secord Township, while originally visited and settled in 1861 by Canadian Marvel Secord, was officially recognized in 1912.  Secord Township has a population of 1,151 residents per the 2010 Census.

Figure 4.1  Location Map of Gladwin County

Figure 4.2  Location Map of Secord Township

Secord Township is located in the northeast section of Gladwin County.  It is a township known for its natural resource and recreational attributes including the Tittabawassee State Forest.  The Tittabawassee State Forest has 80,000 acres of state land in Gladwin County and covers almost a fourth of the county on the east, and offers opportunity for hiking, hunting and snowmobiling.  There are nearly 50 miles of backwater ponds, 450 miles of waterways and 7300 acres of lakes and ponds in the county.  The Tittabawassee River runs the length of the county and provides two major impoundment lakes, Secord and Smallwood.  This waterway is of major significance to nearly every aspect of Secord Township’s quality of life 

Figure 4.3  Secord Township Hall

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Secord Township, along with other townships throughout Gladwin County, was originally inhabited by Native American tribes most specifically the Ojibway (Chippewa); however Sauk and Menominee Tribal presence has also been noted.  The abundance of wildlife in the area provided a way of life and means of living to the Native American populations.

This same abundance of wildlife served as an attractant to other adventurers including the first white settler - a Canadian named Marcel Secord[1].  Mr. Secord first arrived in 1861 while canoeing the Tittabawassee with his family.  In 1864 he built a log house nine (9) miles from Gladwin known as Dick’s Fork (named for a Mr. Dixon).  Mr. Secord was a hunter/trapper and provided meals and lodging to early lumbermen to the area.  This area would later come to be known as Secord with a rural post office being established in 1912.

Research is underway to determine the importance of an ancient trail that was noted by the crew of the 1839 re-survey of Township 17 north Range 2 west, which later became Beaverton Township.  The eastern terminus of the "Muskegon River Trail" was plotted at the confluence of the three branches of the Tobacco (Assa-mo-quoi-Sepe) River in the northwest corner of Section 12.  It is possible that an early cross-country route from Saginaw Bay to Lake Michigan proceeded up the Saginaw, Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers to approximately the point west across Ross Lake from the Beaverton City Cemetery.  At that point the canoes would be portaged along the trail to the Muskegon River, and then floated down to Lake Michigan.

Geography, Topography and Soils

Secord Township consists of a total land area of 23.4 square miles or 14,442 acres.  It is located in Gladwin County which is a largely rural forested area near the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. 

All of the soils and topographic features within Gladwin County and Secord Township are the direct result of various glaciers that covered Michigan at various times.  The most characteristic features resulting from the glacial activity are various moraines, lakes, tills and outwash plains.  Agriculture activity is influenced considerably by the type of terrain. 

The township remains relatively undeveloped with the majority of development consisting of single-family residential.  This use is most concentrated along the Secord Lake Impoundment, which runs north and south through the Township.  The remaining single-family homes are distributed throughout the township.  It is likely that many of the residences along the Secord Lake impoundment are seasonal in nature.  Others have become year-round homes as people have retired and moved into these home permanently.

This is little commercial development within the township itself.  What exists is primarily associated with Secord Lake and other recreational uses; hunting/fishing/boating, camping, etc. and consists of campgrounds, canoe rental and party stores.  The City of Gladwin provides a commercial center to the west, as well as the city of West Branch to the north.

Many residents of Gladwin County commute to outlying areas for employment.  Within the county, employment is reliant on retail trade, government, health services and the manufacture of plastics.  Large areas of Secord Township are part of the Au Sable State Forest, which covers approximately 6,029 acres.  Of this, the state of Michigan owns an estimated 1,320 acres.  All of Secord Township is within the Tittabawassee River Basin.  The State of Michigan owns approximately 5249 acres of forested land in Secord Township.

Soils 

Gladwin County, as a whole, consists of materials from the upper and lower Mississippian series of the Paleozoic era.  Various strata contain minerals of varied importance.  In addition to the oil and natural gas, which has formed in porous rock or pockets between strata, economic deposits of limestone, gypsum, salt & brine were found.

Most of the topographic features throughout Gladwin County, including Secord Township, are a result of erosion or deposition during the Wisconsin Glaciations, the last glacial period.  The part of the glacier that covered Michigan began to recede about 14,000 years ago and moved completely out about 8,000 years ago.  The glacial drift (deposit) that was left as the glaciers melted covered the entire County to a depth of several hundred feet.  It formed such topographic features as moraines, till plains, outwash plains, lake plains and glacial drain ways.

Secord Township, along with all of Gladwin County, is part of what is known as the Saginaw Formation.  It consists of predominately Pennsylvanian (or sandstone) soils with a secondary soil presence of Shale.

The composition and behavior of soils are extremely important to nearly every aspect of development. Stability, permeability, slope, depth, drainage, chemistry, fertility, and wetness, among others, all bear on the suitability of land for particular uses.  Knowledge of soils is elemental to environmentally sound growth.  The soils in Secord Township are generally poorly drained and sandy in nature.  Wet and sandy conditions are favorable for forested areas. 

Wetlands can limit development in a specific area and each type and extent must be examined before proceeding with any development project.  The U. S Soil Conservation Service has conducted soil surveys of Gladwin County.  This investigation classified the soil types within the Township are generally of the Iosco-Brevort and Allendale-Pickford-Pinconning Association.

A review of these soil types reveal that they only offer moderate limitations for picnic, playground and trail development.  It is important, however, for Secord Township to recognize and be aware of the policies that are intended to protect these natural features. 

Secord Township

Center: 44.0153°N 84.3478°W
Elevation at center: 728 feet (222 meters)
Quad: Secord Lake
Drg Source Scale: 1:24,000
Projection: NAD83/WGS84

Figure 4.4  Topographic Map of Secord

     Source- USGS 2011Secord Lake 1:24,000 quadrangle map from http://www.topoquest.com

Figure 4.5  Soil Data Map of Secord

                (To be added at later.)

Climate 

The Township enjoys a relatively mild continental climate which is moderated by the proximity to the Great Lakes.  Temperatures are generally warmer in winter and cooler in summer than area those of areas of similar latitude in the western part of the state.  The average daily maximum temperature in July is 82 degrees F.  Average precipitation stands at an estimated 30 inches per year with most occurring between April and September.  Snowfall averages slightly less than 44 inches per year but is subject to wide variations from year to year.  Prevailing winds are generally from the southwest and are strongest in March.   

Hydrology 

Throughout the County and the township, there is a well-defined system of rivers and streams draining from the north and west generally towards the south and east.  All of the County and the Township lies within the Tittabawassee River Basin.  Other significant rivers include the Molasses, Tobacco, Cedar and the Sugar.  Many river basins are deep and dam fills have been installed at Edenville, Smallwood, Secord, Beaverton and Chappel.  The dams have created sizeable lakes around which both summer and year round residences have developed.   There are over 470 linear miles of rivers and streams in the county with just over 2% of the county’s area being surface water.  This presents unusual recreational opportunities for both year-round and seasonal residents.  Campgrounds and canoe rentals owned by private developers occupy portions of river frontage. 

The forest and water resources in Secord Township provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation which includes tourism.  Specific facilities relating to these recreation forms, such as campgrounds and water access sites, will be discussed in detail in the Recreation Inventory of this Plan.