A Reddit user was curious about how it is living at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base.

Based on that question, I decided to research about this air force base.

Do you know what K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base is now?

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K.I. Sawyer AFB

This air force base has seen its fair share of changes. Let's take a quick trip down memory lane.

In 1949, the base was established as K.I. Sawyer County Airport, as Marquette County's municipal airport.

Who is K.I. Sawyer was named after?

Air Force Civil Engineer Center's website shared that it is in honor of Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer, a former County Highway Department employee.

"On January 24, 1955, the U.S. Government signed a 99-year lease establishing K.I. Sawyer AFB at the site of the County Airport and agreed to joint use. However, the site was transferred to total Air Force control in 1956 and non-military operations ended in 1957."

After the air force base became the home of the 473rd Fighter Group in 1956, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission announced that K.I. Sawyer was set to close.

In September of 1995, K.I. Sawyer AFB officially closed.

Now, according to Wikipedia, K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base is officially an operating unincorporated community.

"The area of the former base is now an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes. The CDP is known as K.I. Sawyer and had a population of 3,064 at the 2020 census, up from 2,624 in 2010. It is located within Forsyth Township and West Branch Township about 16 miles south of the city of Marquette."

A Reddit user, LiLLyLoVER7176, shared that while they love living there, they wish there was more.

"I actually love living out here, but I wish there was more out here. It’s sad to see all the run down buildings & empty lots, because the county should’ve turned some of these into affordable housing for seniors & low income, even a homeless shelter!"

Would you ever visit the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base?