Omena, Michigan
Omena, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Looking northeast along M-22 | |
  Omena Location in Michigan | |
| Coordinates: 45°03′20″N 85°35′20″W / 45.05556°N 85.58889°WCoordinates: 45°03′20″N 85°35′20″W / 45.05556°N 85.58889°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Leelanau |
| Township | Leelanau |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.57 sq mi (11.83 km2) |
| • Land | 4.52 sq mi (11.70 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 267 |
| • Density | 59/sq mi (22.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 49674 (P.O. Box) |
| Area code(s) | 231 |
| FIPS code | 26-60640[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 634055[2] |
Omena is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Leelanau Township of Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 267.[3] Overlooking Omena Bay, on the western side of Grand Traverse Bay, Omena is home to wineries and farms including a thriving organic farming movement that includes cherries and hops. The area has several wineries featuring some of the region's cherry and grape crop, for which the Grand Traverse and Leelanau areas are known. The nearest substantial city is Traverse City, 23 miles (37 km) to the south.
History[]
In 1852, the Rev. Peter Daugherty relocated an Indian mission from Old Mission on the Old Mission Peninsula across the western arm of the Grand Traverse Bay to what was at first called "New Mission". He (built) a small Presbyterian church there as the nucleus of the community. The church continues an active schedule of services during the summer months. The word "omena" comes from o-me-nah, an Ojibwe expression meaning "Is that so?" or "Is that really true?", and was Rev. Daugherty's characteristic response to statements made by Indians. A post office with that name was established in February 1858. Omena also happens to mean "apple" in Finnish, but that is believed to be merely a coincidence.[citation needed]
It was a stop on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad and was regarded as a summer resort area. Among others, Benjamin Grierson, a U.S. Civil War general, had a summer home in Omena, as did General Byron Cutcheon.
Geography[]
Omena is in northeastern Leelanau County on the west side of Grand Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. It is served by one state highway, M-22, which leads south 23 miles (37 km) to Traverse City and north 5 miles (8 km) to Northport.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Omena CDP has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.8 km2), of which 4.5 square miles (11.7 km2) are land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2), or 1.10%, are water.[4]
Mayoral Elections[]
Omena is an unincorporated community and therefore lacks a centralized official government system. However, the citizens of Omena, Michigan practice triennial elections for a non-human mayor held by the Omena Historical Society.[5] This was inspired by the canine mayoral elections of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. The current "mayor" of Omena is Rosie Disch, a Golden mixed bread dog. The 2021 election raised $14,000 for the Omena Historical Society. Rosie will be in office for a three year term. Previous mayor's are: Sweet Tart, the first feline mayor elected to the position from 2018; Polly Loveless, a tri-pod dog who died in office after winning the 2015 election; Maya Deibel, a dog who won the 2012 election; and Tucker Joyce, a golden who won the inaugural election in 2009. [6] https://www.9and10news.com/2021/07/24/local-dog-elected-as-omena-mayor/
See also[]
- Grove Hill New Mission Church also known as the Omena Presbyterian Church
References[]
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Omena, Michigan
- ^ "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Omena CDP, Michigan". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ Campisi, Jessica; Lear, Justin (27 July 2018). "The Michigan village where the mayor has 4 legs (and it's been that way for over a decade)". CNN. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ Bingham, Emily (14 July 2021). "The mayor's race in this Michigan town includes a goat, chicken and cat". mlive. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
Further reading[]
- Clarke Historical Library, Central, Michigan University, Bibliography for Leelanau County
- Powers, Perry F. A history of northern Michigan and its people. Assisted by Harry Gardner Cutler. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1912. p. 351
- Romig, Walter. Michigan Place Names. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1986.
- Wait, Steven Edwin and Anderson, William S. Old settlers; : a historical and chronological record, together with personal experiences and reminiscences of members of the Old settlers of the Grand Traverse region. Traverse City, Mich.: [Ebner brothers], 1918. p. 18
- Wakefield, Lawrence, Ed. "A History of Leelanau Township". Friends of the Leelanau Township Library, 1982. p. 188
- Omena Bay Painters, OmenaBayPainters.com
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omena, Michigan. |
- Leelanau Township Library Website
- Omena history at the Omena Historical Society
- New Mission Organics
| hide Municipalities and communities of Leelanau County, Michigan, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Charter township | ||
| General law townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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- Unincorporated communities in Leelanau County, Michigan
- Unincorporated communities in Michigan
- Census-designated places in Leelanau County, Michigan
- Census-designated places in Michigan
- Traverse City micropolitan area
- Populated places established in 1852
- 1852 establishments in Michigan