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Manistee, Michigan

Coordinates:44°14′37″N86°19′17″W/ 44.24361°N 86.32139°W/44.24361; -86.32139
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For the ship of the same name, seeManistee (shipwreck).
Manistee, Michigan
City
Mouth of the Manistee River at Lake Michigan. Downtown Manistee and Manistee Lake are in the background.
Mouth of theManistee RiveratLake Michigan.Downtown Manistee andManistee Lakeare in the background.
Nickname:
"Salt City (of theInland Seas) "
Location of Manistee, Michigan
Location of Manistee, Michigan
Manistee, Michigan is located in the United States
Manistee, Michigan
Manistee, Michigan
Location in the United States
Coordinates:44°14′37″N86°19′17″W/ 44.24361°N 86.32139°W/44.24361; -86.32139
CountryUnited States
StateMichigan
CountyManistee
Area
[1]
• Total4.53 sq mi (11.73 km2)
• Land3.28 sq mi (8.49 km2)
• Water1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2)
Elevation
663 ft (202 m)
Population
(2020)[2]
• Total6,259
• Density1,908.81/sq mi (737.04/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code
49660
Area code231
FIPS code26-50720[3]
GNISfeature ID1620680[4]
Websitemanisteemi.gov

Manistee(/mænɪsti/man-iss-TEE) is a city in theU.S. stateofMichigan.Located in southwesternManistee County,it is part of the northwesternLower Peninsula.Manistee is thecounty seatof Manistee County, and its population was 6,259 at the2020 census.[5]This makes Manistee the fifth-largest city inNorthern Michigan.

Manistee is located on anisthmusbetweenManistee LakeandLake Michigan,with theManistee Riverbisecting the city as it flows west to the latter. Manistee is located alongUS 31,one of the majortrunkline highwaysof the state.

Etymology[edit]

The name "Manistee" is from anOjibweword first applied to the principal river of the county.[6]The derivation is not certain,[7]but it may be fromministigweyaa,"river with islands at its mouth".[8][9]Other sources claim that it was an Ojibwe term meaning "spirit of the woods".[10]

History[edit]

See also:History of Northern Michigan

In 1751, aJesuit missionwas established in Manistee.[11]Missionaries visited Manistee in the early 19th century, and a Jesuit mission house is known to have been located on the northwest shore of Manistee Lake in 1826. In 1832, a group of traders fromMassachusettsbuilt a log house up the Manistee River. However, they were soon driven off by theOdawanation. The first white settlement and sawmill was built there in 1841.[11]

In 1830 the village of Manistee was one of about 15 Odawa (Ottawa) villages along the shore of Lake Michigan. Much of the Manistee River Valley, including Manistee itself, was designated as an Odawa Reservation from 1836 to 1848.[12]

The first permanent Euro-American settlement was made on April 16, 1841, whenJohn Stronachand his son,Adam Stronach,arrived at the mouth of the Manistee River in aschoonerloaded with fifteen men and equipment, and established asawmill.[13]

From 1836 to 1848, much of the Manistee River Valley, including Manistee itself, was an Ottawa Reservation. During the lumbering era of the late 1800s, Manistee became a significant site for lumber mills. Huge numbers ofwhite pinelogs were floated down the river to the port at Manistee and eventually on to the lumber markets ofGrand Rapids,MilwaukeeandChicago.

In 1846, the town was named "Manistee"; it was made part ofOttawa County,whose county offices were 100 miles (160 km) away atGrand Haven.After a series of new counties were organized, by 1855 Manistee was part of a largeManistee Countythat also included modern-dayWexfordandMissaukeecounties.[14]Thomas Jefferson Ramsdell,Manistee's first lawyer, moved there in 1860 and remained there until his death. Ramsdell owned the firsthardware storein the city, and was responsible for the construction of a bridge across the Manistee River.[15]

On October 8, 1871, the town was practically destroyed by fire; on the same day that thePeshtigo Fire,theGreat Chicago Fire,and fires inPort HuronandHollandoccurred, theGreat Michigan Fireburned Manistee.[16]Manistee was incorporated as a city in 1882.[17]

21st century[edit]

In 2000, Manistee made national headlines after a local jury convicted a woman for expressing to her mother near aHispanicfamily in a restaurant her wish that immigrants would learn English; the judge described it as "insulting conduct" consisting of "fighting words",an offense that was punishable under a local ordinance. Allegations appeared of improper procedure and irregularities in the court records. Two years later (November 1, 2002) and after the defendant spent four nights in jail, the conviction was overturned by the state Court of Appeals.[18][19][20][21]

Geography[edit]

Manistee is in southwestern Manistee County innorthern Michigan,bordered to the west byLake Michiganand to the east byManistee Lake.TheManistee Riverconnects the two lakes, cutting through the middle of the city. According to theUnited States Census Bureau,Manistee has a total area of 4.53 square miles (11.73 km2), of which 3.28 square miles (8.50 km2) are land and 1.25 square miles (3.24 km2), or 27.6%, are water.[1]Neighboring and nearby communities includeParkdaleto the northeast,Eastlaketo the east, andFiler City,Oak Hill,andStronachto the southeast. The townships that border Manistee areFilerto the south,Stronachto the southeast, andManisteeto the east and northeast.

U.S. Route 31passes through the center of Manistee as Cypress Street. The highway leads northeast 60 miles (97 km) toTraverse Cityand south 25 miles (40 km) to the outskirts ofLudington.M-55intersects US 31 in Parkdale, just east of Manistee, and leads east 47 miles (76 km) toCadillac.

At the mouth of theManistee Riverare theManistee Pierhead lights(north and south piers) that were built in 1873, and replaced in 1927.[22]

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Manistee, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1888–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 59
(15) 		64
(18) 		82
(28) 		86
(30) 		93
(34) 		99
(37) 		99
(37) 		100
(38) 		97
(36) 		88
(31) 		78
(26) 		64
(18) 		100
(38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 30.2
(−1.0) 		32.5
(0.3) 		42.1
(5.6) 		54.8
(12.7) 		67.1
(19.5) 		76.1
(24.5) 		79.7
(26.5) 		78.1
(25.6) 		72.0
(22.2) 		59.1
(15.1) 		46.1
(7.8) 		35.1
(1.7) 		56.1
(13.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 24.4
(−4.2) 		25.9
(−3.4) 		33.7
(0.9) 		44.8
(7.1) 		55.9
(13.3) 		65.0
(18.3) 		69.4
(20.8) 		68.4
(20.2) 		62.2
(16.8) 		50.7
(10.4) 		39.5
(4.2) 		29.7
(−1.3) 		47.5
(8.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 18.6
(−7.4) 		19.2
(−7.1) 		25.3
(−3.7) 		34.7
(1.5) 		44.8
(7.1) 		54.0
(12.2) 		59.1
(15.1) 		58.7
(14.8) 		52.4
(11.3) 		42.2
(5.7) 		33.0
(0.6) 		24.4
(−4.2) 		38.9
(3.8)
Record low °F (°C) −20
(−29) 		−38
(−39) 		−21
(−29) 		6
(−14) 		21
(−6) 		23
(−5) 		33
(1) 		31
(−1) 		23
(−5) 		15
(−9) 		−8
(−22) 		−14
(−26) 		−38
(−39)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 2.20
(56) 		1.59
(40) 		2.22
(56) 		3.44
(87) 		3.29
(84) 		3.76
(96) 		3.29
(84) 		3.32
(84) 		3.26
(83) 		4.12
(105) 		3.17
(81) 		2.68
(68) 		36.34
(923)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) 17.4 11.5 10.7 11.7 11.9 10.2 9.3 9.5 11.3 14.5 15.2 16.3 149.5
Source:NOAA[23][24]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18703,343—
18806,930107.3%
189012,81284.9%
190014,26011.3%
191012,381−13.2%
19209,694−21.7%
19308,078−16.7%
19408,6947.6%
19508,642−0.6%
19608,324−3.7%
19707,723−7.2%
19807,665−0.8%
19906,734−12.1%
20006,586−2.2%
20106,226−5.5%
20206,2590.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[25][26]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census[27]of 2010, there were 6,226 people, 2,816 households, and 1,614 families residing in the city. The population as of 2013 is 6117. Thepopulation densitywas 1,892.4 inhabitants per square mile (730.7/km2). There were 3,599 housing units at an average density of 1,093.9 per square mile (422.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.5%White,0.5%African American,3.8%Native American,0.4%Asian,0.7% fromother races,and 3.0% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 2,816 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.7% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 43.6 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census[edit]

As of the census[3]of 2000, there were 6,586 people, 2,912 households, and 1,729 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,023.7 inhabitants per square mile (781.4/km2). There were 3,426 housing units at an average density of 1,052.7 per square mile (406.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9%White,0.3%African American,1.4%Native American,0.5%Asian,nil%Pacific Islander,1.0% fromother races,and 1.9% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 2,912 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,351, and the median income for a family was $41,816. Males had a median income of $35,347 versus $20,102 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $16,810. About 6.9% of families and 11.1% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Industry[edit]

In its heyday, Manistee was home to a booming logging industry.

In the late 19th century, Manistee was one of the leadingshinglemanufacturing cities in the world, with over 30 shingle mills on the Manistee river at one time. During the lumber boom of the 1880s, Manistee was the headquarters of its own railroad, theManistee and North-Eastern,and had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the United States.[28]

Manistee is also associated with thesaltindustry. Manistee is now the home of three factories on Lake Manistee;Packaging Corporation of America,Morton Salt,andMartin Marietta.For this reason, Manistee is known as the "Salt City".[29]The town is also a local favorite for tourism and fishing.

Media[edit]

Manistee is home to a radio station,WMTE-FM(101.5), and was previously home to the now-defunctWMTE(1340 AM). TheLudington Daily News,Manistee News AdvocateandTraverse City Record-Eaglecover the Manistee area and distribute daily newspapers in the city.

Formerly distributing newspapers in Manistee included theBear Lake Beacon,theCopemish Courier,theManistee Advocate,theManistee Daily Advocate(which became theManistee News Advocate), theManistee Daily News,theManistee Democrat,and theOnekama Lake Breeze.

Manistee is home to10 West Studios[30]which produces full-length motion pictures. Notable movies include:What If...,starringKevin SorboandJohn Ratzenbergerfilmed in Manistee,[31]Jerusalem CountdownfeaturingRandy Travis,Stacy KeachandLee Majors,Mickey Matson and the Copperhead ConspiracystarringChristopher LloydandErnie Hudson,andGod Bless the Broken RoadstarringJordin SparksandLindsay Pulsipher

Area activities[edit]

  • Orchard Beach State Park is approximately 2 miles north of Manistee.
  • Little River Casino Resort is approximately 5 miles northeast of Manistee.
  • Manistee National Golf Resort is approximately 2 miles south of Manistee.
  • Manistee Golf and Country Club was established in 1901 and is located within the city of Manistee.
  • There are three public beaches, Fifth Avenue Beach with the small man-made lake next to Fifth Avenue Beach and First Street Beach, located respectively north and south of the harbor entrance on the shore of Lake Michigan.[32]

Local events and attractions[edit]

Manistee has museums, an opera house, and recurring events.[33]These include:

TheSSCity of Milwaukee,a retired railroadcar ferry,in Manistee harbor

Retail[edit]

Manistee has a historic downtown with many original buildings from the Victorian era. The entire Downtown District is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.There are a good variety of retail stores in Manistee, many of which are locally owned and operated.

Government and infrastructure[edit]

TheMichigan Department of CorrectionsOaks Correctional Facilityis inManistee Township,near Manistee.[52][53]

Recreation[edit]

  • Over 40 charter fishing boats[54]operate on Lake Michigan from Manistee County ports.
  • Fishing in theManistee Rivercan yield salmon and steelhead.[55]
  • Because a large portion of the county is public land, hunting is popular.
  • FilmmakerMichael Moorevisited Manistee in February 2011 to support the restoration of the Vogue Theatre in downtown Manistee.[56]

Sports[edit]

The Manistee Saints are a semi-professional baseball team that have called Manistee home since 1934. Their home games are at Rietz Park in Manistee. Formerly, theManistee Coltsand theManistee Champsplayed in theMichigan State League,aminor league baseballleague.

There are many golf courses located around the city of Manistee.

There are also two ski resorts near the city of Manistee.

There are manydisc golfcourses,mountain bikingtrails, andhikingtrails all overManistee Countyand in the city of Manistee.

Schools[edit]

Currently operating[edit]

Elementary

  • James Madison Elementary (DayCare, Pre-School, K), Manistee Area Public Schools
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary (1-2), Manistee Area Public Schools
  • Trinity Lutheran School (K-8), Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Private School

Secondary

  • Casman Alternative Academy (7-12), Provides an alternative education for those in Manistee County and surrounding areas.
  • Manistee Middle/High School(6-12), Manistee Area Public Schools, Class B/Division 3; Division 5 (Football) in sports

All grades

Temporary closed for maintenance[edit]

Elementary

  • John F. Kennedy Elementary (Location of Former Middle School) (3-5), Manistee Area Public Schools

Formerly operating[edit]

Elementary

  • George Washington Elementary (K-6), Manistee Area Public Schools
  • Abraham Lincoln Elementary (K-6), Manistee Area Public Schools
  • John F. Kennedy Elementary (Parkdale Location) (4-6), Manistee Area Public Schools

Secondary

  • Guardian Angels Schools (7-12), Catholic Church School
  • St. Joseph Schools (K-12), Catholic Church School
  • Newland Academy (6-12), School (Type Unknown) (formerly "Lake Bluff Academy" )[57]

Unknown

  • Tomaszewski Country School (K-8), School (One Room Country School)Closed 1959/60 Students moved to Parkdale School
  • Union School (?-?), School (Type Unknown)
  • Woodrow Wilson Elementary (?-?), Manistee Area Public Schools

Transportation[edit]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 27,2023.
  2. ^"P1. Race – Manistee city, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)".U.S. Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 27,2023.
  3. ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2008-01-31.
  4. ^"US Board on Geographic Names".United States Geological Survey.2007-10-25.Retrieved2008-01-31.
  5. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.Retrieved2011-06-07.
  6. ^"Clarke Home – Central Michigan University".
  7. ^Bright, William (2004).Native American Place Names of the United States.Norman: Oklahoma University Press, pg. 265
  8. ^County place namesArchived2009-03-13 at theWayback Machine
  9. ^"Manistee County, Michigan".50-State Learning Resource Guide.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-02.Retrieved2009-04-07.
  10. ^"Manistee, Michigan".
  11. ^abAppletons' Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events, Volume 17(D. Appleton & Company ed.). D. Appleton & Company. 1893. p. 114.Retrieved6 April2016.In 1751 a Jesuit mission was established here, but the first actual white settlement took place in 1841, when a sawmill was built.
  12. ^Helen Hornbeck Tanner.Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History.(Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1987) p. 165.
  13. ^Powers, Perry F., and Cutler, Harry Gardner (1912).A History of Northern Michigan and Its People,pp. 374-75. Lewis Publishing Company.
  14. ^History of Manistee County Michigan; With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Men and Pioneers.H.R. Page & Co., Chicago. 1882.Retrieved6 April2016.In 1846 it was attached to Ottawa County, and the county offices were at Grand Haven, and there was also the nearest justice of the peace. Matrimony, in those days,was a serious matter, and attended with no little trouble. There was no one nearer than Grand Haven or Milwaukee authorized to speak the magic words so charming to the ear, and a trip of ninety miles by canoe, or on foot, was an excursion of considerable magnitude. In 1851 the county was attached to Oceana, county seat at Middlesex, and in 1853 attached to Grand Traverse, to which it remained attached until the Spring of 1855, when it was organized and raised to the honorable dignity of local sovereignty. Prior to 1855, Manistee, Wexford and Missaukee Counties comprised one township, or rather, they were embraced in the township organization of Manistee town.
  15. ^"Thomas Jefferson Ramsdell".Cyclopedia of Michigan.New York City: Western Publishing and Engraving Company. 1890. pp. 218–219.
  16. ^H. R. Page & Co. (1882). "The Great Fire of 1871".History of Manistee County, Michigan.Chicago: H. R. Page & Co.
  17. ^Charter of the City of Manistee, Michigan(1904).
  18. ^"Manistee woman cleared in racial slur case".Luddington Daily News.2002-11-06. p. A3.
  19. ^Paul Craig Roberts (2002-11-14). "Costly immigration".The Washington Times.
  20. ^Spiros Gallos (2002-11-30). "Manistee woman still sour over 'insulting words' conviction".Luddington Daily News.p. A3.
  21. ^Suprynowicz, Vin (2003-01-05). "Jailed for speaking her mind".Las Vegas Review-Journal.p. 2E.
  22. ^Karen Schwallie (18 January 2006)."Wrens Cottage – Manistee Lighthouse".
  23. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedSeptember 2,2021.
  24. ^ "Station: Manistee 3SE, MI".U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020).National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedSeptember 2,2021.
  25. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  26. ^"United States Census Bureau QuickFacts".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedFebruary 26,2022.
  27. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2012-11-25.
  28. ^"Manistee – Manistee County Tourism – Manistee, Michigan".visitmanisteecounty.com.Retrieved17 April2018.
  29. ^Fedder, Mark (2016-02-01)."The Salt Industry in Manistee".Manistee County Tourism – Manistee, Michigan.Retrieved2023-01-23.
  30. ^"10West Studios".10West Studios.Retrieved18 March2012.
  31. ^Serba, John (2009-07-02)."'What If' direct-to-DVD movie filming in Manistee, Grand Rapids ".mlive.com.Retrieved2019-09-02.
  32. ^"Manistee is yours to discover".
  33. ^Manistee Attractions, Events, CultureArchived2007-08-12 at theWayback Machine
  34. ^Historic ArcadiaArchived2008-01-24 at theWayback Machine
  35. ^Mokofsky, Colton."Armory Youth Project, former National Guard armory in Manistee turned into place for kids".Daily News.
  36. ^"Brethren1".
  37. ^Brian Allen (20 November 2009)."Manistee Audubon".
  38. ^Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary atPure Michigan.
  39. ^"Bird Sanctuaries: Lansing, Michigan: Birding Trips".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-09-19.
  40. ^"Manistee-Art".19 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2008.Retrieved17 April2018.
  41. ^ab"Manistee Area Genealogical and Historical Societies".
  42. ^"Manistee Fire Hall Marker".
  43. ^Manistee Fire Department.Archived2010-08-06 at theWayback Machine
  44. ^"Marilla1".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-02-27.Retrieved2010-02-20.
  45. ^Ramsdell Theatre.Archived2006-12-21 at theWayback Machine
  46. ^Manistee Art Institute at Ramsdell Theatre.Archived2000-09-02 at theWayback Machine
  47. ^"Visit Manistee Michigan – Manistee County Travel Information".
  48. ^"S.S. City of Milwaukee – Site of the S.S. City of Milwaukee and the Coast Guard Cutter Acacia".
  49. ^"Visit Manistee Michigan – Manistee Victorian Sleighbell Parade Old Christmas Weekend West Michigan".
  50. ^"Vogue Theatre".
  51. ^Waterworks Building and Museum,[permanent dead link]AAA,Michigan.
  52. ^"Oaks Correctional Facility (ECF)."Michigan Department of Corrections.Retrieved on August 10, 2010.
  53. ^"Manistee township, Manistee County, MichiganArchived2011-06-08 at theWayback Machine."U.S. Census Bureau.Retrieved on August 10, 2010.
  54. ^"Welcome to the Manistee Area Charterboat Association".
  55. ^"Fly Fishing the Manistee River in Michigan".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-06.
  56. ^"Michael Moore visiting Manistee's Vogue Theater".Muskegon Chronicle. 2011-02-08.Retrieved2011-05-25.
  57. ^Braciszewski, Kevin. (March 31, 1998)Manistee County School has New Name,Ludington Daily News.
  58. ^ab"FlyManistee".FlyManistee.com.RetrievedOctober 24,2023.
  59. ^"M-22 @ Michigan Highway Ends".Archived fromthe originalon 2005-12-06.Retrieved2005-07-01.
  60. ^M-55 end point photosArchived2007-12-11 at theWayback Machine
  61. ^Michigan Historical Commission (1924).Michigan Biographies: Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education, Volume 1.p. 86.
  62. ^"Biography for Robert Wadlow".IMDb.RetrievedMarch 6,2012.
  63. ^Michigan Historical Commission (1924).Michigan Biographies: Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education, Volume 1.p. 86.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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