Omena, Michigan

Omena (/oʊˈmiːnə/ oh-MEE-nə) 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 2020 census it had a population of 295. 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.

"Omena" redirects here. For the African fish, see Silver cyprinid. For the shopping center, see Iso Omena.

Omena, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Looking northeast along M-22
Looking northeast along M-22
Location within Leelanau County
Location within Leelanau County
Omena is located in Michigan
Omena
Omena
Location in Michigan
Omena is located in the United States
Omena
Omena
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 45°03′20″N 85°35′20″W
Country United States
State Michigan
County Leelanau
TownshipLeelanau
Area
[1]
 • Total4.57 sq mi (11.83 km2)
 • Land4.52 sq mi (11.70 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation
604 ft (184 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total295
 • Density65.28/sq mi (25.20/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
49674
Area code231
FIPS code26-60640[2]
GNIS feature ID634055[3]

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.

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.

Etymology

Omena is derived from an Ojibwe expression, "o-me-nah", meaning "is it so?" [4]

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.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010267—
202029510.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

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.[7] This was inspired by the canine mayoral elections of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. The current "mayor" of Omena is Rosie Disch, a Golden mixed breed 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.[8] https://www.9and10news.com/2021/07/24/local-dog-elected-as-omena-mayor/

See also

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Omena, Michigan
  4. Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan Place Names: The History of the Founding and the Naming of More Than Five Thousand Past and Present Michigan Communities. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. p. 415. ISBN 0-8143-1837-1.
  5. "U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. Campisi, Jessica; Lear, Justin (July 27, 2018). "The Michigan village where the mayor has 4 legs (and it's been that way for over a decade)". CNN. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  8. Bingham, Emily (July 14, 2021). "The mayor's race in this Michigan town includes a goat, chicken and cat". mlive. Retrieved July 15, 2021.

Further reading
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