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.[4] 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, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Looking northeast along M-22
Location within Leelanau County
Omena Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Omena Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 45°03′20″N 85°35′20″W
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Leelanau
Township	Leelanau
Area [1]
• 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  (2020)
• Total	295
• Density	65.28/sq mi (25.20/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49674
Area code(s)	231
FIPS code	26-60640[2]
GNIS feature ID	634055[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. 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.[5]

Demographics

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 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. [8] 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

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Omena, Michigan.

• Leelanau Township Library Website
• Omena history at the Omena Historical Society
• New Mission Organics

На других языках

[de] Omena