Omena ( ) is a small

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the count ...

(CDP) in Leelanau Township of Leelanau County in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 295. Overlooking Omena Bay, on the western side of

Grand Traverse Bay Grand Traverse Bay is a deep bay of Lake Michigan formed by the Leelanau Peninsula in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The bay is long, wide, and up to deep in spots. It is further divided into two east and west arms by the Ol ...

, Omena is home to wineries and farms including a thriving

organic farming Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and re ...

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, to the south.

History

In 1852, the Rev. Peter Daugherty relocated an Indian mission from Old Mission on the

Old Mission Peninsula Peninsula Township is a civil township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 6,068, up from 5,433 at the 2010 census. The township is coterminous with the Old Mission Peninsul ...

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 The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA. The company was formed on January 18, 1854. Beginnings After grappl ...

and was regarded as a summer resort area. Among others, Benjamin Grierson, a U.S.

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

general, had a summer home in Omena, as did General Byron Cutcheon.

Etymology

Omena is derived from an

Ojibwe The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...

expression, "''o-me-nah''", meaning "is it so?"

Geography

Omena is in northeastern Leelanau County on the west side of

, an arm of Lake Michigan. It is served by one state highway,

M-22 M-22 are a British-German DJ and producer duo consisting of Matt James and Frank Sanders. On March 22, the duo met, through a joint production, which is the reason for their stage name. History On March 22, 2015, the duo met during a joint p ...

, which leads south to

Traverse City Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was ...

and north to Northport. According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the Omena CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.10%, are water.

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. This was inspired by the canine mayoral elections of

Rabbit Hash, Kentucky Rabbit Hash is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Boone County, Kentucky, United States, with a population of 315 ( 2010 census). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is notable for its ...

. 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. https://www.9and10news.com/2021/07/24/local-dog-elected-as-omena-mayor/

References

External links

Leelanau Township Library WebsiteOmena history
at the Omena Historical Society
New Mission Organics
{{authority control 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