Elmira, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elmira, Michigan
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Looking northwest along M-32
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| Nickname(s):
"The Potato Capital"
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 Elmira, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Elmira, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Antrim and Otsego |
| Townships | Elmira and Warner |
| Settled | 1876 |
| Elevation | 1,243 ft (379 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49730
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| Area code(s) | 231 |
| GNIS feature ID | 625524 |
Elmira (pronounced el-MY-rə) is a small community in Michigan, USA. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that don't have their own official boundaries or population count.
Elmira is located along a road called M-32. It sits right on the border between two counties: Antrim County to the west and Otsego County to the east. Even though it doesn't have its own government, Elmira does have its own ZIP Code, which is 49730.
Contents
Exploring Elmira's Location
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Elmira is in the northern part of Michigan. It's about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the 45th parallel, which is halfway between the Equator and the North Pole!
Most of Elmira is in Elmira Township in Otsego County. A smaller part extends into Warner Township in Antrim County. The community is about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of the city of Gaylord. Elmira is quite high up, sitting at 1,243 feet (379 meters) above sea level. Some areas around Elmira are part of the Mackinaw State Forest.
Roads and Nearby Places
Elmira's center is along M-32, which is also known as Underwood Avenue. This road is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of U.S. Route 131. Another important road nearby is F-41, called Alba Road, which runs just south of the community.
Besides Gaylord, other communities close to Elmira include Alba and Lakes of the North to the southwest. To the north, you'll find Boyne Falls, and to the northeast is Vanderbilt.
Post Office and Services
Elmira used to have its own post office. It was one of only five post offices in Otsego County. However, the post office building closed in October 2020 due to a fire. Even though the building is closed, the 49730 ZIP Code for Elmira is still active. Mail services for Elmira are now handled by nearby post offices, mainly the one in Gaylord.
The Elmira ZIP Code covers a large area. It includes parts of Elmira Township and Hayes Township in Otsego County. It also covers parts of Warner Township, Star Township, Mancelona Township, and Chestonia Township in Antrim County. A small part of Hudson Township in Charlevoix County is also included.
Children in Elmira attend schools in the Gaylord Community Schools district. This school district is based in Gaylord but also serves parts of Warner Township. Elmira has two township offices for its local government. The Warner Township Hall is on Ray Street. The Elmira Township Hall is on Mt. Jack Road. The Elmira Township Hall is also home to the volunteer Elmira–Warner Fire Department, which helps keep the area safe.
Elmira's Past: A Look at History
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Elmira's story began in 1873 when the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad started building train tracks into Northern Michigan. By 1876, some buildings and a store were built. In 1877, William Hartwell bought 40 acres (16 ha) of land near the railroad. The community was officially mapped out in 1880 and was first named "Windsor."
Railroads and Growth
Soon, a train station called Elmira Station was built. It was an important stop on the railway line that went all the way north to Mackinaw City. Another railroad, the Boyne City, Gaylord, and Alpena Railroad, crossed the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Elmira. This crossing was known as North Elmira.
By 1892, Elmira had grown to about 400 people. It had four sawmills, two hotels, five stores, four saloons, a church, and a school. A post office opened in Elmira on September 3, 1897. William Hartman was the first postmaster. No one is quite sure why the name changed from Windsor to Elmira. Some believe it was named after Elmira Eldridge, one of the first women to settle in the community.
From Lumber to Potatoes
In 1919, the first route of M-32 was created, giving Elmira a road connection to Gaylord. Around this time, the lumber industry, which had been very important, started to decline. Many people and businesses left Elmira.
However, the people who stayed found a new way to thrive: potato farming! The area had the perfect climate and soil for growing potatoes. Many farms and warehouses were dedicated to this crop. By 1930, Elmira was producing so many potatoes that it earned the nickname "The Potato Capital." Potato farming is still a big industry in the area today.
Elmira Today
The original railway line still runs through Elmira. It is now operated by the Great Lakes Central Railroad. This line goes from Petoskey to Ann Arbor. There is no longer a train station in Elmira. The Boyne City Railroad to the north has been removed, but you can still see the concrete supports from the old North Elmira Station.
The Elmira post office, which opened in 1897, was located at 8846 M-32. It operated continuously until a fire on October 13, 2020, forced it to close. An electrical fire destroyed the inside of the building. Luckily, all the mail was saved and taken to the Gaylord post office. The building is still standing but is empty. Mail service for Elmira is now handled by nearby post offices.
In April 2022, the United States Postal Service decided to keep the Elmira post office and ZIP Code active. They are looking for a new building for the post office. Until then, the Gaylord post office continues to handle mail for Elmira.
Just north of the community, along the railway on Webster Road, is the Saint Thomas Cemetery. It is also known as the Elmira Cemetery.
