Omena, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Omena, Michigan
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Looking northeast along M-22
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Location within Leelanau County
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 Omena, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Omena, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Michigan |
| County |  Leelanau |
| Township | Leelanau |
| Area | |
| • 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)
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| • Total | 295 |
| • Density | 65.28/sq mi (25.20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49674
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| Area code(s) | 231 |
| FIPS code | 26-60640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 634055 |
Omena (pronounced oh-MEE-nuh) is a small, quiet community in Michigan, USA. It's located in Leelanau County, right on the beautiful Omena Bay. This bay is part of the larger Grand Traverse Bay, which connects to Lake Michigan.
Omena is known for its lovely scenery and local farms. Many farms here grow cherries and grapes. Some even use organic farming methods. The area also has several wineries that use these local crops. In 2020, about 295 people lived in Omena. The closest big city is Traverse City, which is about 23 miles (37 km) south.
Contents
Discovering Omena's Past
In 1852, a reverend named Peter Daugherty moved an Indian mission to this spot. He called it "New Mission" at first. He built a small Presbyterian church there. This church became the center of the new community. Today, the church still holds services during the summer.
Omena's Resort Days
Omena was once a stop on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. This made it a popular place for summer vacations. Famous people, like Civil War generals Benjamin Grierson and Byron Cutcheon, had summer homes here.
What Does "Omena" Mean?
The name "Omena" comes from the Ojibwe language. The Ojibwe word "o-me-nah" means "is it so?". It's a unique name with a special history!
Where is Omena Located?
Omena is in the northeastern part of Leelanau County. It sits on the western side of Grand Traverse Bay. This bay is an arm of Lake Michigan.
Getting Around Omena
The main road through Omena is M-22. This highway goes south to Traverse City (about 23 miles or 37 km away). It also goes north to Northport (about 5 miles or 8 km away).
Omena's Size
The Omena area covers about 4.57 square miles (11.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.05 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.
How Many People Live in Omena?
Omena is a small community. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 267 | — | |
| 2020 | 295 | 10.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Meet Omena's Animal Mayors!
Omena is not a city, so it doesn't have a regular mayor. But the people of Omena have a fun tradition! They hold elections every three years for a non-human mayor. The Omena Historical Society organizes these special elections.
A Unique Tradition
This idea was inspired by a town called Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. That town also elects animal mayors! The current "mayor" of Omena is Rosie Disch. Rosie is a friendly Golden mixed-breed dog. She will be mayor for three years.
Helping the Community
These elections are not just for fun. They also help raise money for the Omena Historical Society. For example, the 2021 election raised $14,000!
Past Animal Mayors
Rosie is not the first animal mayor. Here are some of the past mayors:
- Sweet Tart: The first cat mayor, elected in 2018.
- Polly Loveless: A three-legged dog who won in 2015. Sadly, Polly passed away while in office.
- Maya Deibel: A dog who won the election in 2012.
- Tucker Joyce: A golden retriever who was the very first mayor in 2009.
See also
In Spanish: Omena para niños
