''This article is about the region; for the university, see
Northern Michigan University''
'Northern Michigan' - or more properly 'Northern Lower Michigan' - is a region of the
U.S. state of
Michigan, popular as a tourist destination. It is home to several small- to medium-sized cities, extensive state and national forests, lakes and rivers, and a large portion of
Great Lakes shoreline. The region has a significant seasonal population much like other regions that depend on tourism as their main industry.
Geography
The region is not precisely defined, with residents in the far southern part of the state tending to include areas just north of
Flint and
Grand Rapids, but more northern residents restricting it to the area north of
Mount Pleasant: the "fingers" of the mitten-like shape of the
Lower Peninsula. People from Northern Michigan generally use the term "downstate" to refer to people and places south of the region.
Across the
Straits of Mackinac, to the north and west, lies the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the "U.P."). Despite its geographic location as the most northerly part of Michigan, the Upper Peninsula is not usually included in the definition of Northern Michigan (although
Northern Michigan University is located in the U.P. city of
Marquette), and is instead regarded by Michigan residents as a distinct region of the state. The two regions are connected by the
Mackinac Bridge.
Summer destinations
Many city dwellers from "downstate" and nearby areas (notably
Chicago) have summer vacation homes in Northern Michigan. The largest resort cities in Northern Michigan are in the west on
Lake Michigan, with its sandy beaches and warm bays. Popular tourist towns in Northern Michigan include
Traverse City,
Charlevoix,
Petoskey,
Frankfort,
Harbor Springs,
Leland,
Mackinaw City, and
Mackinac Island (which lies between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas in the
Straits of Mackinac). Boating, golf, and camping are leading activities.
Non-summer destinations
Some of the ski resorts located on the western side include
Boyne Mountain,
Boyne Highlands,
Crystal Mountain Resort,
Nubs Nob and
Schuss Mountain. Some of these also serve as summer golf resorts.
Fall activities include
harvest festivals, and driving around in the woods to watch the colorful fall leaves.
Hunting in Northern Michigan is a popular fall pastime. There are seasons for bow hunting as well as for using guns. The opening day of
deer season is often an unofficial local holiday, so important that a number of area high schools close on that day.
In winter, a variety of sports are enjoyed by the locals which also draw visitors to Northern Michigan.
Snowmobiling, also called sledding, is popular, and with hundreds of miles of interconnected groomed trails cross the region.
Icefishing is also popular. Tip-up Town on
Houghton Lake is a major ice-fishing, snowmobiling and winter sports festival, and is unique in that it is a village that assembles out on the frozen lake surface. Higgins Lake also offers good ice fishing and has many snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing trails at the North Higgins Lake State Park
History and local culture
Northern Michigan was inhabited by
Native American tribes, most recently
Ojibwa, well before English settlers founded a fort on
Mackinac Island. Later, industry depended on natural resources such as lumber and fur trading which contributed to the rise of Traverse City. When the railroads connected Northern Michigan to the large cities through
Kalamazoo, some wealthy urbanites established summer home associations in Charlevoix and Bay Shore. As passenger railroad usage ended in the 1960s because of increased automobile travel, aggressive promotion of Northern Michigan by local chambers of commerce led to many of the festivals and attractions that bring visitors north even today.
The area was populated by many different ethnicities, including groups from
New England,
Germany, and
Poland.
Native American reservations exist at Mount Pleasant and on the
Leelanau Peninsula.
Education
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a notable arts center that offers a high-school-level academy and summer camp near Traverse City. There are also several institutions of
higher education in Northern Michigan. Community colleges include
North Central Michigan College (NCMC, pronounced "nuck-muck" by locals),
Alpena Community College,
Huron Shores Campus-Alpena Community College,
Kirtland Community College, and
Northwestern Michigan College including the
Great Lakes Maritime Academy, the only U.S. maritime academy on freshwater. The sole four year university in Northern Michigan is
Northwood University located in
Midland, Michigan. Other nearby universities are in the
Upper Peninsula (
Northern Michigan University and
Lake Superior State University), as well as
Central Michigan University and
Ferris State University in the more southern reaches of the state. The University of Michigan runs the
University of Michigan Biological Station out of
Pellston, MI.
Central Michigan University runs the CMU Biological Station on
Beaver Island.
Economy
The economy of Northern Michigan is limited by its lower population, few industries and reduced agriculture compared to lower Michigan. Seasonal and tourism related employment is significant. Unemployment rates are generally high. (In June 2007, seven of the ten highest unemployment rates occurred in counties in the Northern Michigan area.
[1])
Historically, lumbering and
commercial fishing were among the most important industries.
Logging is still important but at a mere fraction of its heyday output. Commercial fishing is a minor activity.
A major draw to Northern Michigan is
tourism.
Real Estate, especially condominiums and summer homes, is another significant source of income. Because money spent in the real estate and tourism market in Northern Michigan is dependent upon visitors from southern Michigan and the Chicago area, the Northern Michigan economy is sensitive to downswings in the
automobile and other industries. ''See Also:
Economy of Detroit and
Economy of Chicago''
Agriculture is limited by the climate and soil conditions compared to southern regions of the state. However, there are significant
potato and
dry bean farms in the east.
wine grapes, vegetables and
cherries are produced in the west in the protected
microclimates around
Grand Traverse Bay. The Grand Traverse region has two of Michigan's four federally-recognized
wine growing areas. The Grand Traverse Bay area is listed as one of the most endangered agricultural regions in the U.S. as its scenic land is highly sought after for vacation homes.
Large industries are sparse;
cement-making and the mining of
limestone and
gypsum on the
Lake Huron shore are the major exports of the area. Much of Michigan's
natural gas extraction is from wells in Northern Michigan. A small number of men work on the
Great Lakes freighters.
The only military presence in Northern Michigan is
Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in
Alpena, Michigan and
Camp Grayling near
Grayling, Michigan. Camp Grayling is the largest military installation east of the
Mississippi River, and the nation's largest National Guard training site. Year-round training is conducted on its 147,000 acres (595 km²) by the
U.S. National Guard, as well as active and reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Alpena
Combat Readiness Training Center is run by the
Air National Guard and is co-located with the
Alpena County Regional Airport.
Wurtsmith Air Force Base near
Oscoda closed in 1993.
Transportation
The primary means of transportation in Northern Michigan is by automobile. While train lines like the
Chicago and West Michigan Railroad (later the
Pere Marquette Railway) and several commercial cruise lines were early in generating traffic to Northern Michigan destinations, most of these have been discontinued. Northern Michigan is served by
I-75,
US 131,
US 31,
US 23, and
US 127.
Several car ferries still operate in the region. One departs from
Ludington, Michigan and arrives in
Wisconsin. Another begins in
Charlevoix, Michigan and goes to
Beaver Island. The
Straits of Mackinac are a haven for lake ferries that take passengers to
Mackinac Island from either
Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula or
St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula.
The major bridge in Northern Michigan is the
Mackinac Bridge connecting Northern Michigan to the Upper Peninsula.
Festivals
A number of annual festivals occur in Northern Michigan including:
★ Mushroom Festival (
Mesick)
★ Venetian Festival (
Charlevoix)
★
National Cherry Festival (
Traverse City)
★
Cedar Polka Festival (
Cedar, Michigan)
★ Alpenfest (
Gaylord)
★ Blissfest (folk festival) (
Bliss Township)
[2]
★ Brown Trout Festival (
Alpena)
★ Tip-Up Town (
Houghton Lake)
★
Au Sable Canoe Race
★
Posen Potato Festival
★ Dulcimer FunFest - (
Evart)
★ Coho Salmon Festival (
Honor)
★ National Trout Festivial (
Kalkaska)
★ WinterFest (
Kalkaska)
★ Bass Festival (
Mancelona)
★ Polish Festival (
Boyne Falls)
★ National Forest Festival (
Manistee)
★ Northport's Harbor Day and July 4th Celebration (
Northport, Michigan)
★ World Famous Labor Day Fish Boil (
Northport, Michigan)
★ Leelanau Peninsula Wine Festival (
Northport, Michigan)
★ Salmon Slam (
Northport, Michigan)
★ Firemens Memorial Festival (
Roscommon)
[3]
★
Great Lakes Bioneers Conference
★
North American Snowmobile Festival (
Cadillac, MI)
The
Chicago to Mackinac Boat Race and
Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race both end on Mackinac Island. The Au Sable Canoe Marathon, one of the few pro-am canoeing events in the U.S., occurs on the
Au Sable River, where winning times may be as long as 21 hours.
Flora and fauna
Northern Michigan has many tree types including
maple,
birch,
Oak,
white cedar,
aspen,
pine, and
beech.
Ferns,
milkweed,
Queen Anne's lace, and
chicory grow in the open fields and along roadsides. Forest plants include wild
leeks,
morel mushrooms, and
trilliums.
Marram grass grows on beaches. Several
mosses cover the land.
Common animals in Northern Michigan include
white-tailed deer,
fox,
racoons, and
rabbits.
black bear,
elk,
coyote, and
bobcat are also present. Fish include
whitefish,
yellow perch,
trout,
bass, northern
pike,
walleye,
muskie, and
sunfish.
Common birds are
ducks,
seagulls, wild
turkey,
blue herons,
cardinals,
blue jays,
black-capped chickadees,
Hummingbirds,
Baltimore Oriole, and
ruffed grouse.
Canada Geese may be seen flying over head in spring and fall. Less well known birds that are unique in Michigan to the Northern Lower Peninsula are
spruce grouse,
sharp-tailed grouse,
red-throated loon,
Swainson's hawk, and the
boreal owl.
[4] [5].
Insect populations are similar to those found elsewhere in the
midwestern United States.
Lady bugs,
crickets,
dragonflies,
mosquitoes,
ants,
house flies, and
grasshoppers are common, as is the
Western conifer seed bug, and several kinds of
butterflies and
moths (for example,
monarch butterflies and
tomato worm moths). Notable deviations in insect populations are a high population of
June bugs during June as well as a scarcity of
lightning bugs because of the lower average temperatures year round and especially in the summer.
There are no poisonous snakes native to Northern Michigan. The poisonous
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake lives in Michigan, but it is not common, and its range does not usually extend as far north as Northern Michigan. Snakes present include the
eastern hog-nosed snake,
brown snake,
common garter snake,
eastern milk snake and the
northern ribbon snake. The only common reptiles and amphibians are various pond
frogs,
toads,
salamanders, and small
turtles.
Media
Northern Michigan is in the
Designated Market Areas of "" (113), ""(208), and some portions of the ""(65) .
Newspapers
★
Traverse City Record-Eagle
★
Cadillac News
★
Petoskey News Review
★
Charlevoix Courier
★
The Alpena News
★
Midland Daily News
★
Northern Express
★
Gaylord Herald Times
Radio
FM
★ 88.1 W201CM Traverse City - Religious
★ 88.7/100.9/88.5 WIAA/WICV/WIAB Interlochen/East Jordan/Mackinaw City - Classical "IPR Music Radio"
★ 89.3/91.3/104.9/89.7 WTLI/WJOG/WAIR/WJOJ Petoskey/Good Hart/Lake City/Harrisville - Contemporary Christian "Smile FM"
★ 89.9 WLJN Traverse City - Religious
★ 90.5/91.1/106.1/99.7 WPHN/WOLW/WHST/W259AD Gaylord/Cadillac/Tawas City/Petoskey - Religious "Northern Christian Radio"
★ 90.7
WNMC Traverse City - Variety
★ 90.9 WTCK Charlevoix - Catholic
★ 90.9 WMSD Rose Township (Ogemaw County) - Religious
★ 91.5 WICA Traverse City - Public News/Talk
★ 91.7/103.9/95.7 WCML/WCMW/WCMB Alpena/Harbor Springs/Oscoda - Public Music Variety/News/Talk "CMU Public Radio"
★ 92.1 WOUF Beulah - Americana "92.1 the Wolf"
★ 92.9
WJZQ Cadillac - Adult Contemporary "92.9 the Breeze"
★ 93.7 WKAD Harrietta - Oldies "Oldies 93.7"
★ 94.3/92.5/95.3
WFCX/WFDX/W237DA Leland/Atlanta/Petoskey - Adult Hits "94.3 the Fox FM"
★ 94.5
WLJZ Mackinaw City - Hot Adult Contemporary "Star 94.5"
★ 95.5
WJZJ Glen Arbor/Mackinaw City - Modern Rock "The Zone"
★ 96.3
WLXT Petoskey - Adult Contemporary "Lite 96"
★ 96.7 WLXV Cadillac - Hot Adult Contemporary "Mix 96"
★ 97.5/98.9
WKLT/WKLZ Kalkaska/Petoskey - Album Rock "KLT the Rock Station"
★ 97.7
WMLQ Manistee - Soft Adult Contemporary "The Coast"
★ 98.1/105.1/107.1
WGFN/WGFM/WCKC Glen Arbor/Cheboygan/Cadillac - Classic Rock "The Bear"
★ 98.5
WUPS Houghton Lake - Classic Hits "98.5 UPS"
★ 99.3
WATZ/WRGZ Alpena/Rogers City - Country
★ 99.3 WBNZ Frankfort - Adult Contemporary "99.3 WBNZ"
★ 99.9
WHAK-FM Rogers City - Oldies "99-9 The Wave"
★ 100.3
WGRY Grayling - Country "Y100"
★ 100.7/94.1
WWTH/W231BF Oscoda/Alpena - Country "Thunder Country"
★ 101.1
WQON Roscommon - Adult Contemporary "Decades 101"
★ 101.5
WMJZ Gaylord - Adult Hits "Eagle 101.5"
★ 101.5
WMTE Manistee - Oldies "Oldies 101.5"
★ 101.9
WLDR Traverse City - Country "Sunny Country"
★ 102.9/93.9
WMKC/WAVC St. Ignace/Mio - Country "Big Country"
★ 103.3/94.9
WQLB/
WKJZ Tawas City/Hillman - Adult Hits "Hits FM"
★ 103.5/93.5
WTCM/WBCM Traverse City/Boyne City - Country "Today's Country Music"
★ 104.3
WRDS-LP Roscommon - Southern Gospel "The Lighthouse"
★ 104.7
WKJC Tawas City - Country
★ 105.5
WBMI West Branch - Classic Country
★ 105.9
WKHQ Charlevoix - Contemporary Hits "106 KHQ"
★ 106.3
WKLA Ludington - Adult Contemporary
★ 106.7/100.7
WSRT/WSRJ Gaylord/Honor - Adult Contemporary "106.7 WSRT"
★ 107.5/107.9
WCCW/WCZW Traverse City/Charlevoix - Oldies "Oldies 107.5"
★ 107.7 WHSB Alpena - Hot Adult Contemporary "107-7 The Bay"
AM
★ WLDR 750 1000 watt day, 330 night, directional day and night, Country (with WLDR-FM 101.9), Petoskey
★ WJML 1110 10000 watt day, 10 night, directional day and night, Talk, Petoskey
★ WLJN 1400 1000 watt day and night, Christian, Traverse City
★ WMKT 1270 27000 watt day, 5000 night, directional night, Talk, Charlevoix
★ WCBY 1240 1000 watt day and night, Adult Standards, Cheboygan
★ WTCM 580 50000 watt day, 1100 night, directional day and night, Talk
★ WMBN 1340 1000 watt day and night, Adult Standards, Petoskey
★ WHAK 960 5000 watt day, 137 night, Country (simulcasting WWTH FM Oscoda), Rogers City
★ WATT 1240 1000 watt day and night, Talk, Cadillac
★ WLJW 1370 5000 watt day, 1000 night, directional day and night, Christian Talk, Cadillac
★ WIOS 1480 1000 watt day only, directional, Adult Standards, Tawas City
★ WJNL 1210 50000 watt day, 2500 critical hours, day only, Talk (with WJML-AM), Kingsley
★ WGRY 1230 1000 watt day and night, Adult Standards, Grayling
★ WMMI 830 1000 day only, talk, Shepherd
Broadcast Television
★
WPBN-TV 7/WTOM-TV 4 - (
NBC) (Traverse City/Cadillac)
★
WWTV 9 - (
CBS) (Cadillac)
★
WCMU-TV 14 (
PBS): WCML 6 (Alpena) / WCMW 21 (Manistee) / WCMV 27 (Cadillac) / W46AD 46 (Traverse City) / W69AV 69 (Leland)
★
WBKB-TV 11 - (CBS) (Alpena)
★
WGTU 29 - (
ABC) (Traverse City)
★
WFQX-TV 33/WFUP 45 - (
FOX/
UPN, secondary, until September) (Cadillac)
See also
★
Beaver Island (Lake Michigan)
★
Mackinac Bridge
★
Ludington, Michigan
★
Traverse City, Michigan
★
Gaylord, Michigan
★
Northport, Michgian
External links
★
Northern Michigan travel article from the
Petoskey News Review
★
NM history from insiders.com
★
Life and Activities in the Area, from lifeinnorthernmichigan.com
★
Northport - Omena Chamber of Commerce
★
Leelanau Township Website
★
Leelanau Township Library Website
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
