Petoskey, Michigan is a coastal resort city in the northern Lower Peninsula, and the county seat of Emmet County.
Situated along the southern shores of Little Traverse Bay, on Lake Michigan, the Bear River flows through the central part of the city, where it empties into the bay. The western portion of the city includes Bay Harbor Lake, which connects to Lake Michigan.
The main routes to and from the city are US-31 (Charlevoix Avenue) and US-131 (Spring Street), which ends at its intersection with US-31 downtown, after which US-31 continues east as Bay View Road. Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Petoskey include Harbor Springs, Alanson, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Charlevoix, Pellston, and Wolverine. The unincorporated community and census-designated place known as Bay View is adjacent to Petoskey to the northeast, and the unincorporated communities of Conway and Bay Shore are within ten miles of the city.
The city's Department of Parks and Recreation operates a 144-slip marina at Bayfront Park. The marina provides seasonal and transient slips, gasoline and diesel fuel, a boat launch, wireless Internet, 30/50 amp power, water, pump-out services, a restroom and showers, playground equipment, and adjacent park grounds. The Gaslight District is connected to Bayfront Park by a pedestrian tunnel.
Historically, the Pennsylvania Railroad's Northern Arrow, the Pere Marquette Railway's Resort Special, and other trains provided passenger services to Petoskey and Bay View, but these were discontinued in the late 1900s. The Pere Marquette trains, and later the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, used its station, while the Pennsylvania Railroad had its own station. The Chesapeake and Ohio trains were discontinued in 1963. Today, freight service to Petoskey is limited, and provided by the Tuscola and Saginaw Bay Railway, although the tracks are owned by the state. Occasional special excursion passenger trains to Petoskey occur every now and then.
The Ottawa people inhabited the area before it was settled by European-Americans. Historically, the Ottawa were migratory, traveling from the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula to the southern part of the state for the winter months.
By the 1850s, there was a Catholic mission in Harbor Springs, which was then known as Little Traverse, and the Reverend Andrew Porter, a Presbyterian missionary, arrived to begin a ministry in Petoskey, originally known as Bear River, in 1852.
A pair of entrepreneurs, Amos Fox and Hiram Obed Rose, who had been in business selling lumber and goods to passing ships during the California Gold Rush, expanded their interests to Petoskey in the 1850s, as Rose and Fox. Rose was also involved in a partnership to extend the railroad from Walton Junction to Traverse City, and he, along with Archibald Buttars, opened a general merchandise store in Petoskey.
On December 2, 1857, a post office was established as Bear River, with the Rev. Porter as the first postmaster. For a time the community was also known as Porter's Village. On December 5, 1873, the post office was renamed Petoskey, and incorporated as a village in 1879, and a city in 1896.
After his partnership with Fox broke up, Rose moved to Petoskey and was involved in building the first dock in town in 1873. Anticipating the arrival of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, Rose acquired much of the land in the area, established a trolley car service, and opened a general store, large lime quarries, and lumber enterprises. He also built the Arlington Hotel.
Petoskey had a high concentration of ancient fossil coral, which became known as Petoskey Stones, which were designated as the state stone in 1965.
The peak population of Petoskey was 6,468 in 1950, and its current population is just over 5,700.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the city of Petoskey, Michigan. Appropriate resources include websites for the municipal government, the county government, and any other governmental entities within the city, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
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Recommended Resources
Founded in 1971, the Arts Center has locations in Petoskey and Traverse City. Its locations, directions, hours, and contacts are published on the site, which includes membership information, and schedules of classes, workshops, camps, presentations, exhibitions, and other events, as well as volunteer opportunities. Its policies for exhibiting artwork, sponsorships, and making donations are set forth, and an artist directory, tuition assistance, and sales opportunities are included.
https://www.crookedtree.org/
Overseen by the Downtown Management Board, who are appointed by the mayor, and also serves as Downtown Development Authority members, the site includes a calendar of events, a guide to the area's history and culture, downtown parking, maps, and information about its trolley system. A directory of downtown businesses in Petoskey, Michigan, sorted by restaurants, retail, and services, is also available, with addresses, phone numbers, social media, and websites, when available.
https://www.petoskeydowntown.com/
Located on Connable Avenue in Petoskey, Michigan, the 202-bed regional hospital serves residents in twenty-two counties across the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. Administrative contacts are provided, along with a list of physicians and locations, as well as patient and visitor information, volunteer opportunities, and a calendar of events. Appointments may be booked online, and payments may be made through the site.
https://www.mclaren.org/northern-michigan/mclaren-northern-michigan-home
Owned and operated by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, which also operates a casino in Mackinaw City, the casino was formerly known as Victories Casino. Its guest accommodations, the Odawa Hotel, located about one mile from the casino, is highlighted here, along with its gaming facilities, featured games, and hours of operation. Also included are its dining facilities, promotions, and shopping venues. Maps and group or meeting venues are featured, and contacts are included.
https://www.odawacasino.com/
Formed in 1919, the business advocacy organization serves member businesses in the Northern Michigan region, offering a variety of member benefits, such as business promotion, networking, advocacy, economic development, tourism promotion, and community enhancement. Membership benefits and levels are highlighted, along with its programs, services, and events. The history of the city and Emmet County is outlined, and a guide to the community is included.
http://www.petoskeychamber.com/
Offering digital and print subscriptions, the newspaper is distributed in the wider Petoskey, Michigan region. Crossword subscriptions are also available, and accounts and billing may be managed online. Headlines and selected news items may be viewed from the site, with full content available by subscription, which would include news and sports stories, entertainment features, opinion columns, and obituaries. Other resources include a staff directory, subscriber guide, and advertising terms.
https://www.petoskeynews.com/
Created to promote the sport of snowmobiling through memberships, grooming operations, and affiliation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Snowmobiling Association, the club is based in Petoskey, Michigan. Membership data, board membership, meeting minutes, trail reports, a trail map, and upcoming club activities are posted, along with club building rental policies, and sponsorships. A telephone number, email address, and a contact form are posted.
http://www.petoskeysnowmobileclub.org/
