The City of West Branch, Michigan is bounded by West Branch Township to the north, south, and east, and by Ogemaw Township to the west.
Located in the southwest quadrant of the county, West Branch is the largest city and the seat of Ogemaw County.
The northern part of the city is bounded by Willow Street, Court Street runs along the western city limits, and Fairview Street is the eastern boundary, while the southern borders are irregular. M-55 joins Business Loop I-75 as it runs east-west through the center of the city, while M-30 enters the city from the south, ending at its intersection with BL I-75 at its western border. I-75 runs roughly southeast-northwest just south of the city limits.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of West Branch include Rose City, Prescott, Whittemore, and Sterling, while the unincorporated communities of Ogemaw Springs and Edwards are within ten miles.
Seventy percent of West Branch residents are homeowners in the city, more than half of them have lived in the city for more than ten years, and nearly half of the work within the city. Single-family residential areas are found mostly in large blocks in the central and northwestern parts of the city, while a large part of the northeastern quadrant of the city is designated as multi-family residential. The downtown commercial area extends along Houghton Avenue from 1st Street to Court Street, taking in full blocks between 2nd Street and 4th Street to Ogemaw Creek.
At the time of the 2020 Census, West Branch had a population of 2,351, which is its peak population, as the city has enjoyed slight increases for the past four decades.
Anthropolists have determined that the "mound builders" lived in the area 11,000 to 15,000 years ago.
More recently, an abundance of wild game and fertile soils for planted crops and fruit trees attracted the Chippewa (Ojibwa) to the region, and they inhabited the area when the first Europeans and European-Americans came. For about a hundred and fifty years, there was very little contact between indigenous people and white settlers, as the forts, outposts, and other European-American settlements were concentrated along the shores of the Great Lakes and the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula.
However, the heavy movement of European-Americans into Michigan after the Erie Canal opened in 1825 brought an influx of white settlers to the area. Even then, however, the interior of the northern part of the Lower Peninsula was settled slowly.
By the 1870s, timber resources along the coastal areas and in the south were being rapidly depleted, and lumbermen were attracted by the white pine timber in the West Branch area, and the railroads followed the timber industries. Railroads were a necessity to the timber industries, as inland waterways tended to be too shallow and too narrow to provide dependable transportation of logs or supplies. The Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw (Michigan Central) Railroad came through on its way to Mackinaw City in 1871, opening a depot at West Branch with a loading passenger train.
Originally called Springvale, West Branch was renamed to reflect its position near the West Branch of the Rifle River when a post office was established on November 17, 1873, with Zenas H. Wright as postmaster.
By 1874, the settlement has a school, a hotel, a train depot, a general store, a doctor's office, and a law office. Within a decade, several stores, a bank, a milling operation, and a newspaper were added. West Branch was incorporated as a village in 1885, and it became a city in 1905.
However, the end of the lumbering era in West Branch came about in 1910 when forest fires broke out during a dry summer. Fed by brush and slashings left over from earlier lumbering activities, the fires destroyed what was left of the area's pine forests. This brought a couple of decades of decline, but the city soon rebounded, adding nearly seventy percent to its population between 1930 and 1940. Since then, its increases and declines were slight, but the city has mostly grown.
Today, a major employer in West Branch is Mid-Michigan Medical Center, formerly known as West Branch Regional Medical Center, in the southwestern part of the city.
West Branch offers several attractions and events, many of which are held in Irons Park. Designed to address childhood obesity, the Tolfree Wellness Park, installed by the John Tolfree Hospital, includes a walking trail, gardens, a greenhouse, and a pavilion, and sponsors several health and wellness programs.
The focus of this portion of our web guide is the City of West Branch, Michigan. Topics related to governmental entities, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities in West Branch are appropriate for this category.
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Recommended Resources
A ministry of Calvary Baptist Church in West Branch, Michigan, CCA offers a Bible-based educational program for children whose parents are committed to training their children to become Godly men and women, dedicated to Jesus Christ. Offering a K-8th-grade curriculum, the school's faculty and staff are introduced, and its guidelines, tuition and fees, school supply lists, lunch menus, and access to downloadable forms are provided. Photos, contacts, and a school calendar are posted.
https://www.calvaryacademywestbranch.com/
West Branch is the largest city in Ogemaw County, and its county seat. Its official municipal website presents a profile and demographics, along with its master plan, a map, the address, phone and fax numbers, and the hours of its administrative offices. The mayor and city council, boards, commissions, and departmental heads are identified, and its ordinances, charter, voter data, and contacts for the county, state, and federal government are included, with an overview of its services.
http://www.westbranch.com/
Situated on Cook Road, the hotel is affiliated with the Choice Hotels Group, so eligible stays can earn points for Choice Privileges Rewards members. The address, a map, and a summary of the hotel are provided, along with a list of amenities, a photo gallery, and guest ratings and reviews. Its dining facilities, meeting spaces, and a list of nearby attractions and events are posted. Rooms may be booked online, via a mobile app, or by telephone.
https://www.choicehotels.com/michigan/west-branch/quality-inn-hotels/mi055
West Branch - Rose City Area Schools
Headquartered in West Branch, Michigan, the public school district serves the West Branch and Rose City area, offering a K-12th-grade curriculum. The board of education, central office, and contacts are provided, along with details about its campuses: Ogemaw Heights High School, Rose City School, Surline Elementary School, and Surline Middle School. Its academics and athletics programs are outlined, and employment opportunities and enrollment data are included.
https://www.wbrc.k12.mi.us/
West Branch Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a business membership organization representing member businesses and organizations in West Branch, Michigan, and the surrounding area, attracting, promoting, and growing members. The Chamber executive director, administrative assistant, and board of directors are introduced, and a member directory and map are included, along with member spotlights, member benefits, a calendar of events, employment and volunteer opportunities, and area information.
https://www.wbacc.com/
Formed to promote tourism in West Branch and Ogemaw County, Michigan, the site includes reasons to visit the area, a calendar of events, and maps. A printed visitors guide may be requested, but a guide to area hotels, motels, resorts, campgrounds, RV parks, attractions, recreational venues, shopping venues, parks, and recreational opportunities is provided, including history tours, geocaching opportunities, and other regular events are featured. The board of directors and contacts are included.
https://www.visitwestbranch.com/