Coleman, Michigan is a small city in northwestern Midland County. Surrounded by Warren Township, it is near its border with Wise Township, in Isabella County.
US-10 is on the city's northern border, and North Coleman Road enters the center of the city in the north and the south, leading to Coleman's downtown district, while West Saginaw Road (Railway Street) runs diagonally (northwest-southeast) through the center of the city. Other routes to or through the city include West Shaffer Road, and North Dickerson Road, which forms the lower portion of the city's western boundaries. Clare is 11.4 miles northwest of Coleman, while Sanford is 13.0 miles southeast, Rosebush is 13.2 miles southwest, and Beaverton is 13.9 miles to the northeast.
The city includes large wooded areas in the southwest and northwest, with agricultural land in the northeast. The Pere Marquette Trail follows an abandoned section of the Pere Marquette Railway, running parallel to Railway Street, and passing through the city's business district. Coleman has a traditional small-town central business district, except that Its commercial buildings are primarily located on the north side of Railway Street, while the south has a mixture of commercial buildings and parks adjacent to the Pere Marquette Trail.
The first land acquisitions in the area that was to become Coleman were by Ammi W. Wright, who purchased land from the federal government, but he did not settle on the land. Several years later, in 1868, he sold a thousand acres to Seymour Coleman. Aware that the Pere Marquette Railroad was extending its line westward through Midland County, Coleman had a hundred and sixty acres surveyed and platted, then donated land to the railroad for a depot.
The railroad reached Coleman in 1870, and a depot was established in 1871. The first permanent settler, Jonathan Pierce, arrived on the first railroad construction train. He built a sawmill and a hotel, which he named the Exchange Hotel. A post office was established at the hotel on May 15, 1871, with Jonathan Pierce as postmaster.
Between 1870 and 1890, the new town grew rapidly to support as many as thirty lumber mills in the surrounding region. The town included three banks, several churches, mercantile stores, blacksmith shops, hotels, and at about twenty saloons.
Within a few years, most of the lumber in the area has been removed. Fortunately, the Pere Marquette Railway built a spur to Mt. Pleasant in 1879, which brought several other types of businesses to Coleman. Coleman was incorporated as a village in 1887 and became a city in 1905. Incorporation brought improvements, such as electricity and 1910, a water system in 1951, and a city-wide sewer system was created in 1970. Sometime after the Pere Marquette Railway abandoned its track through Coleman, the rail bed became part of the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, a thirty-mile asphalt walking trail between Midland and Clare, which was completed in 1994.
The focus of topics in this category include those relating to the city itself, as well as to any individuals, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, and events within the city.
Recommended Resources
Settled in 1868, incorporated as a village in 1887, and as a city in 1905, the city is in northwestern Midland County, Michigan. The official municipal website features an introduction to the city and the city offices. Featured is a city calendar, office hours, and contacts, as well as city council meeting agendas and minutes, the city charter and ordinances, budget and finance data, and access to various applications and forms. Career opportunities are listed.
https://www.cityofcoleman.org/
While serving the K-12 population of the City of Coleman, Michigan, the public school district’s campuses are located just outside of the city limits, to the east of the lower part of the city, including Coleman Elementary School and Coleman Junior/Senior High School, both of which are highlighted here, along with an overview of its academic programs, athletics programs, a student handbook, student and staff resources, and a district calendar.
https://www.colemanschools.net/
The Wesleyan congregation in Coleman, Michigan is located on West Webster Street. General information about the denomination and local church is put forth, including a statement of beliefs, and an introduction to its ministries to children and students, men, women, community groups, and Sunday School. Sunday and weekday services are posted to the site, a map shows the location of its sanctuary and family ministry building, both in Coleman.
https://www.colemanwesleyan.org/
Grace Baptist Church of Coleman
Meeting at its facilities on Fraser Street in Coleman, Michigan on Sunday mornings for Sunday School and worship, on Sunday evenings, and Wednesday evenings for prayer and Bible study, the church also offers a children’s group, a teen Bible study, and other fellowship and outreach activities, as shown on its calendar of events. Its physical address, telephone number, and email address are posted to the site, and an introduction to the pastor and his family is included.
http://www.gracebaptistcoleman.com/
The family-owned business is located in Coleman, Michigan, offering generator service and installation for new construction and existing recreational and commercial facilities, as well as recreational vehicles, including annual service agreements and load bank testing. Its services, supported brands, servicing options, and pricing is defined, and a discussion of the types of businesses and facilities that the company usually serves is put forth, and a contact form is included.
http://www.glepgenerators.com/
Michigan Metal Roofing & Siding Sales
Situated in Coleman, Michigan, the company is a supplier of North Star and Graber Post Buildings and Siding products, with a baked-on paint system, heat-formed, cut to the customer’s specifications, and wrapped and bundled for added protection. Established in 2017, the company’s location, office hours, and contacts are posted to the site, along with a portfolio of photos illustrating past work. Its products and services are outlined, and job openings are posted.
http://www.michiganmetalroofingandsidingsales.com/
Founded by Fred Robinson, who had been involved in the development of Styrofoam while employed with Dow Chemical Company, the company had its start in the 1940s, the Coleman, Michigan company has produced several products, including pallets, returnable packaging, and a number of consumer products, which are featured here, along with its capabilities, and industries served. Included is an EPA pallet calculator and literature downloads.
https://www.robinsonind.com/
