The Village of Homer, Michigan is in northwest Homer Township, in southeast Calhoun County, in the south-central part of the Lower Peninsula.
Homer Lake is in the southwestern corner of the village, while the South Branch of the Kalamazoo River flows through northeastern Homer.
The chief routes through the village are M-99 (East Leigh Street) and M-60 (West Leigh Street), which intersect in the center of the village. Other routes in or out of the village include 24 1/2-Mile Road, 25 1/2-Mile Road, M Dr S, and N Dr S.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Homer include Litchfield, Concord, Albion, Tekonsha, Allen, Burlington, Jonesville, Marshall, Parma, Quincy, Hanover, Union City, Hillsdale, and Springport.
Founded in 1832, Homer is one of the oldest settlements in south-central Michigan, but it has never been a large village. Its population in 2010 was 1,668, and it is predicted to decline slightly in the 2020 census. Its peak population was 1,851 in 2000.
Acknowledged as the village's founder, Milton Barney visited the area from Lyons, New York in the summer of 1832, returning in the fall of that year with his family to settle on the south bank of the Kalamazoo River. He hired Osha Wilder to survey and plat a townsite on a portion of his land, to be named Barneyville. At the townsite, he built a sawmill and a gristmill in 1832, opened a store in 1834, and a hotel in 1835.
A post office was established on May 7, 1834, with Milton Barney as postmaster. At this time, the town's name was changed to Homer, at the request of James Hopkins and some other early settlers, who had come from Homer, in Cortland County, New York. Homer was incorporated as a village in 1871.
The area was inhabited by the Potawatomi people prior to the arrival of the European-Americans, and were said to have maintained friendly relations. Chief Ne-au-to-beer-saw (also known as Leathernose) and Chief Wopkezike are mentioned in several stories by the founders of the village, and the native children often played together with the children of the white settlers. However, the Potawatomi were forcibly removed by the US Government in the fall of 1840 under the authority of the Indian Removal Act and the Treaty of Chicago.
At one time, Homer was considered a railroad hub, as three railroad lines intersected in the southeastern part of the town. The busiest of these railroads was the Air Line division of the Michigan Central Railroad. The others included the Lansing division of the Lake Shore Railway, and the main line of the Detroit, Toledo, and Milwaukee Railroad. All three of these carried both passengers and freight, although they eventually consolidated near Homer Tower.
As the focus of this guide is on the village of Homer, Michigan, appropriate topics include online resources for the village itself, or for any businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, attractions, or events within the village.
Recommended Resources
Specializing in automation and product handling for the disposable food service market, the Homer, Michigan company is able to custom design from the ground up and is fully responsible for the design, programming, assembly, installation, and troubleshooting of its packaging automation and robotic systems, which are highlighted here, along with its support services, a gallery of photographs illustrating its products and projects, career opportunities, contacts, and a contact form.
http://djssystems.com/
Organized as the First Religious Society in September of 1799, the congregation built a church building in October of 1801, calling its first minister in 1803. The church building is owned by the First Religious Society in order to protect the properties of the independent church. The Homer, Michigan congregation's history is featured here, along with its Faith Formation programs, worship schedules, a calendar of events, its ministries to children and youth, and an online contribution feature.
http://www.homercc.com/
Organized as a bicentennial project in 1974, the non-profit organization has continued, preserving and protecting the history of Homer, Michigan, to encourage people to take an interest in local history, and to establish a museum. Membership information, volunteer opportunities, and meeting schedules are published on the site, which includes information about supporting the Society, an overview of sponsored programs and events, its address, telephone number, and a contact form.
http://homerhistoricalsociety.org/
Based in Homer, Michigan, RSB Transmissions NA offers precision machining, fabricating, and assembly for customers in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, primarily, although it also provides services nationwide and internationally. The company was founded by James Miller in 1946, and originally names James Miller Machine Company, changing names and owners a few times before taking its current name in 2009. Its history, products, and quality statements are posted, along with contacts.
http://www.rsbna.com/
Thurston's Furniture and Mattresses
Locally owned and operated since 1973, Thurston's is located on M-60 between Homer and Tekonsha, Michigan, where it carries a large inventory of lodge, living room, and sofa beds with a selection of fabrics, including north woods wildlife patterns, and mattresses to fit any size bed, including recreational vehicles and antique beds. Many of its products can be viewed in its photo gallery, and special sale offers are highlighted. Its location, hours of operation, and contacts are posted.
https://thurstonsfurniture.webs.com/
Homer, Michigan is an incorporated village in Calhoun County, in the central-southern Lower Peninsula. The official municipal website includes a history of the village, an overview of the village government, and the Downtown Development Authority, including a DDA plan, DDA map, board members, meeting schedules, and minutes. The village's master plan, its recreation plan, a zoning map, village ordinances, and various forms and applications. The Homer Festival is highlighted.
https://homermichigan.org/
