The village of Mecosta, Michigan is surrounded by Morton Township, in Mecosta County.
Mecosta Township is within the same county, but several miles to the west. This portion of our guide is focused on the village.
The East Branch of the Little Muskegon River flows through Mecosta, where it is joined by Dye Creek in the northern part of the village.
The main route through the village is M-20, which runs concurrent with West Main Street, then turns south to form South Cass Street. Other routes include 11 Mile Road, Grant Road, and Hayes Road. Other cities and villages within twenty miles of Mecosta include Barryton, Stanwood, Lakeview, Lake Isabella, and Big Rapids, while the unincorporated communities of Canadian Lakes and Rodney are within ten miles of the village.
Mecosta was first settled by European-Americans in the early 1850s, although it wasn't until the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad came through in 1879, establishing a station stop under the name of Mecosta Station. This opened the region up to markets for lumber and agricultural products. In 1882, the DL&N built a pump house and water tank nearby and installed a new water station in Mecosta in 1907.
Soon, there were several thousand acres under cultivation, and the rail station provided a shipping point and base of operations for the lumber companies.
Weber Brothers, of Ionia, which had a large interest in area pine timber, along with E.B. Moore of Edmore, and Giles Gilbert of Stanton, formed a stock company to plat the village of Mecosta in 1879. Amos S. Johnson, who came from Sherman City, was given full power of attorney and made the resident agent for land sales in the new village.
At that time, the land was still heavily wooded, although it wasn't long before the larger portion of it was cleared.
Charles Cummings, of Stanton, purchased the first lot from the stock company, although D. O'Brien built the first building in October of 1879. That same month, buildings were constructed by H.W. Basingwaite, George Evans, and A.S. Johnson, and John Van Vleck built a steam saw and shingle mill. Basingwaite opened the first store, which was a general grocery and supply store, on Main Street, and a post office was established in December of that year, with John Van Vleck as the first postmaster.
A school district was also organized in 1879, and the first schoolhouse was a log structure built between 1880 and 1881. The school was taught by Mrs. M.A. Chipman. That same year, a frame schoolhouse replaced the original building.
A Baptist church was organized by John Van Vleck, originally holding its meetings in the log schoolhouse. In the fall of 1880, the Rev. Hoag, a Methodist minister, began holding services in the log schoolhouse, as well.
A private bank operated by Gilbert & Wixson was opened in 1880, and the Mecosta Planing Mills were built by Rathvon Brothers in 1883.
After the timber industry declined in the early 1900s, the village experienced sharp reductions in its population for five decades, but has since had only minor declines interspersed with larger increases. Its peak population was 472 in 1890, and its lowest number since that date was 254 in 1940, but its current population is above 450, so the village has largely revived.
Mecosta is a residential community with a few businesses serving local residents, passersby on M-20, and those using the village as a base for outdoor activities in the surrounding region.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the small village of Mecosta, Michigan. Websites representing the village or any businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, or recreational opportunities within the village are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church
Affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, the CLLC congregation meets for Bible study and worship services on Sunday mornings, and offers a Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning Bible studies, as well as other programs that are featured on its site or listed in its calendar of events. The Mecosta, Michigan church's location, office hours, and telephone number are posted on the site. The church's pastor, leadership, and staff are identified, and its ministries are outlined.
https://chapelofthelakesmecosta.com/
Chippewa Hills Mecosta Elementary School
Serving students in preschool through the fourth grade, the Mecosta, Michigan elementary school is part of the Chippewa Hills School District. A district calendar, curriculum maps, and employment opportunities are published on the site, along with a local school calendar, lunch menu, newsletter, faculty and staff contacts, and information about its parent's group. Also featured is a message from the school principal. Links to other online educational resources are included.
http://www.chsd.us/mecosta/
Situated on 90th Avenue, in Mecosta, Michigan, Lakeside is a family-owned and operated marine and power sports dealership in business since 1998. Specializing in boat sales, docks, hoists, trailers, ATVs, and street bikes, a product catalog may be viewed online, with photos, descriptions, and prices. Offering new and pre-owned products, the site is equipped for online shopping, including accessories, apparel, and OEM parts, as well as its model showroom of new products.
https://www.lakesidemotorsports.net/
Situated near the library and post office in Mecosta, Michigan, the bookstore is on West Main (M-20) Street. Directions, hours of operation, and contacts are posted on the site. The store offers classic literature in hardcover and paperback, along with selective fiction and non-fiction, classic, modern, antiquarian, and mass market. The store also buys selective hardcovers and paperbacks and may travel for particularly desirable books. Photos and policy data are featured.
https://www.iswara.com/
The civil township in Mecosta County, Michigan includes the village of Mecosta and the unincorporated community of Canadian Lakes. The official township website posts a brief history of the township and the communities that formed there, as well as township meeting agendas and minutes, forms, ordinances, maps, and an overview of township emergency services, parks, and recreational opportunities. Government and administrative contacts and election data are included.
https://mortontownship.org/
