The unincorporated community of Nottawa, Michigan is in lower central Nottawa Township, St. Joseph County, in the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
As an unincorporated community, Nottawa lacks defined boundaries, but it is concentrated along M-86 and Nottawa Road, east of Sand Lake and northwest of Lake Tempiene.
Nottawa is about four miles east of the village of Centreville and about two miles south of the unincorporated community of Wasepi. Other cities and villages within twenty miles of Nottawa include Mendon, Colon, Sturgis, Burr Oak, Three Rivers, Constantine, White Pigeon, Vicksburg, Athens, and Bronson.
Nottawa Township and the unincorporated villages of Nottawa and Wasepi were named for the Notawasepe Potowatomi. The Notawasepe Potawatamie Reservation was the home of the chief ancestors of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi from 1821 to 1833, when it was disbanded.
The village of Nottawa was laid out in 1832, as the treaty creating the reservation was nearing its end. However, several European-American settlers came to the area before that time in order to have the first choice of the reservation land. As the soil was rich, the land was considered to be prime agriculture land, and there were also the advantages of the lakes and the Prairie River.
Early settlers include Judge Connor, Judge John Sturgis, Henry Post, Henry Powers, John W. Fletcher, and Jack Engle.
A post office was established on January 15, 1836, with William Nottram as postmaster. The office closed on January 4, 1844, restored on February 6, 1844, closed again on May 23, 1859, and reopened on December 19, 1870. Originally, the post office was named Oporto, but it took its current name when it reopened in 1870.
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad came through in 1867, opening a station in Nottawa
The focus of this part of our guide is on the community of Nottawa, Michigan. Local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities are appropriate topics for this category.
Recommended Resources
Situated along M-86, east of Nottawa Road, the Nottawa, Michigan hardware store and lumber yard offers metal roof panels, overhead doors, doors and windows, paint, siding and roof products, trusses, and other interior and exterior building products, as well as metal and woodworking tools, tool repair services, and a design center in which customers can work with the Alpha staff to plan upcoming building projects. A contractor portal is included on the site, which includes contacts.
https://alphabuildingcenter.com/
The seasonal RV resort is situated along the Prairie River. With more than two thousand feet of river frontage, the campground offers paddle boating, canoeing, kayaking, and a sandy beach, as well as a water trampoline, playground, basketball court, laundry facilities, bathroom, showers, and a dump station. Directions, a map of the facilities, and a telephone number are posted, along with seasonal rates, policies for electrical service, and a list of available lots.
http://www.hiddenpondcampground.com/
Nottawa Auto Sales and Service
Offering a selection of pre-owned and certified used vehicles, the auto dealership and service center can be found along M-86 in Nottawa, Michigan. Dealership information, business hours, contacts, and an online contact form are featured, along with a map showing its location. Available cars, motorcycles, SUVs, wagons, minivans, pickup trucks, sedans, and hatchbacks are highlighted, with photos, descriptions, and asking prices. An online loan application is included.
https://www.nottawaautosales.com/
With locations in Nottawa and Tekonsha, Michigan, its store hours, locations, and contacts are posted, along with its home heating products and services, bottle fill station, remote tank monitoring, and its LP gas budget plan, including a sign-up form. The company also sells barbecue grills and supplies, pet supplies from a variety of suppliers, and a selection of bird feeders, nest boxes, seeds, and suet. With an activated account, payments may be made online.
http://www.nottawagas.com/
The 9-acre county park is situated on the 102-acre Sand Lake in Nottawa, Michigan. Maintained by the St. Joseph County Parks & Recreation Department, the park is free for county residents, although donations are appreciated. The park includes a pavilion, grassy and shady play areas, play equipment, bathrooms, and a motorized boat launch and fishing pier, with kayak rentals available. Information about pavilion rentals, directions, contacts, and watercraft rentals are included.
https://www.stjosephcountymi.org/parks/parks_sandlake.php
