Surrounded by Onekama Township in east Manistee County, the village of Onekama, Michigan is on the northeastern shores of Portage Lake, about five miles east of Lake Michigan.
Portage Lake was named in 1837, when Joseph Stronach named what was then a natural stream connecting the lake with Lake Michigan as Portage Creek. Portage Lake is a glacial lake with a surface area of 2,110 acres and a maximum depth of 60 feet. By the 1870s, sawmill operations had landlocked Portage Lake, raising its level up to fourteen feet above the level of Lake Michigan in order to power sawmill operations. Upset with this practice, homesteaders dug a channel through the narrow isthmus about a mile south of the natural outlet at Portage Creek, and this is the waterway that currently connects to two lakes.
The antecedent of the village of Onekama was the settlement of Portage at Portage Point, at the outlet of Portage Creek, which was established by Adam Stronach, a sawmill operator, in 1845. When landowners around the landlocked lake became exasperated with the practices of the Portage Sawmill took it upon themselves to dig a channel through the isthmus connecting Portage Lake with Lake Michigan, the former lake was lowered to the level of the latter, drying out Portage Creek on May 14, 1871.
Only a few days before, on May 8th, the settlement at Portage Creek had been given a post office designated as Onekama, which had long been an alternate name for Portage Lake. The settlement, including the post office, moved to previously submerged land at the northwestern shore of the lake, near an earlier settlement that had been called Brookfield. The first postmaster of the town was Augustine W. Farr, who helped to promote the area as a tourist destination through a mineral spring that he discovered near his home.
In the early 1900s, a resort community grew up near the former village of Onekama, and was named Portage Point, while the current community of Norwalk was previously known as Portage Creek.
In 1880, the Pierce Grist Mill land the Gilbert Brothers Saw Mill were opened in Onekama, and the first school was built next to the current location of the Congregational Church.
The village was incorporated in 1891, and included the earlier settlement of Brookfield. For the most part, the village's business section is along Main Street, which consists of a flat, former lake bottom, while its residential districts are on the higher land.
The chief routes through the village are Northwood Highway (Main Street) and Crescent Beach Road (1st Street), both of which also incorporate M-22. Other routes include Erdman Road (Mill Street), Brandt Road (3rd Street), and 8 Mile Road.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Onekama include Bear Lake, Kaleva, Eastlake, and Manistee, while the unincorporated communities of Wick-A-Te-Wah, Norwalk, Portage Point, Red Park, Williamsport, Pierport, Brown, and Arcadia are within ten miles.
Today, Onekama's economy is heavily dependent on the lake, the waterfront activities that it brings, and as a vacation and tourist destination. Due to its recreational and resort nature, the population of the Onekama community increases during the summer months, although its summer residents are shared with neighboring communities. In addition to the opportunities provided by the lakes, the village has a number of shops, cafes, and other commercial businesses.
Since reaching its peak population of 647 in 2000, the village has declined to a current population of just over 400, which is closer to its median population.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the village of Onekama, Michigan. Appropriate topics for this category include online resources for the village government, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, sports programs, and recreational opportunities.
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Located on Main Street in Onekama, Michigan, the grocery store is open daily. Store hours, as well as the hours for its deli counter, pizza orders, meat counter, and meat cutter are posted, along with a telephone number. Its services include customizable menu options for parties and other events, information about its grocery, bottled, grilled, and handcrafted product departments, monthly store specials, and an overview of its loyalty enhancement program, known as MakeItCount.
http://www.onekamaezmarket.com/
Located on Main Street (M-22), the Onekama, Michigan restaurant serves breakfast or lunch all day, and is open year-round, with take-out and dine-in services available. A brief profile of the business is provided, along with its hours of operation, address, a map, telephone number, email address, and a gallery of photographs showing interior and exterior scenes. Its breakfast and lunch menus are published on the site, including discount offers, options, prices, notices, and other details.
http://m-22grill.com/
Onekama / Portage Lake Association
Unofficially representing the village and township of Onekama, as well as the Portage Lake Association, the site includes contacts for local governmental offices, as well as contacts, a list of board members, and meeting minutes for the PLA. A guide to local lodging facilities, restaurants, shopping venues, community events, fishing reports, and recreational opportunities is included, along with a directory of businesses, health services, schools, and vacation rentals.
https://www.onekama.info/
Serving the Onekama, Michigan K-12 community, OCS offers an elementary, middle, and high school, all on one campus. Class pages and staff contacts are set forth, as well as the district's administrative staff. Middle and high school sports programs are featured, and information about the Athletic Boosters organization is included. Special programs and events, announcements, school schedules, community classes, fitness programs, and its school improvement plan are published on the site.
https://ocs.manistee.org/
Onekama Marine & Lake Michigan Yacht Sales
Established in 1963, Onekama Marine is located on Crescent Beach Road in Onekama, while Lake Michigan Yacht Sales is in Bay Harbor, Michigan. Situated on Portage Lake, Onekama Marine offers dockage at four locations, summer and winter storage, full mechanical services, and the sale of new and used boats. Its inventory is featured, with photos, descriptions, and other details, while manufacturer models may be viewed. Its dealerships, services, and contacts are included.
http://www.onekamamarine.com/
Sandpiper III Sportfishing Charters
Based at Onekama Marine Yard on Crescent Beach Road, in Onekama, Michigan, Captain Kevin Hughes has more than forty years of charter fishing out of Onekama, several tournament and derby wins, and. He serves on the Lake Michigan fishery advisory board and as president of the Manistee County Sport Fishing Association. Season schedules are posted, and several photos of his boat are provided, along with rates, fishing reports, and community information. Online bookings may be requested.
https://sandpiperfishingcharters.com/
