Situated in the southern part of Arenac County, the City of Standish serves as the county seat.
Standish is about five miles from Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron.
US-23/M-13 (Huron Road) runs north-south through the city, intersecting M-61, which runs between Marion and Standish, downtown. M-61 (West Cedar Street) ends at its connection with US-23/M-13, while East Cedar Street exits the city as Pine River Road. Other routes leading to and from Standish include Deep River Road, Duprie Road, Johnsfield Road, Palmer Road, Wheeler Road, and Old M-10. M-61 connects with I-75 to the west, while US-23 connects with the interstate southwest of Standish.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Standish include Sterling, Omer, Pinconning, Twining, Au Gres, Turner, and Prescott, while Pine River and Whites Beach are unincorporated communities within ten miles.
With a total land area of 2.18 square miles, Standish had a population of 1,458 at the time of the 2020 census. Its peak population was 1,581 in 2000.
Like many Michigan communities, Standish was founded as a railroad town. John D. Standish built a mill in the area in 1871.
Anticipating the construction of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad (Michigan Central Railroad) line between West Bay City and Mackinaw, Mr. Standish offered a right-of-way for the railroad to build its line north through Standish. In September of 1871, the line was built through Standish, although it only went as far north as Wells Station. A train depot was built on the south side of West Cedar Street and named for Mr. Standish, who owned all of the lands in the area at that time.
A hotel was opened in Standish in 1871. Known as the Standish House, it was owned by Sheriff Burmel. The village was originally in Bay County, and Burmel served as the county sheriff. The hotel changed ownership several times before being burned in March 1902.
A post office was established on January 17, 1872, with James S. Gailey as postmaster.
Mr. Standish arranged for Peter M. Angus to plat the village. While Mr. Standish was away, the name of the village was changed to Granton and recorded under that name on December 6, 1872. However, Mr. Standish was able to persuade the state legislature to change it back to Standish on April 13, 1874.
Standish was part of Bay County until Arenac County was organized in July of 1883, and Standish was designated the county seat. Standish was incorporated as a village in 1893 and became a city in 1904.
Today, the Standish railroad depot is unused, although it was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1977, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as the Michigan Central Railroad Standish Depot. The last passenger train stopped in Standish in 1955, after which the depot was used for freight until 1965. In 1988, it was renovated and converted into office space and is currently used as a welcome center along US-23.
From 1990 to 2009, the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility was operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections. It consisted of five 88-bed housing units and one 164-bed unit. Scheduled to close, the US government expressed interest in relocating Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the facilities but, due to objection from Michigan public officials, the Obama Administration removed Standish as a candidate facility. On October 31, 2009, the facility was closed and remains empty.
The focal point of this portion of our web guide is the City of Standish, Michigan. Online resources pertaining to the municipal government or any other governmental body located within the city, such as the county offices, are appropriate for this category, along with local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
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Recommended Resources
Established in 1883, the county seat is in the City of Standish, Michigan. The official county website features a profile of the county, contacts for townships, cities, and villages within the county, county agencies, and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, as well as a guide to county services, libraries, schools, and recreation and tourism resources. Contacts and schedules for county courts, departments, commissions, and boards are included, and meeting agendas and minutes are included.
https://www.arenaccountymi.gov/
Located about five miles from Saginaw Bay, on Lake Huron, Standish, Michigan is the county seat of Arenac County. The official municipal website publishes a calendar of community events, city news, ordinances, budget data, and information and contacts for the city's administrative offices, elected officials, and departmental personnel. Monthly meeting schedules and minutes for the city council, planning commission, and Downtown Development Authority are included, as well.
https://www.cityofstandish.com/
Affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the congregation meets at its facilities in Standish, Michigan. An overview of the denomination, the church's policies on baptism and the Lord's Supper, and its educational and recreational ministries to children are set forth, along with worship schedules, and a calendar of upcoming programs and events. The church's address, map, telephone number, and email address for the pastor are included.
http://www.holycrossstandish.com/
Standish Historic Depot & Welcome Center
The Maine Central Railroad leased the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railway through Standish in 1871. The first depot was made of wood, and it deteriorated quickly and was replaced by the stone depot in 1889. Renovated in 1988 after years of disuse, the structure is on state and national historic registries, currently serves as a welcome center, and is also available for rental. Its history, reports on future depot enhancements, and a calendar of events is posted on the site.
http://standishdepot.org/
The civil township in southern Arenac County borders the city of Standish but is administered autonomously. It includes the unincorporated communities of Pine River and Whites Beach. The mailing address of the township offices and the tax assessor are given, along with phone numbers for the tax assessor, zoning administrator, and for township hall rental information, and email addresses for each of these, as well as the township board members. An event calendar and meeting minutes are included.
https://standishtownship.com/
In business since 1935, the Standish, Michigan restaurant serves breakfast all day, as well as offering an all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar, perch dinners, ice cream shakes and malts, doughnuts, and other baked goods. Its location, telephone number, email address, social media contacts, dining hours, and menu are available, including its breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and beverages, including beer and wine. An online contact form is included. Lottery games are also available.
https://www.wheelersofstandish.com/
