Situated on the southwestern banks of Suttons Bay, within Grand Traverse Bay, on Lake Michigan, the Village of Suttons Bay is in Suttons Bay Township, Leelanau County, in the northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
Suttons Bay is on the eastern side of the county, about midway between its southern and northern extents. Leo Creek flows through the southern portion of the village.
The main route through the village is M-22 (Bay Shore Drive) and M-204 (Duck Lake Road). Other routes include Center Highway, Dumas Road, and Herman Road, the latter of which forms a portion of the village's southern boundaries.
M-22 is one of only two roads in the state that have been designated as a Michigan Scenic Heritage Route, and was so designated because of its views of the water, woods, and open spaces. M-204 is a trunkline highway running across the Leelanau Peninsula between Leland and Suttons Bay.
The village of Northport is about twelve miles north, along M-22, and Traverse City is just over fifteen miles to the south. These are the only incorporated cities or villages within twenty-five miles of Suttons Bay, although the unincorporated communities of Keswick, Peshawbestown, Lake Leelanau, Omena, and Leland are within ten miles.
Suttons Bay first appears on the US census in 1900 with a population of 398. Over the years, it has experienced both increases and declines, but nothing drastic. Its population at the time of the 2020 census was 613.
Prior to its settlement by European-Americans, the area was inhabited by members of the Ottawa, Ojibwa, and Pottawatomi tribes. Now reorganized as one tribe, Native Americans have retained land in Suttons Bay Township in an area known as Peshawbestown, named for Chief Peshaba.
The current village of Suttons Bay was named for Harry Chittenden Sutton, who established a lumber camp on the bay in 1854, supplying fuel to the wood-burning steamboats that operated on the Great Lakes. Before taking its current name, the village was known as Pleasant City and Suttonsburg. Its current name was adopted to reflect the village's ties with the signature harbor on the Leelanau Peninsula. Commercial and residential development on the peninsula was concentrated in the village in the early days.
While timber was harvested, cleared lands were planted in orchards and field crops. Sawmills were another key industry in the area, one of the first established by Carr & Fox in the 1870s, and later owned by the Greilick Brothers.
Early agriculture was not specialized but, over the years it became focused on potato production. Schools closed for two weeks during the potato harvest. In time, cherries and other orchard fruits became important to the area economy and remain so today, and wine grapes became common toward the end of the 1900s.
Situated on the bay, shipping and siling have always played a significant role. Schooners were common during the 1800s, carrying lumber, cordwood, and tanbark to markets. Later, steamboats provided passenger and freight service to the village and nearby ports. As roads and railroads were developed and improved, and lumbering declined, fewer ships were needed and its ports became used more for recreational uses.
The Manistee and Northeastern Railroad established a depot at Suttons Bay around 1892, offering daily service through Suttons Bay and Northport by 1903. At that time, the main road to the community was a state road between Newaygo and Northport, passing through Suttons Bay along what is now St. Mary's Street.
Today, the surrounding township is mostly farmland, orchards, and shrub-covered fields, with cherry orchards and vineyards being the chief agricultural products.
On the eastern edge of the township, Suttons Bay has a busy downtown, particularly during the summer season, with a variety of shops and restaurants. There is a public beach behind the library and village offices, and adjacent to the municipal marina, and its 173-slip boat dock. The chief residential area of the village is west of the beach, on the other side of downtown.
This portion of our web guide focuses on the Village of Suttons Bay, highlighting the municipal government and any other governmental bodies within the village, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities.
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The farmstead, cafe, and bakery are located in the village of Suttons Bay, Michigan. The farm does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and is a no-till farm, offering a CSA program, with various options that are described here. The cafe is seasonal, offering pizza, sandwiches, and other items, and the bakery makes a variety of bread, as well as traditional European pastries, specialty cakes, tarts, and eclairs. Catering and holiday pre-orders and job opportunities are posted.
https://www.9beanrows.com/
Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELS), in fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the Sutton Bay, Michigan church emphasizes the Scriptures and Sacraments as the means through which Christ strengthens faith and nourishes needs. Its location, telephone number, an introduction to its pastor, and an online contact form are set forth, along with service times, a calendar of programs and events, announcements, and a sermon archive.
https://firstlutheranels.org/
Specializing in traditional ship carpentry, Seefeld was founded in Traverse City in 2013, and is now located in Suttons Bay, Michigan, where it provides wooden boat restoration and repair of schooners, motor yachts, and row boats, using classic methods. Its services and capabilities are outlined, and a gallery of photographs depicts examples of its past work. Its location, telephone number, email address, and social media contacts are presented.
https://www.seefeldboatworks.com/
Suttons Bay Congregational Church
Founded in 1896, the Congregational Church was once the only English-speaking church in the Suttons Bay, Michigan community. A member of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, the congregation meets at its facilities on West Madison Street. Its address, a map, and contacts are posted, along with its history, a photo gallery, staff introductions, an overview of its ministries and missions, weekly missions, and a calendar of events.
https://www.sbcongregational.org/
The art gallery is located in Suttons Bay, on the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan, where it specializes in assisting in the creation and enhancement of private and corporate collections with old, rare, and museum-quality paintings, as well as engravings, manuscripts, maps, lithographs, and sculpture. Current collections and artists are featured on separate pages, a profile of the gallery is provided, its location is shown on a map, and its address and contacts are included.
http://www.suttonsbaygalleries.com/
The K-12 public school district in Suttons Bay, Michigan operates Suttons Bay Elementary/Middle School (K-8th grades), Suttons Bay Senior High School (9-12th grades), and a Virtual School (K-12th grades), each of which is highlighted here, along with maps showing locations, school schedules, faculty and staff contacts, a student-parent handbook, meal menus, and administrative contacts. School board members, meeting agendas, and meeting minutes are included.
https://suttonsbayschools.com/
Maintained by the Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce, the site lists member officers, posts meeting schedules and agendas, and the membership levels and benefits are outlined. The site also features a guide to Suttons Bay breweries and wineries, churches, non-profit organizations, dining establishments, grocery stores, galleries and antique stores, places to stay, real estate, shopping venues, professional services, attractions, and events. Maps and brochures are included.
https://www.suttonsbayarea.com/
Village of Suttons Bay, Michigan
Incorporated in 1898, the village is in Leelanau County, in the Northwestern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The official municipal website publishes its master plan project, its parks and recreation plan, and other reports and documents. Village administrative contacts, office hours, departmental contacts, public notices, and meeting schedules and agendas are put forth. The village's marina and park are highlighted, and municipal projects are reported on.
https://www.suttonsbayvillage.org/
