Situated in the southwest quadrant of Iosco County, Whittemore is the fourth-least populated city in Michigan, with a population of just over four hundred.
Whittemore is centered on the intersection of Whittemore Road (Sherman Street) and M-65 (Bullock Street). Prescott Road makes up its southern border, and Plant Road is in the north. There are no other roads leading in or out of the community.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Whittemore include Turner, Twining, Prescott, Omer, Tawas City, East Tawas, Au Gres, Standish, Sterling, and West Branch.
Today, the city is home to the Whittemore Speedway, Michigan's oldest operating speedway. The speedway began as an alternative plan after a carnival was canceled in 1948. Along with some other events, organizers acquired some old cars from a local auto dealership and developed a racetrack. When the event proved to be a hit, the Whittemore Racing Club was organized, and, within a few years, the grounds included grandstands that could accommodate seven hundred people, as well as a greatly improved and lighted track. Other upgrades were made over the years, and weekly races are run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
The community was founded in 1879, when the Detroit & Mackinac Railway established a station there, and a post office was established on April 13, 1880, with Robert H. Martin as postmaster. The community, post office, and railroad station were named Whittemore.
Like many Michigan communities, Whittemore's early economy was based on the railroad and the lumber industry. As land was cleared, agriculture became increasingly significant.
By the early 20th century, the community had a population of about five hundred, as well as three churches, a veterinary office, a farm implements business, a saw and planing mill, lumber businesses, and farms. Within a few years, with the lumber industry in decline, there were fewer people in the community, but it had also gained a grain elevator, a bank, and a school.
Whittemore was incorporated as a city in 1907, without having been first incorporated as a village, as is usually the case.
That year, a large building was constructed to house a community building and livery stable. Over the next several decades, the building housed a roller-skating rink, a restaurant, a dance hall, a basketball court, and a tavern, eventually being known as the Roll-Inn. However, in 1963 the building burned, and a restaurant and bar later came to occupy the lot where the Roll-Inn once was.
Today, while Whittemore is a small city, its population has remained relatively stable, and mostly growing, since it first appeared on a US Census roll in 1910, with a population of 218. Its peak population, as an incorporated municipality, was 476 in 2000.
Currently, the city has a feed store, a veterinary office, a small cheese company, a woodworking business, a used auto dealership, a hardware store, a resale shop, a tavern, a pizza place, a combination restaurant and bar, and a septic systems company. The city also has a fire department, a city hall, a post office, a library, two churches, and an apartment building.
Websites representing these, and any other governmental entities, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities, are appropriate for this portion of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Owned by the Hasty family for thirty years, its retail store is located in Whittemore, Michigan, and its products may also be purchased online. Opened in 1979, the company carries more than ninety different kinds of chocolate candies, fresh roasted nuts, four kinds of fudges, twelve kinds of hard candies, peanut brittle, and fresh caramel corn varieties, as well as specialty chocolate treats. A catalog of its products is posted online, and the location and hours of its store are given.
https://www.sherniscandies.com/
Founded as the Whittemore Gospel Fellowship in 1942, the congregation meets at its facilities on North Bullock Street in Whittemore, Michigan. Its regular schedules include Sunday School and worship services on Sunday mornings, Sunday evening worship, Adult Bible study and prayer, as well as teen group meetings on Wednesday nights, and other programs and activities as noted on the church's calendar of events. Its ministries are highlighted, and contacts are posted on the site.
https://www.whittemorebaptist.com/
Located on South Bullock Street in Whittemore, Michigan, the library is a branch facility of the Iosco-Arenac District Library system. The address, map, and GPS coordinates are published, along with its hours of operation, policy information, and a calendar of events. Names and contacts for its board members, its programs and activities for children and teens, and information about getting a library card, account data, and instructions for finding books and other resources are provided.
https://ioscoarenaclibrary.org/whittemore.htm
In operation since 1948, Michigan's oldest continuous speedway is located in Whittemore, Michigan. Its grandstand and gate policies, weekly admission prices, schedules, results, and standings are published on the site, along with a gallery of photographs and news items. The river rulebook, payouts and points, and forms may be downloaded in PDF format. Mailing and physical addresses are posted, along with the phone number, an email address, and an online contact form.
http://www.whittemorespeedway.org/
Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools
Offering a K-12th-grade public school curriculum, the district operates the Whittemore-Prescott Elementary School and Whittemore-Prescott Junior/Senior High School, both of which are highlighted here, including administrative and faculty contacts, the board of education, student handbooks, board policies, a district calendar, bell schedules, volunteer sign-ups, and access to various reports and forms. Its athletics and extracurricular activities are highlighted.
https://www.wpas.net/
