Wolverine, Michigan is a small village in the southern part of Cheboygan County, in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula.
The village is mostly in northwest Nunda Township, with a small portion extending west into Wilmot Township. Wolverine Road (West Main Street), Webb Road (East Main Street), and Trowbridge Road intersect South Straits Highway downtown, and I-75 runs north-south just east of the village limits. The Mackinac Bridge is about forty miles to the north.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Wolverine include Vanderbilt, Alanson, Gaylord, and Boyne Falls.
The West Branch of the Sturgeon River flows into the Sturgeon River downtown, and the Sturgeon River continues northward, eventually emptying into Burt Lake at Dead River.
The Wolverine post office serves an area much larger than the village, including most of Nunda and Wilmot townships, as well as smaller portions of Ellis and Mentor townships, and very small parts of Corwith, Chandler, and Springvale townships.
Wolverine first appeared on a US Census roll in 1890 with a population of 462, and its peak population was 794 in 1910. Since then, it has experienced decades of increases and declines, but its largest declines were from 1910 to 1940. At the time of the 2020 census, its population was 309, which was up from its low point of 244 in 2010.
Various Native American tribes inhabited the area before the Europeans and European-Americans came. The earliest were French explorers and fur traders, who began coming in the early 17th Century, but this part of the Lower Peninsula was not settled until after the Civil War.
The forests were dense, and most Native American settlements were along the major lakes and rivers. There is no evidence of a Native American village in the area that would become Wolverine, although they likely visited or hunted the area.
As the fur trade came to a close along the Great Lakes, European-American villages began to spring up along the coast, especially in areas where major rivers granted access to the interior timberland. Lumber provided resources for building and for firewood, coopers built wooden barrels for shipping fish, and boat builders were attracted to the lumber from the white pine forests.
Following the Civil War, war veterans were given land grants, drawing people into the forests of North Michigan.
In 1874, Jacob Shook and his sons, William and Herb, came to claim a 160-acre homestead east of Wolverine. Since the train ended at Gaylord, they came the rest of the way with a cart and team of oxen. A few years later, Emphrim Ford and his wife walked from Gaylord, settling on 120 acres.
Others soon followed. Another early settler, John N. Sanborne, platted and recorded a village site on land owned by Daniel McKillop. He recorded the village Torrey in 1881, the same year that the Michigan Central Railroad extended its line to Mackinaw City.
However, when George Richards petitioned for a post office to be established, the postal authorities asked that the name be changed to Wolverine, for the state animal. The post office was opened on January 3, 1881, with Mr. Richards as postmaster. The following year, the village was platted for a second time and recorded as Wolverine. An investor in land, timber, and real estate. Mr. Richards was elected to the State Legislature in 1903. He also organized the Wolverine School District.
Wolverine was incorporated as a village in 1903. Around that time, the village had a couple of banks, a weekly newspaper, a couple of doctor's offices, a harness shop, and some churches.
However, by 1910, lumbering and forest fires had depleted much of the area's timber resources, resulting in a few decades of significant decline. By the mid-1930s, many Wolverine residents had moved away and agriculture had become the most significant industry for those who remained. Fish farming became important, and a large Christmas tree farm opened for business in 1938.
Tourism also became important, as the Michigan Central Railroad was promoting North Michigan for those seeking a cure for hay fever, asthma, and bronchial or lung infections. The availability of improved roads and automobiles later brought tourists to the area.
Today, the Wolverine Festival Committee hosts the Lumberjack Festival on the last weekend in June. The village has a park, and a campground, and is on the North Central State Trail, which is part of Michigan's Rails-to-Trails program.
Largely residential, the village does have some light industry and commercial businesses. The village is easily accessed via I-75, which includes an exit on Main Street.
As Wolverine is the focus of this part of our guide, online resources for the municipal government, local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events within the village are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Open year-round, the Wolverine, Michigan campground is situated on 111 acres along the Sturgeon River, and features direct access to Trail #7 for snowmobiling in the winter, and biking, hiking, and horseback riding in the summer. Also available are canoeing, kayaking, and tubing on the Sturgeon River, as well as the nearby Pigeon River. Offering daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates, the campground features modern, level RV and tent sites, cabin rentals, and grassy, tree-lines lots.
https://www.sturgeonvalleycampground.net/
Formed in 1960, the congregation meets at its facilities on Main Street in Wolverine, Michigan. The King James Version of the Bible is the official translation used by the independent Baptist church. The history of the church, a statement of faith, and an overview of its fellowship, educational, and outreach ministries are set forth, and a calendar of programs and events are set forth, including service times, the address of the church, a map showing its location, and contacts.
http://wolverinebaptistchurch.org/
In business since 1999, the home builder has completed several projects of varying sizes, from cabins to luxury homes, as well as vacation homes on nearly every Northern Michigan lake. The general contractor manages various subcontractors to provide for each phase of the home-building project. A gallery of custom homes and cabins is displayed, along with information about their designs, quality, value, and stability. Contacts and client testimonials are provided.
https://wolverinecabinet.com/
The K-12 public school system is located on one campus in the village of Wolverine, Michigan. The board of education, faculty and administrative contacts, a school calendar, school closing notices, and menus are set forth, along with policies and notices, student registration data, elementary, middle, and high school handbooks, an athletics handbook, and an overview of the district's athletics programs. Links to online information on colleges and careers are included.
https://www.wolverineschools.org/
In business since 1999, the home builder has completed several projects of varying sizes, from cabins to luxury homes, as well as vacation homes on nearly every Northern Michigan lake. The general contractor manages various subcontractors to provide for each phase of the home-building project. A gallery of custom homes and cabins is displayed, along with information about its designs, quality, value, and stability. Contacts and client testimonials are provided.
https://www.wolverinecustom.com/
Situated along the Sturgeon River and its West Branch, Wolverine is a small village in Cheboygan County, in the North Michigan part of the Lower Peninsula. The official municipal website includes a list of elected and appointed officials, meeting notices, agendas, and minutes, as well as ordinances, community news, and a calendar of events. Also included is a history of the village, and information about the village's parks and recreation facilities, including campground schedules and rates.
https://villageofwolverine.com/
