Omena

History

In 1852, the Rev. Peter Daugherty relocated an Indian mission from Old Mission on the Old Mission Peninsula across the western arm of the Grand Traverse Bay to what was at first called "New Mission". He (built) a small Presbyterian church there as the nucleus of the community. The church continues an active schedule of services during the summer months. It was a stop on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad and was regarded as a summer resort area. Among others, Benjamin Grierson, a U.S. Civil War general, had a summer home in Omena, as did General Byron Cutcheon. Omena is derived from an Ojibwe expression, "o-me-nah", meaning "is it so?"

Geography

Omena is in northeastern Leelanau County on the west side of Grand Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. It is served by one state highway, M-22, which leads south to Traverse City and north to Northport. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Omena CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.10%, are water.

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  4,254
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  3,960
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,936
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  3,539
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,725
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  2,424
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,328
• Common Grackle

  Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,188