Manistee

Manistee, city, seat (1855) of Manistee county, northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, U.S. The city is situated at the mouth of the Manistee River, between Lake Michigan and Manistee Lake, some 85 miles (140 km) north of Muskegon. Built on the river that the Ottawa Indians called Manistee (“Spirit of the Woods”), it was the site of a sawmill erected in 1841 by James and Adam Stronach. It soon became one of the state’s liveliest lumber camps but was largely destroyed by fire in 1871. When timber supplies were exhausted, Manistee developed as a health resort and as a leading producer of salt. The surrounding area, which includes Manistee National Forest, is known for its lake and inland fishing (salmon and trout) and deer hunting. Manufactures include chemicals, auto parts, machinery, and paper, wood, and wood-pulp products. Other major employers include a state prison adjacent to the city and a casino 5 miles (8 km) northeast. The city is also an agricultural (fruit and potatoes) production and shipping point. Local landmarks are the Ramsdell Theatre (1902), the Manistee County Historical Museum (1883), and the Old Waterworks Building; they are among the city’s many well-preserved Victorian buildings. The Manistee National Forest Festival (July) celebrates the city’s timber-producing history. Orchard Beach State Park is nearby. Actor James Earl Jones grew up in the nearby village of Brethren and first played the role of Othello at the Ramsdell Theatre. Inc. city, 1869. Pop. (2000) 6,586; (2010) 6,226.