Life on the 45th 2022

Make your mark in
ANTRIM COUNTY
Whether buying a vacation home, relocating or retiring in Antrim County, you’ll be sure to find the right community for you.
With over 40% of the homes being second or vacation homes, Antrim County has long been a family tradition.
GENERAL DATA
Population
Current
Bellaire Village 958
Bellaire (49615) Area 3,686
Central Lake Village 969
Central Lake (49622) area 3,138
Mancelona Village 1,486
Mancelona (49659) area 6,644
Total Antrim County 23,177
Source: http://www.statsamerica.org/anywhere/
HISTORY (Courtesy of Antrimcounty.org)
The first known settler to venture into Antrim county was
Abraham C. Wadsworth, a native of Connecticut, who reached
the Grand Traverse Region in 1846. A year later, he brought
his wife and family, and eventually settled near the present
site of the Elk Rapids Town Hall.
START OR MOVE YOUR BUSINESS:
Beyond our outstanding business and entrepreneurial advantages,
Northern Michigan is a great place to live and play.
Long known for unparalleled natural beauty, our region is
abundant with friendly, hometown atmospheres; exceptional
schools, outstanding health-care, nationally acclaimed
arts, cultural and historic facilities; endless four-season
recreational opportunities, and quaint downtowns bursting
with renowned shops and award-winning restaurants.
These are just a few of the many amenities that attract and
retain quality employees and working families, and provide
an unequaled standard of living.
In today’s marketplace, business no longer needs urban
roots to succeed. Modern technologies such as high speed
Internet and wireless broadband are connecting small-town
life to big-time business.
The unorganized county of Meguzee was created in 1840, and
the name was changed to Antrim in 1843. In 1863 the Legislature
organized Antrim County, attaching the unorganized
counties of Kalkaska, Crawford and Ostego, at the same time
the name of the town of Meguzee was changed to Elk Rapids,
the county seat.
In 1879 the county seat was moved to a tract of land in the
geographical center of the county. Originally the post office
at this point was called Keno, but was later renamed Bellaire,
because of the town’s clean air. The Court House was built in
1905. The present county building was occupied in 1978.
Torch Lake was called Was-Wah-gonink, or “lake of the torches”
by the local Indians, reference being made to the use of
torches in the spearing of whitefish and trout.
The first birth, death, and marriage records on file in the County
Clerk’s office are dated 1867, the minutes of the first meeting
of the Board of Supervisors are recorded on October 12, 1863,
the first election was held on April 6, 1863, when a total of 66
votes were polled.
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