Omena is a small unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Leelanau Township of Leelanau County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 295. Overlooking Omena Bay, on the western side of Grand Traverse Bay, Omena is home to wineries and farms including a thriving organic farming movement that includes cherries and hops. The area has several wineries featuring some of the region's cherry and grape crop, for which the Grand Traverse and Leelanau areas are known. The nearest substantial city is Traverse City, 23 mi to the south.

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.

Etymology

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 23 mi to Traverse City and north 5 mi to Northport. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Omena CDP has a total area of 11.8 sqkm, of which 11.7 sqkm are land and 0.13 sqkm, or 1.10%, are water.

Mayoral elections

Omena is an unincorporated community and therefore lacks a centralized official government system. However, the citizens of Omena, Michigan practice triennial elections for a non-human mayor held by the Omena Historical Society. This was inspired by the canine mayoral elections of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. The current "mayor" of Omena is Rosie Disch, a Golden mixed breed dog. The 2021 election raised $14,000 for the Omena Historical Society. Rosie will be in office for a three-year term. Previous mayor's are: Sweet Tart, the first feline mayor elected to the position from 2018; Polly Loveless, a tri-pod dog who died in office after winning the 2015 election; Maya Deibel, a dog who won the 2012 election; and Tucker Joyce, a dog who won the inaugural election in 2009.