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Omer, Michigan
Signage along U.S. Route 23
Signage along U.S. Route 23
Location within Arenac County
Location within Arenac County
Omer, Michigan is located in Michigan
Omer, Michigan
Omer, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Country United States
State Michigan
County Arenac
Incorporated 1903
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 1.16 sq mi (3.00 km2)
 • Land 1.13 sq mi (2.93 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation
610 ft (186 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 259
 • Estimate 
(2019)
289
 • Density 255.30/sq mi (98.54/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
48749
Area code(s) 989
FIPS code 26-60660
GNIS feature ID 0634057

Omer is a city in Arenac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's smallest city, both by area and population. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 259, which ranks it as Michigan's least populated city.

While signage along the passing U.S. Route 23 mentions Omer as "Michigan's Smallest City," it was actually the state's second-smallest city in terms of population at the 2010 census after the city of Lake Angelus in Oakland County, which had a population of 290. This was until 2020, when it again regained its smallest city status with 259 residents (to 274 for Lake Angelus).

History

Omer was founded by George Gorie and George Carscallen, who set up a sawmill along the Rifle River in 1866. The town was originally named Rifle River Mills, but Carscallen, the first postmaster, wanted to rename the town Homer. However, he found a post office in another town called Homer, Michigan and simply dropped the leading H, producing the final name. The community receive a station on the Detroit and Mackinaw Railroad, while in 1872 the area was platted. In 1883, Omer was split off from Bay County into the newly formed Arenac County.

Omer was incorporated as a city in 1903. A fire in 1914 almost eliminated the city, destroying 40 buildings and ending the early thrive that Omer had. Two years later, a flood curtailed rebuilding efforts by washing out the local dam.

Omer is the location of the story of the "cussing canoeist", the man who received a ticket under a century-old law for shouting a long stream of expletives in the presence of a woman and her two young children after he fell out of a canoe on the Rifle River. The American Civil Liberties Union intervened on the canoeist's behalf and got the law struck down in court.

The second concerns the successful secession of two households from the city because the City of Omer was charging them a water tax while refusing to deliver water service to their property.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.16 square miles (3.00 km2) of which 1.13 square miles (2.93 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 367
1920 266 −27.5%
1930 216 −18.8%
1940 295 36.6%
1950 321 8.8%
1960 322 0.3%
1970 366 13.7%
1980 403 10.1%
1990 385 −4.5%
2000 337 −12.5%
2010 313 −7.1%
2019 (est.) 289 −7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
Second Arenac County Courthouse - Omer Michigan
The former Second Arenac County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It later became a Masonic hall and is presently the home of the Arenac County Historical Society.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 313 people, 131 households, and 82 families residing in the city. The population density was 277.0 inhabitants per square mile (107.0/km2). There were 162 housing units at an average density of 143.4 per square mile (55.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.2% White, 0.3% African American, 4.2% Native American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races.

There were 131 households, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 40.8 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

Transportation

Major Highways

  • US 23
  • M-65

Local attractions

Like many small towns in northern mid-Michigan, the height of activity in Omer centers on an influx of people during the spring and summer. The Rifle River that intersects the city attracts thousands per year during the sucker season. Folks from all over the Midwest and Canada line the shores and engage in the sport of sucker fishing in the spring. Up until the late 1980s, Omer held an annual Sucker Festival and tournament, wherein the town would swell to some 3,000 sucker dippers and revelers. But it was eventually ended when it became too expensive for the small city to buy the insurance necessary to host it. The tournament was revived in 2008, thanks to two local sponsors.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Omer (Míchigan) para niños

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