Mackinac Island MIYear Round Population Is A Mere 523
In the Winter Months...Mackinac Island MI settles down to a simpler life-style after the approximately 800,000 to a million seasonal tourists and close to 3,500 summer residents depart at the end of each October. That is when the true sense of community on this small Island grows to an astounding strength from dedication and love for the Island for itself comes forth.
There are only around 523 year-round residents living on the Island. Day laborers still come across the Straits to help with the maintenance, renovation and building needs for the seasonal businesses during the off season. Most year-round residents live in an area of the Island called Harrisonville, in honor of the 9th President of the United States. President Harrison as a lawyer helped the New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroads come together in building the Grand Hotel in 1887. The number of laborers needed to build and maintain the hotel contributed greatly to the development of Mackinac Island as a summer vacation spot for Midwesterners. In 1899 it became an actual city called the City of Mackinac Island MI. Harrisonville is located in the middle of the Island behind the Grand Hotel. It has quaint homes, townhouses and condos on well-kept yards with beautiful flowers. It has a wonderful General Store with old-fashioned specialty items with the most popular being an old fashion glass bottle of Coke rather than a can. Eighty percent of the land is designated as State Park Land which is managed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. Thus, the City of Mackinac Island, MI is in control of only about 18 percent of the island. It’s great to know that both the city and the commissioners understand the significance this community provides not only for the 500 hundred or so residents but also for the State of Michigan tourism industry. To read more about the Mackinac Island, MI ’s history click here. 
The winters are tough with sub-zero temperatures and lots of snow. Thus, the community spirit must remain strong with fun activities during this quiet time when few people visit the Island. Recently, more small Bed and Breakfasts and restaurants have remained open year round to accommodate people wanting to enjoy the many winter activities such as snowmobiling and cross-country skiing on the Island. New Year’s Eve has become a popular event with people traveling from afar to have a unique experience in welcoming a New Year high on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge. The Mackinac Island Airport being open during the winter months is very important to allow supplies, workers, residents and tourists to go back and forth from the Island to St. Ignace. Click here for air schedules from the Mackinac County Airport.The Community Has Wonderful Facilities Such Asthe Mackinac Island MI Public Library
The Public Library is open year round. From the beginning, local residents took great pride and concern about the education and culture of the year-round residents. The founder of the library, Rosa Webb, was loved by all for her commitment to the townspeople young and old. The recent library is located on the shoreline and is just down the street from the Iroquois and Windermere Hotels and just a short walk to the public school. It’s a great spot during the summer months to go to read or to get away from the crowds. The children’s department is particularly nice to visit on a rainy day. Make sure to check out what other types of cultural events the library has scheduled. A few of our favorites are the wonderful poetry reading from local residents, as well as, art exhibits with the public welcome to all events. The Town Crier, which is the local newspaper, is a great resource to read to find out what great events are happening all over the town. Mackinac Island MI Public SchoolHas Only 73 StudentsWith Outstanding AchievementsSmall but dedicated to education has made the school achieve a one-hundred percent graduation rate with a zero-dropout rate. The students have encouraged each other to be successful and it has worked! For instance, the 2009 graduating class of ten had eight enrolled in college for the 2009/2010 school year. The 2005 valedictorian of the Mackinac Island Public School, Bliss Beardsley, graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this spring with degrees in statistics and sociology. Visit Mackinac Island MI public school home page by clicking on this link.Mackinac Island MI Medical Center
Residents and tourists are in good hands with the state-of-the-art Mackinac Island MI medical center. Many times a year there are fundraisers throughout the community to make sure that this facility stays open year-round. One fun event is held in August at the Grand Hotel with a silent and live auction and a great dinner! It's a great chance to see the dedication of year-round and summer residents coming together to support this wonderful small community. Tickets may be bought at the door. So, if you are visiting the Island on that day, please come and join in with this important fund-raising event at the Grand Hotel.
Community Concern for the FutureThe community has recently formed a group “Save Our Island” because a developer received the go-ahead to demolish or move the 119-year-old McNally Cottage on Main Street and replace it with a three-story hotel and retail shops. There is great concern that more developers will come in and change the character of the historic Island. Thus, the city council is reviewing how to protect the city of Mackinac Island MI from future demolitions of historic significant buildings and structures. INSIDER TIP: Check out the Mackinac Island Community Foundation website to see the community’s commitment in sustaining the quality of life on this small island by its giving to a dance program for the public school, scholarships to writers about the history of the Island, to a much needed "meals on snowmobiles" during the brutal winter months and many more beautiful and inspiring grants. This Island affords many opportunities for photography. We hope you will enjoy some of our Mackinac Island Photos.
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