The village of Mackinaw City was platted in 1857 and the first resident was George W. Stimpson in 1870. Prior to the arrival of the railroads in 1881, Mackinaw was visited almost exclusively by boat. 

The railroads needed a way across the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas and the three railways serving the Straits formed the Mackinac Transportation company. The first Straits Ferry was the Algomah, built in Detroit in 1881.

The Dixie highway, East Michigan Pike and West Michigan Pike followed the railroads to Mackinaw. At first the automobiles used the railroad ferries, but the State Highway Department formed Michigan State Ferries and the first seasonal automobile ferry began in 1923.

The ferries increased in number and size, but were never able to handle the few highest traffic days of the year, when the lines would stretch for miles (and hours) down US 23 and US 31. The 5 mile long Mackinac Bridge opened on November 1, 1957 and the automobile ferries ceased.

The railroad ferry Chief Wawatam continued to connect the two peninsulas until 1984, when rail service to St. Ignace ended. The Chief remained at the Mackinaw City dock until 1988.

Mackinaw City is located at the northern most tip of Michigan's lower peninsula. It is located in two townships in two counties. Wawatam Township in Emmet County and Mackinaw Township in Cheboygan county. Prior to 1923, Wawatam Township was a part of Carp Lake Township. The nearest county in the upper peninsula is Mackinac County.

My ancestors' surnames
Alberson, Bateson, Boomer, Boone, Cleland, Cudworth, DeGarmo, Dixon, Dorrance, Emmett, Gordon, Helms, Hope, Ingledan, Kempton, Kerr, Lee, Marble, McNight, Sailler, Sands, Stokes, Taylor, Thomas, Whittemore
 
 

Mackinaw City Residents I am currently researching
Please email leads or questions to Keith Stokes