Informative: The nuts and bolts of Emmet County

Overview of education, transportation, county government, and chambers of commerce for Emmet county.

Education

School districts
Every day, Emmet County schools’ graduates are making a difference in the world. The best and the brightest emerge as leaders from these top-achieving districts whose alumni include corporate leaders and NASA trainees, decorated servicemen and women, authors, adventurers, physicians, dancers, movie directors and professional athletes, thanks to well-rounded curricula, dedicated teachers and a community committed to education.

Public
Petoskey, the largest with more than 2,900 students, petoskeyschools.org
Harbor Springs, approx. 1,100 students, harborps.org
Littlefield-Alanson, approx. 432 students, alansonvikings.net
Pellston, approx. 760 students, pellstonschools.org
Mackinaw City, approx. 245 students, mackcity.k12.mi.us
Concord Academy of Petoskey, K-12 charter school, fine arts emphasis, approx. 300 students, concordpetoskey.com
Petoskey Montessori Children’s House and Elementary, approx. 60 students (includes pre-K), petoskeymontessori.org
Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District, (regional educational services), char-emisd.org

Private
St. Francis Xavier (Catholic, pre-K through eighth-grade), approx. 220 students, petoskeystfrancis.org
Harbor Light Christian, (pre-K through 12th grade), approx. 160 students, harborlightchristian.org
Seventh-Day Adventist (K-8), approx. 8 students, (231) 347-2560
All enrollment figures: schooltree.org

North Central Michigan College
A growing and innovative community college in Petoskey serves a wide variety of students, from those seeking an associate’s degree to those pursuing a four-year diploma, to displaced workers headed back to class to learn new skills.

With enrollment of more than 2,700 students, an all-time high, North Central Michigan College continues to expand its classes and partnerships with the state’s largest and most respected institutions of higher learning through its University Center. This collaboration allows students to complete two years of their four-year degree in Petoskey, close to home for many and at a much lower tuition rate.

The college is also home to a 70,000- square-foot Student and Community Resource Center, with fitness facilities, indoor walking track and frequent public events. www.ncmich.edu

Transportation

Fly from nearby
Pellston Regional Airport is known locally and nationally as one of the most alluring airport terminals anywhere, with its log-cabin look, cozy feel and native Northern Michigan details such as fieldstone fireplaces, lodge furnishings and hand-carved signage. But it’s not just pretty; it’s also the most convenient way for residents and visitors to travel to and from Emmet County.

“The terminal captures the essence of Northern Michigan and represents what our visitors come to expect, and why our local users take such pride in living here,” said Kelley Atkins, airport manager and also the county’s transportation director.

The airport is located in Pellston, about 20 minutes from Petoskey and about 15 minutes from the Mackinac Bridge. It is owned and operated by Emmet County and serviced by Delta (formerly Northwest Airlines), with flights daily to Detroit for connections around the world.

About 70,000 passengers rely on the airport for personal and business travel, and numerous local businesses utilize the airport to fulfill global commerce and transportation needs.

It’s also a busy spot for general aviation and private pilots, plus there’s an upper level restaurant, Smokey’s, looking out over the tarmac that is a popular draw.

The airport code is PLN; call (231) 539-8423 for flight information. For airport information, go online to www.pellstonairport.com.

Municipal airport: A second local airport, Harbor Springs Municipal Airport, provides services and facilities for general aviation. (231) 347-2812.

Roads: The county is situated near major transportation routes including U.S. highways 31 and 131, and also interstate I-75.

Ferries: Several ferry boat providers transport thousands of visitors each year from Mackinaw City across the Straits of Mackinac to Mackinac Island. Arnold Transit, Shepler’s and Star Line all provide multiple trips daily in-season.

County Government

Organized in 1853, Emmet County today has 21 units of government, which includes two cities, three incorporated villages and 16 townships. The year ‘round population is about 34,000. www.emmetcounty.org

Cities
Petoskey, the county seat, population 6,000
Harbor Springs, population 1,600

Villages
Alanson
Mackinaw City
Pellston

Townships
Bear Creek, Bliss, Carp Lake, Center, Cross Village, Friendship, Littlefield, Little Traverse, Maple River, McKinley, Pleasantview, Readmond, Resort, Springvale, Wawatam, West Traverse

Chambers of Commerce

For calendars of annual events, business information and relocation assistance, Emmet County’s chambers of commerce can assist:

Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce
(231) 347-4150
Petoskey.com

Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
(231) 526-7999
Harborspringschamber.com

Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce
(231) 436-5574
Mackinawchamber.com

Emmet County Guide 2010 » Informative: The nuts and bolts of Emmet County