Clare, Michigan - 48617

Photos courtesy of:
Ken Huisjen

Clare, located in the southern part of Clare County at the junction of US-10 and US-27, is the largest city in the county. Its economic base includes auto parts and plastics manufacturing, metal fabrication, food processing and tourism. Clare is a favorite stop-over point for sportsmen and fishermen, who visit the area regularly to fish the Tobacco River, (which flows through town), and take advantage of the many other surrounding recreational opportunities.

Clare has an Irish history, named after a county in Ireland, with a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration every March. Clare was founded during the early 1870’s, when the Pere Marquette Railroad built a station here during the lumber boom. It was incorporated into a village in 1879 and later as a city in 1891.