Mount Pleasant, Michigan

48858

Photos courtesy of:
Ken Huisjen

Mount Pleasant is the centrally located county seat of Isabella County at the junction of US-27 and M-20. Central Michigan University, home of the Chippewas, is located here. Mount Pleasant is supported by a diverse economy, including manufacturing, tourism and college-related business. The strip along Business 27 is particularly noted for its variety of shopping plazas and restaurants. The downtown area includes dozens of specialty shops situated along renovated walkways complete with old style lights, sidewalk cafes and gardens. Mount Pleasant is also home of the Soaring Eagle Casino, located just to the east of town.

"Oil City" is 9 miles east of Mount Pleasant, and is where the first oil wells were discovered in the late 1920's. The city was known as the "Oil Capitol" of Michigan from about 1930 until the early 1990's.

Mount Pleasant was established in 1860 when voters agreed to accept a donation of 5 acres from David Ward, a local lumber baron who owned 120 acres in the middle of the county, thought to be an ideal place for the county seat. Later, Ward sold more of his land to Harvey and George Morton of New York, who developed the area and eventually platted the city in 1864, when the railroad reached there. It eventually was incorporated as a village in 1875, named for its surrounding countryside and agricultural potential. It later was incorporated as a city in 1889.

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

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Mount Pleasant, Michigan

48858

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