Ossineke, Michigan

Not to be confused with Ossineke Township, Michigan.

Ossineke, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Location within Alpena County
Ossineke Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Ossineke Ossineke (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 44°54′26″N83°25′44″W / 44.90722°N 83.42889°W / 44.90722; -83.42889
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Alpena County
Township	Sanborn
Area [1]
• Total	3.67 sq mi (9.50 km2)
• Land	3.66 sq mi (9.47 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	932
• Density	254.85/sq mi (98.41/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49766
Area code	989
FIPS code	26-61500 [2]
GNIS feature ID	2393175 [3]

Ossineke is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Alpena County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 932 at the 2020 census. ^[4] The community is located within Sanborn Township, several miles south of Alpena on U.S. Highway 23.

The name is derived from the Anishinaabe word (either the Ojibwa or the Ottawa) zhingaabewasiniigigaabawaad, meaning "Where the image stones stood", ^[5] though the modern Anishinaabe name for the place is asiniike, meaning "to quarry". ^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.67 square miles (9.51 km²), of which 3.66 square miles (9.48 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) (0.27%) is water. ^[7] Ossineke is part of Northern Michigan.

History

The image stones were thought to embody the spirit of Chief Shinggabaw, who promised to return there after death. After they were stolen by a rival tribe, the Great Spirit put them back and destroyed the raiding party. Later, a white fisherman stole them, using them to anchor fishing nets, and they are now somewhere in Lake Huron. ^{[8] [9]}

In 1973, the community was the site of the Great Michigan Pizza Funeral. The factory was located at 6050 Gull Road, Osineke, Michigan. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	932		—
U.S. Decennial Census [17]

As of the census ^[2] of 2000, there were 1,059 people, 416 households, and 306 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 287.8 inhabitants per square mile (111.1/km²). There were 516 housing units at an average density of 140.2 per square mile (54.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.49% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.

There were 416 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,667, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $19,464 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,519. About 12.1% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Bus

Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Bay City, Michigan. ^[18]

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox

A large statue of Paul Bunyan with a neutered Babe the Blue Ox is on site in downtown Ossineke, on US-23. This was accomplished after a "mega-move" from its original site in Spruce, Alcona County, Michigan. ^[19]

Notes

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ossineke, Michigan
4. "Ossineke CPD, Michigan - Census Bureau Profile". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
5. A History of the Place Names of Alpena County
6. Weshki-ayaad, Lippert, Gambill Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ossineke CDP, Michigan". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
8. Compiled by Workers of the Writers’ Program of the Works Progress Administration in the State of Michigan (1941). Michigan; a Guide to the Wolverine State. p. 486. ISBN   9781623760212.
9. Herman, Jennifer (January 1, 1999). Michigan Encyclopedia. State History Publications. p. 429. ISBN   9781878592941.
10. Ogden, Jason (March 20, 2017). "Tainted mushrooms end immigrant's Ossineke pizza factory". The Alpena News . Retrieved January 11, 2025.
11. Gordon, Lauren (March 8, 2013). "The Bizarre Reason 30,000 Pizzas are Buried in Michigan". WKFR . Retrieved January 11, 2025.
12. "'Funeral' Marks Mass Burial of 44,000 Pizzas". Battle Creek Enquirer . Associated Press. March 6, 1973. p. 11. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Giaimo, Cara (March 14, 2017). "The Day That Michigan Held a Funeral For 30,000 Pizzas". Atlas Obscura . Archived from the original on November 27, 2020.
14. Gottlieb, Iris (August 20, 2024). Trash Talk: An Eye-Opening Exploration of Our Planet's Dirtiest Problem (Ebook). p. 105. ISBN   9780593712771.
15. John (November 23, 2023). "A Bizarre Funeral for 30,000 Contaminated Frozen Pizzas". Plainly Difficult. Retrieved November 23, 2023– via YouTube.
16. "Tainted mushrooms end immigrant's Ossineke pizza factory". thealpenanews.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
17. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
18. "BAY CITY-ALPENA-CHEBOYGAN-ST. IGNACE" (PDF). Indian Trails. March 19, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
19. Roadside attractions, Ossineke, Michigan Babe and Paul Bunyan

See also

• Great Michigan Pizza Funeral