Omer is a city in Arenac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 337. As of January 2006, it is the smallest city in the state.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 337 people, 143 households, and 98 families residing in the city. The population density was 272.2 per square mile (104.9/km²). There were 163 housing units at an average density of 131.7/sq mi (50.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 1.19% Native American, 0.59% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.

There were 143 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,125, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $26,607 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,755. About 12.4% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

Omer was founded by George Gorie and George Carscallen, who set up a sawmill along the Rifle River in the mid-1860's. The town was originally named Rifle River Mills, but Carscallen, the first postmaster, wanted to rename the town Homer. However, he found a post office in another town called Homer, Michigan and simply dropped the leading H, producing the final name. Omer was incorporated as a city following the lumber boom of 1903.

Local Attractions

Like many small towns in northern mid-Michigan, the height of activity in Omer centers on an influx of people during the spring and summer. The Rifle River that intersects the city attracts thousands per year during the sucker season. Folks from all over the midwest and Canada line the shores and engage in the sport of sucker fishing in the spring. Up until the late 80's, Omer held an annual Sucker Festival, but it was eventually ended presumably due to lack of funds.

During the summer, Omer is a popular weekend getaway for those looking to unwind by canoeing or tubing down the scenic river. There are also miles of unspoiled forests surrounding the city that bring in deer hunters from around the country in the fall. Hunting is such a popular sport that the local school in Twining, Michigan closes for the opening day of deer season rather than face the 50% or more absentee rate that would otherwise occur. Winter also brings snowmobilers and ice fisherman to the surrounding area, though not typically the city proper.

In The News

Omer, until recently known as Michigan's smallest city (edged out recently by Lake Angelus, Michigan), received international attention on two recent but separate occasions.

The first is the story of the "cussing canoeist", the man who received a ticket under a century-old law for shouting a long stream of expletives in the presence of a woman and her two young children after he fell out of a canoe on the Rifle River. The ACLU intervened on the canoeist's behalf and got the law struck down in an appeals court.

The second concerns the successful secession of two households from the city because the City of Omer was charging them a water tax while refusing to deliver water service to their property.

References

External links

Cussing Canoeist

• ACLU press release on the "Cussing Canoeist" case
• CNN article on the "Cussing Canoeist"

Secession from Omer

• Detroit Free Press article on the Secession vote (archive link, was dead)
• article on the family's secession (archive link, was dead)