Manistee County, Michigan: History
Manistee County was set off in 1840 from Michilimackinac County as an unorganized county. In 1851, it was attached to Grand Traverse County for legal purposes. Manistee County was organized in its own right on February 13, 1855.
The name "Manistee" is from an Ojibwe word first applied to the principal river of the county. The derivation is not certain, but it may be from ministigweyaa, "river with islands at its mouth".
There are thirteen recognized Michigan historical markers in the county:
Harriet Quimby Childhood Home
John J. Makinen Bottle House
First Congregational Church, Manistee
Great Fire of 1871
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Rectory
Kaleva, Michigan
Manistee City Library
Manistee Fire Hall
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church
Ramsdell Theatre
Trinity Lutheran Church [Arcadia]
William Douglas House