Situated near the center of Ionia County, the City of Ionia, Michigan serves as the county seat. Although administered autonomously, the city spans four townships: Berlin Township, Easton Township, Ionia Township, and Orange Township.
M-21 (Lincoln Avenue) runs east-west through the northern, most heavily populated part of the city, and M-66 (South Dexter Street, North State Street) runs north-south. Cities and villages within twenty miles of Ionia include Muir, Lyons, Saranac, Pewamo, Belding, Lowell, Sheridan, Portland, Clarksville, Fowler, Lake Odessa, Westphalia, Hubbardston, Sunfield, and Woodland.
The Grand River forms much of the southern boundary of the city, while Prairie Creek forms a portion of its eastern boundaries. The city includes several noncontiguous areas, particularly in the south.
Ionia's population has remained largely stable throughout its history. The 2000 census indicates a growth of nearly eighty percent, but this included close to five thousand people who were residents of the Michigan Department of Corrections facilities within the city limits, such as the Ionia Correctional Facility, the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility, the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, and the Michigan Reformatory, clustered in the northwest part of the city.
Prior to its settlement by European-Americans, the area was inhabited by the Ottawa people. The leader of the Ottawa village was Cobmoosa.
In the fall of 1832, Samuel Dexter came from New York to view the land, selected a site, and registered it at the land office in Kalamazoo. He returned to his home, where he enlisted a group of sixty-three people to settle the land the following spring. These included the families of Samuel Dexter, Oliver Arnold, Joel Guild, Darius Windsor, and Erastus Yeomans, along with Abram Dexter, Warner Dexter, Windsor Dexter, Patrick M. Fox, Dr. William B. Lincoln, who were single.
It was too late in the year from them to plant crops, so they purchased planted land from the Ottawa, and traded various articles for fish, venison, maple sugar, and other staples. A few log homes were built that summer, but the remainder of the party lived in Ottawa wigwams for a time. The first log home was built by Samuel Dexter, and the first frame house was built by Dr. Lincoln in 1834.
A post office was established on August 29, 1835, with Erastus Yeomans as the first postmaster. The first store was established by John Lloyd in 1834. who sold groceries, dry goods, crockery, hardware, and whisky. Wilson & Kennedy put up the first brick store in 1835, and Asa Spencer opened the first tavern in 1836, in the frame house built by Dr. Lincoln.
By 1836, there were so many people coming to the area that a land office was opened in Ionia. In 1837, the first grist mill was opened by Samuel Dexter, who had earlier built a sawmill on a creek about two and a half miles west of the current city. Mr. Dexter arranged to have the village platted in 1841, and Ionia was incorporated as a village in 1865, becoming a city in 1873. The city was named for the county, which was itself named for the ancient Greek province.
The Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad came through to Ionia in 1856, and the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad was completed to the city by December of 1869.
The State House of Correction and Reformatory was established in Ionia in 1875, and the first prisoners entered the facility on August 30, 1877, and corrections facilities have been a significant part of the city's economy ever since.
Because the focus of this guide is on the City of Ionia, Michigan, topics related to the city itself, as well as any businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational or sporting opportunities within the city, are appropriate for this guide.
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Recommended Resources
Ionia is the largest city in Ionia County and its county seat. The official municipal website features a history of the city, its master plan, and a guide to city parks, recreational facilities, and events. Departmental locations and contacts are published on the site, its services are outlined, and access to various documents and forms is set forth. Other resources include a city bulletin board, calendar, and a newsletter, as well as a staff directory, and employment opportunities.
https://cityofionia.org/
Ionia Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a business membership organization comprised of businesses, organizations, and professional people in the Ionia, Michigan area, offering resources for networking and business development, advocating for the success of its members, and to attract new businesses and members to the area. Its board of directors, groups, and office contacts are featured, and a member directory is included. Meeting schedules, a calendar of events, and a visitors guide are featured.
https://www.ioniachamber.org/
Defined in 1831, and organized in 1837, Ionia County is in the central portion of the Lower Peninsula, and its county seat is the City of Ionia. The official county website features a schedule of meetings and events, election information, ordinances, budget data, a list of commissioners, and departmental contacts. Contacts for the county courts, the sheriff's department, and the department of corrections are included. Cities, villages, and townships within the county are highlighted.
https://ioniacounty.org/
Family-owned and operated, the full-service auto repair center, preventative maintenance facility, and NAPA Auto Care Center, has been in business in Ionia, Michigan since 1986, employing Automotive Service Association and State certified mechanics, who can handle major and minor repairs. A map and the address show the location of the service station, and a telephone number is provided. Offering free pick up and delivery within Ionia County, its hours of operation are posted on the site.
https://www.rogerhullandsons.com/
The animal clinic is located on Apple Tree Drive in Ionia, Michigan. Available by appointment only, its days and hours of operation are published on the site, which includes a profile and introduction to the facilities, a telephone number, email address, and an appointment request form. Its small animal service is listed on the site, and the clinic merged with Countyline Veterinary Services in 2020 to provide services to large animals, such as cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs.
https://www.sternerclinic.com/
