Manistee

City and seat of Manistee County, northwestern Michigan; population (1990) 6,700. Manistee is situated on Lake Michigan and Manistee Lake, at the mouth of the Manistee River, 113 km/70 mi north of Muskegon.

An important lumber camp in the mid-19th century, much of Manistee was destroyed by fire in 1871. When timber stocks were depleted a few years later, the city began to produce salt from local deposits, and became a health resort; salt is still mined and processed here. The city's location, just west of the Manistee National Forest in an area known for its hunting and fishing, has made it a popular lakeside holiday destination. It is also an important port, known particularly for handling agricultural supplies. Manufactured goods produced here include chemicals, machinery, and wood products.