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Oil Boom
In 1927, a large source of oil was found in and around Mount Pleasant, the city became the state’s “oil capital.” Now the Mount Pleasant School District uses their towns history and represents themselves as the Oilers.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Pleasant-Michigan
http://www.mt-pleasant.org/our_city/history.asp -
Treaty of 1855
"The Treaty of 1855 relocated the Native American Ojibwa (Saginaw Chippewa Tribe) from Saginaw, Swan Creek, and Black River to land in Isabella County (Isabella Indian Reservation)."
https://www.meetmtp.com/meet-mt-pleasant/about-mount-pleasant/ -
Homestead Act of 1862
"The Homestead Act of 1862 also attracted many new settlers to Mount Pleasant, including new European immigrants, They worked to develop their stake on free lands offered by the US government in exchange for their labor in developing it for residence and agriculture."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pleasant,_Michigan -
Fire Destruction
"In 1875, a devastating fire started at the Fancher Building on the north corner of Broadway and Main streets. It moved east down Broadway, destroying several buildings. Seven years later another fire would damage buildings on the south side of Broadway."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pleasant,_Michigan -
Railroad Support
Isabella County was a Native American trading post and lumber camp, its development was sustained by the arrival of the railroad in 1879. -
Incorporated as a City
"The village was incorporated into Michigan as the City of Mt. Pleasant in 1889."
http://www.mt-pleasant.org/our_city/history.asp -
Central Michigan University
"In 1890, W.A. Jordan started Mt. Pleasant Business College. Expanding in 1892, the school changed its name to Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute, the beginnings of what is now Central Michigan University." When CMU is in session the population of Mount Pleasant doubles - making it a college town.
https://www.meetmtp.com/meet-mt-pleasant/about-mount-pleasant/ -
Assimilation Schools
In 1893, U.S. government opened an Indian boarding school in Mount Pleasant - Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. Here, Indian children were encouraged to give up their cultural ways and assimilate to English language and culture and was in operation for 40 years. Since then, these schools has been re-evaluated and the damage done to children by such efforts has been acknowledged and the school was purchased by a local tribe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pleasant,_Michigan -
Maple Syrup Festival
In 1958 the Maple Syrup festival began and it is still celebrated during the last weekend of April with music, arts, crafts, all-you-can-eat pancakes and a parade. In 2009, they produced a record breaking 2,120 gallons of syrup.
https://www.meetmtp.com/meet-mt-pleasant/about-mount-pleasant/ -
Today
Currently, Mount Pleasant, MI is home to 26,016 people. The Isabella Indian Reservation, the base of the federally recognized Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Nation, continues to thrive and plays a large role in Mount Pleasant both culturally and financially. Additionally, Central Michigan University has persevered and is still in operation after 129 years.