Where the mouth of the Menominee River meets Green Bay sits the city of Menominee. Formerly the home of the nation's largest logging industry, today, Menominee is a relaxed waterfront community known for its coastal lifestyle and outdoor recreation amenities. “People are attracted to Menominee for its easy pace and simple quality of life,” says Michael Kunesh, a lifetime local and broker with Place Perfect Realty. “The affordability is tremendous, and there’s water all around you.” Located just north of the Wisconsin border, Menominee, Michigan is often referred to as the sister city of its southern neighbor, Marinette. “One of the biggest decisions you’ll make here is whether you’ll be a Green Bay Packers fan or a Detroit Lions fan,” he concludes. “Once you’ve made that decision, you can move here and become a local.”
The Marinette's Logging history is celebrated with a local museum and festival in the summer.
Menominee's waterfront homes give residents direct access to Green Bay's waters.
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A 20-minute boat ride to the Martha’s Vineyard of the Midwest
Surrounded by water, Menominee is packed with coastal parks, boat launches and overlooks. “The Menominee Marina is one of the best on the Great Lakes for its small size and affordability,” Kunesh says. “From there, it’s a 20-minute boat ride to Door County, the Martha’s Vineyard of the Midwest. We’re also a destination for fishing. Whether it’s walleye or sturgeon, you can do deep-sea [fishing] or just fish on the river.” John Henes Park is a go-to for beach days, while golfers tee off at the Riverside Country Club. In the winter, residents can view the vast plane of icy waters from the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse. While "Other people ice fish [or] sail on catamarans with blades,” Kunesh says. “Then there are car races [too] where they’ll go out on the ice with their cars and spin in circles.”
John Henes Park in Menominee a great wooded hiking trails and a beach for summer swimming.
The Riverside Country Club in Menominee has a perfect location for a round of golf.
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Crossing state lines for Concerts in the Park
The sister cities share events at Stephenson Island, just south of the Michigan border along the banks of the Menominee River. From Concerts in the Park to the Marinette Farmer’s Market, residents often cross state lines to enjoy live music or to browse fresh produce. Menominee’s own farmer’s market alternates locations between the Spies Public Library parking lot on Saturdays and the Swing N Things Park on Thursdays. On Independence Day, the Menominee Marina and its surrounding grassy knolls explode with colorful blankets and lawn chairs. “Our Fourth of July fireworks are second to none,” Kunesh says. “I’ve been to a lot of fireworks shows across the U.S., and for this tiny little town, it’s incredible.”
Stephenson Island Park is part of Marinette, but is a local atraction for the two cities.
Menominee Marina and park becomes the cities hub for boating and activities during the summer months.
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The First Street Historic District overlooks Green Bay
Often associated with downtown Menominee, the First Street Historic District is a walkable waterfront strip listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “It’s that classic Friday Fish Fry kind of destination,” Kunesh says. In the warmer months, visitors peruse colorful, historic shopfronts housing furniture stores, florists, galleries and gift shops. From brunch at Serving Spoon to dinner and cocktails at Murray’s Irish Pub, Kunesh notes that many local restaurants have histories of their own. “In Marinette, you have Mickey Lou’s, but here you have Jozwiak’s Bar & Grill, and it’s home to the Wabash burger.” Though Jack’s Fresh Market sits at the intersection of Bridge Street and 10th Avenue, most residents head south into Wisconsin for a broader range of options, including the area's Walmart Supercenter, Aldi and Menards.
Jozwiak's Bar & Grill in Menominee is known for its Wabash burger.
Menominee's Serving Spoon is the perfect place for delicous food and great coffee.
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Midcentury homes make up the bulk of Menominee’s market
The gridded residential streets of Menominee sit snugly between Menominee Regional Airport and the expanse of Green Bay. Traditional architecture is common here and includes midcentury ranch-style homes and bungalows. “If you put in the elbow grease, you can have a real charming place,” Kunesh says. While new construction options are rare, some modern builds can be found closer to the airport. Along the coast, waterfront homes trade in their private docks for scenic views. “There are a lot of affordable homes with a lake view, not to be confused with an ocean view,” he continues. “You’ll still get those sunrises but with fresh water and no sharks.” Altogether, the median home price in Menominee sits around $170,000 — below the national average but on par with neighboring Marinette.
Similarly, the city’s property and violent crime rates fall below national averages according to FBI crime data and information sourced from the Menominee Police Department.
Wonderful bungalow style homes can be found
A hadful of water front homes are able to enjoy the sunrises over the bay of Green Bay.
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A century-old rivalry between the Maroons & the Mariners
Students citywide attend Menominee Area Public Schools, which earns a C-plus on Niche. In the city's heart, Menominee Area Junior and Senior High School combines seventh through twelfth grades, enrolling about 350 students each year. "We have one of the oldest interstate football rivalries in the U.S.," Kunesh says, regarding the century-old rivalry between the Menominee Maroons and Marinette Mariners. "They wrote about it in LIFE magazine back in the 1950s. Those games used to be the biggest events in the area. They've since lost their luster, but the rivalry still stands."
Menominee Junior and Senior High School scores a B- by Niche.
Central Elementary School in Menominee has a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
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The sister cities are a hub for regional industry
Distinguished by a state line and a bridge, Menominee and Marinette share many of the region’s largest employers. “We have a tremendous amount of engineers here because we make helicopters,” Kunesh says, referring to the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. “We also build combat ships on the river between our two cities. We have tons of high-end industries, too. If you use wax paper for your cooking or see that fancy wicker furniture in California or Florida, there’s a good chance it came from Menominee.”
Kunesh goes on to explain that many residents of Green Bay actually commute north to the sister cities for employment with local industries like Marinette Marine, Aurora Medical Center and Lloyd Flanders. For those who do this commute in reverse — heading south to Green Bay — should expect a 57-mile trip via U.S. Route 41, a major transit artery. While Menominee Regional Airport is the closest to the city, it's primarily for public use, which means most travelers catch commercial flights from the Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport.
The Enstrom Helicopter Corporation in Menominee is one of the areas high-end industries.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine plays a large part of both Menominee's and Marinette economy.
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Written By
Dana Chesser
Photography Contributed By
Richard Ebbers
Video By
Max Gilmore
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