Wellston, Michigan

Wellston is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Norman Township, Manistee County, Michigan, United States. Its population was 254 as of the 2020 census,^[2] down from 311 in 2010. The community is in the Manistee National Forest just south of M-55, about 21 miles (34 km) east of Manistee and about 29 miles (47 km) west of Cadillac. Wellston has a post office with ZIP code 49689.^[4][5]

Wellston, Michigan
Census-designated place
Wellston Show map of Michigan Wellston Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 44°13′01″N 85°57′28″W / 44.21694°N 85.95778°W / 44.21694; -85.95778
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Manistee
Township	Norman
Area ^[1]
• Total	1.01 sq mi (2.63 km^2)
• Land	0.97 sq mi (2.52 km^2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.11 km^2)
Elevation	774 ft (236 m)
Population  (2020)^[2]
• Total	254
• Density	260.78/sq mi (100.64/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	49689
Area code	231
GNIS feature ID	1622084^[3]
FIPS code	26-85300

History

Wellston was named for its first postmaster, Adelmer J. Wells. The post office officially opened June 30, 1892. The town was founded by the Swigart Land Company along the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad.^[6] Wellston is home to the critically ill children's ministry Little Mary's Hospitality House, which was founded in 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Wellston is in southeastern Manistee County, near the center of Norman Township. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has an area of 1.01 square miles (2.6 km²), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²), or 4.04%, are water.^[1] Two small lakes, Crystal Lake and Cranberry Lake, are within the CDP.

M-55 is a highway that runs along the northern edge of the community.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	311		—
2020	254		−18.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7]

References

1. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
2. "P1. Race – Wellston CDP, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
3. "Wellston". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
4. United States Postal Service. "USPS - Look Up a ZIP Code". Retrieved June 17, 2018.
5. "Postmaster Finder - Post Offices by ZIP Code". United States Postal Service. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
6. Romig, Walter (1986) [1973]. Michigan Place Names. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-1838-X.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.