Stanwood, MI

Stanwood started out as a bustling logging and rail stop in the late 1800s, taking its name from the thick hardwood timber that covered the area. Today, the village has settled into a quiet, laid-back community. The old railroad corridor was converted into the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, which runs directly through town and gives residents a scenic spot for morning jogs, bike rides, and winter snowmobiling.

Living here puts plenty of outdoor recreation right in your backyard, especially with the Muskegon River and several county parks nearby for fishing, kayaking, and camping. Stanwood is also well known as the bottling home of Ice Mountain spring water. Sitting just south of Big Rapids along US-131, the village gives you the peace of rural living while keeping everyday essentials, restaurants, and medical care just a short drive up the highway.