Population83,494 (2020 Census)
Garden Walks, Woodland Trails and Downtown Discoveries
Midland County, MichiganMidland County offers garden walks, woodland trails and downtown destinations for a varied day out. Explore Dow Gardens, learn about local habitats at Chippewa Nature Center or browse shops and restaurants in Midland. Coleman and Sanford add community connections beyond the county seat. This guide brings those experiences together with libraries, school resources, hospital information and county services, helping residents and visitors plan both everyday needs and time spent exploring the area.
Midland County at a Glance
Population83,494 (2020 Census)
County SeatMidland
Largest MunicipalityMidland (42,387; 2020 population within county)
Established1831 (created)
ZIP Codes21 ZIP codes wholly or partly within the county
Total Area528.1 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesUS-10, M-18, M-20 and M-30
Area Codes989
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover Midland County
Midland County
Midland County was created in 1831. Its present-day identity combines the city of Midland with smaller communities such as Coleman and Sanford, surrounding townships and wooded river landscapes. Gardens and nature education provide accessible ways to explore the area’s character, while downtown shops and restaurants support everyday activity. The county’s public offices, schools and libraries connect these communities through practical services. Visitors can experience several sides of the county by pairing a garden visit with a trail walk and a stop in town.
Life in Midland County includes city neighborhoods, village settings and rural townships with different school districts and utility providers. Confirm service coverage using your street address, especially when arranging transportation or selecting schools. Midland Dial-A-Ride serves city trips, while County Connection handles other eligible travel. Libraries in Midland and Coleman provide public reading spaces and activities. Before heading outdoors, check trail conditions, weather and attraction notices, including the current separate entrances for Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest.
What Shapes Us
Gardens and Canopies
Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest combine planted landscapes with canopy walking; check admission and use the correct separate entrance while the connecting bridge is closed.
Nature Close By
Chippewa Nature Center offers trails and a visitor center, while city trail maps help walkers and cyclists select routes suited to the day’s conditions.
Downtown Shopping
Midland’s downtown restaurants, kitchen shop and outdoor outfitter provide stops for browsing and dining, with nearby library activities adding another option for families.
Find your next discovery among gardens, trails and town.
Around Midland County
Around Midland County
Places, landscapes and community stories
Lead Story
Summer Nights Bring Greenfield Together
Music, food, and neighbors fill the courthouse square as the county summer season gets underway.
Read the Story June 12, 2026 • 5 min read
Around Midland County
Stories from every corner of Midland County.
Summer Nights Bring Greenfield Together
Music, food, and neighbors fill the courthouse square as the county summer season gets underway.
June 12, 2026 • 5 min read
A New Season at the Lake
Boating, trails, and sunny days return to the water.
June 10, 2026 • 4 min read
Festival Weekend Returns
A favorite local celebration returns this weekend.
June 9, 2026 • 3 min read
Main Street After Dark
Shops, dining, and music bring downtown to life.
June 8, 2026 • 4 min read
Five Hidden Stops Worth The Drive
Scenic places and local favorites worth discovering.
June 7, 2026 • 5 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the right local resource
Use these resources to connect with public offices, essential services and community organizations in Midland County. Visit the linked provider for current details before making a trip.
County Government
Board of Commissioners — Official county office information, contacts and services.
County Clerk — Official county office information, contacts and services.
Treasurer — Official county office information, contacts and services.
Register of Deeds — Official county office information, contacts and services.
Equalization — Official county office information, contacts and services.
Schools and Education
Confirm school assignment with the district serving your street address.
Midland County ESA — District information, enrollment and family resources.
Bullock Creek School District — District information, enrollment and family resources.
Coleman Community Schools — District information, enrollment and family resources.
Meridian Public Schools — District information, enrollment and family resources.
Midland Public Schools — District information, enrollment and family resources.
Hospitals and Regional Care
Call 911 for an emergency. Regional facilities are labeled separately.
MyMichigan Medical Center Midland — Hospital at 4000 Wellness Drive in Midland; consult the provider for current services.
Public Safety
Midland County Sheriff — County law enforcement contacts and services.
Midland County Emergency Management — Preparedness, local alerts and emergency coordination.
Michigan State Police — State law enforcement contacts and resources.
DNR Law Enforcement — Conservation enforcement and outdoor regulations.
Michigan local emergency management directory — Official county emergency management contacts.
Emergency Services
Call 911 for immediate police, fire or ambulance response.
Midland County Emergency Management — Preparedness, local alerts and emergency coordination.
Midland County Health Department — Public health services and environmental health information.
Community Mental Health for Central Michigan — Mental health access and crisis resources serving Midland County.
National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac — Official forecasts, watches and warnings.
Michigan energy emergency preparedness — Official utility outage preparation and energy emergency resources.
State Parks and Recreation Areas
Bay City State Park — regional, Bay County — Regional Saginaw Bay recreation outside Midland County; check entry requirements and current notices.
Trails and Outdoor Recreation
Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest — Gardens, canopy walking and family exploration; paid admission applies, and separate entrances are currently required.
Chippewa Nature Center — Nature trails and visitor center with free general admission; some programs require registration or fees.
Midland City Forest trails — City trail directory and maps for walking and biking; check current conditions and permitted uses.
Pere Marquette Rail Trail — Trail travel from Midland toward Clare; the full route extends beyond Midland County.
Bay City State Park — regional, Bay County — Regional Saginaw Bay recreation outside Midland County; check entry requirements and current notices.
Utilities
Providers and public water or sewer service vary by address; confirm your service territory.
Consumers Energy — Utility account and outage information within its service territory.
DTE Energy — Utility account and outage information within its service territory.
Midland County Health Department — Public health services and environmental health information.
MPSC electric service area map — Identify the electric utility serving an address.
Michigan energy emergency preparedness — Official utility outage preparation and energy emergency resources.
Libraries
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library — Public reading, browsing and family activities in Midland; check hours and program registration.
Coleman Area Library — Public reading and community programs in Coleman; check hours and borrowing eligibility.
Courts
Circuit Court — Court information, procedures and office contacts.
District Court — Court information, procedures and office contacts.
Probate Court — Court information, procedures and office contacts.
Friend of the Court — Court information, procedures and office contacts.
Midland Courts — Court information, procedures and office contacts.
Driver and Vehicle Services
Official statewide services available to county residents.
Michigan Secretary of State — license and ID renewal — Review renewal options and documents.
Michigan Secretary of State — vehicle tabs — Renew vehicle registration.
Michigan Secretary of State — titles and registration — Prepare for a vehicle transfer.
Michigan Secretary of State — address changes — Update your address with the department.
Michigan Secretary of State — disability parking — Find placard application and renewal information.
Michigan self-service stations — Find a nearby kiosk and check supported transactions.
Transportation
Midland Dial-A-Ride — Curb-to-curb service within Midland city limits; contact dispatch for reservations and fares.
County Connection of Midland — County transportation service; confirm coverage and advance booking. City-to-city trips within Midland use Dial-A-Ride.
MDOT Mi Drive — Road conditions and construction information.
Michigan public transit providers — Official transit agency contacts across Michigan.
Michigan transportation guide — Airports, bus connections and other travel resources.
Postal Services
Official USPS tools for local mailing and delivery needs.
USPS Post Office locator — Search your town or ZIP for nearby offices and services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Confirm the mailing ZIP for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold.
USPS Change of Address — Use the official postal address-change service.
USPS PO Boxes — Find and manage a post office box.
USPS package pickup — Check and schedule an eligible pickup.
Veterans Resources
Official statewide services available to county residents.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency — Connect with state benefits assistance and local support.
Michigan Veterans Trust Fund — Review emergency-assistance options and eligibility.
VA health care enrollment — Find enrollment guidance.
Veterans education benefits — Explore federal and state education programs.
Veteran Readiness and Employment — Learn about employment and rehabilitation support.
Veterans burial benefits — Find benefit and memorial planning resources.
Employment and Training
Official statewide services available to county residents.
Michigan Works! — Find the workforce agency serving your area.
Michigan Rehabilitation Services — Employment support for eligible people with disabilities.
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency — Claims, account help and program information.
Michigan Reconnect — Check eligibility for community college tuition support.
Veterans Employment Services — Career assistance for eligible veterans.
Workforce education and training — Explore state training programs and pathways.
Make yourself at home
Practical answers for residents and visitors
County Questions
Know Before You Go
Find answers to common questions about exploring and living in Midland County.
Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest offers garden and canopy experiences, while Chippewa Nature Center provides nature exploration. Check admission, program schedules and access notices.
Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest currently requires separate entrances for the garden and Whiting Forest areas while the St. Andrews Bridge is closed. Follow posted directions and do not cross West St. Andrews on foot.
Midland City Forest trails links walking and biking routes, including City Forest. Select an appropriate route and check current conditions before setting out.
Pere Marquette Rail Trail travels from Midland toward Clare, beyond the county boundary. Plan your route, return distance and transport accordingly.
Cafe Zinc, Gratzi Midland and WhichCraft Taproom are Midland options. Confirm current menus, hours and reservations.
Peel ’n Pare offers kitchen-related shopping, while Serendipity Road provides gifts on East Main Street. Check each store’s hours.
Margos & Co. — Midland, Maurices — Midland Mall and Little Forks Outfitters offer apparel options. Use the Midland location where a business has multiple stores.
Chippewa Nature Center offers free general access, and Grace A. Dow Memorial Library and Coleman Area Library offer public reading and browsing. Special activities may require registration or fees.
Bay City State Park — regional, Bay County is in neighboring Bay County. It is included as a regional outing, with state park entry requirements to check.
Midland Dial-A-Ride handles travel within Midland city limits. Contact County Connection of Midland for other eligible county trips and confirm reservations, coverage and fares.
MyMichigan Medical Center Midland is on Wellness Drive in Midland. Check the provider’s information for services and visiting details; call 911 in an emergency.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make a day of itExplore places to eat, shop and spend time together.
Kids’ Fun
- Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest — Gardens, canopy walking and family exploration; paid admission applies, and separate entrances are currently required.
- Chippewa Nature Center — Nature trails and visitor center with free general admission; some programs require registration or fees.
- Grace A. Dow Memorial Library — Public reading, browsing and family activities in Midland; check hours and program registration.
Restaurants
- Cafe Zinc — Dining in downtown Midland; check current menus and reservations.
- Gratzi Midland — Italian-inspired downtown dining; confirm hours and reservations.
- WhichCraft Taproom — Food and drinks on Ashman Street; kitchen hours may differ from bar hours.
Shopping & Retail
- Peel ’n Pare — Kitchen tools and cooking-related shopping in downtown Midland.
- Serendipity Road — Gifts and locally inspired shopping on East Main Street.
- Little Forks Outfitters — Outdoor clothing, footwear and fly-fishing equipment on East Main Street.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Margos & Co. — Midland — Clothing and accessories at 708 South Saginaw Road; choose the Midland store for directions.
- Maurices — Midland Mall — Women’s apparel at the Midland Mall store; confirm opening hours and stock.
- Little Forks Outfitters — Outdoor clothing, footwear and fly-fishing equipment on East Main Street.
Outdoor Fun
- Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest — Gardens, canopy walking and family exploration; paid admission applies, and separate entrances are currently required.
- Chippewa Nature Center — Nature trails and visitor center with free general admission; some programs require registration or fees.
- Midland City Forest trails — City trail directory and maps for walking and biking; check current conditions and permitted uses.
Free Things To Do
- Chippewa Nature Center — Nature trails and visitor center with free general admission; some programs require registration or fees.
- Grace A. Dow Memorial Library — Public reading, browsing and family activities in Midland; check hours and program registration.
- Coleman Area Library — Public reading and community programs in Coleman; check hours and borrowing eligibility.
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