Nunica, Michigan

Nunica, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Location within Ottawa County
Nunica Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Nunica Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 43°04′47″N 86°04′02″W / 43.07972°N 86.06722°W / 43.07972; -86.06722
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Ottawa
Township	Crockery
Area [1]
• Total	1.83 sq mi (4.75 km2)
• Land	1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [2]	630 ft (190 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	351
• Density	191.80/sq mi (74.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49448
Area code	616
GNIS feature ID	633785[2]

Nunica is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located near the center of Crockery Township in Ottawa County, close to the junction of Interstate 96 (I-96) M-104 and M-231 at 43°04′47″N 86°04′02″W / 43.07972°N 86.06722°W / 43.07972; -86.06722 (Nunica, Michigan).^[2] The first white settlers were Manley Patchin in 1836 and William Hathaway, Jr., in 1839. Hathaway became the first postmaster of Crockery Creek on February 7, 1848. The name of the post office was changed to Nunica on January 8, 1859. The settlement was first platted by Henry Ernst in 1865. The name Nunica is derived from the Native American word menonica, meaning "clay earth", from which pottery was made. This clay was also the origin for the name of Crockery Creek.^[3] The Nunica ZIP code 49448 serves most of Crockery Township, as well as portions of Sullivan Township in Muskegon County to the north and small areas of Polkton Township to the east.^[4]