Townapedia
ClareMI HistoricDistrict1
ClareMI HistoricDistrict1 · Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0

Clare, Michigan

Clare is a city of 3,324 people in Clare County, Michigan, founded in 1870.

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Population3,324 +9.3% since 2019
Elevation837 ft 255 m
Founded1870
Land area3.8 sq mi
ZIP code48617
Nearest airportMount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP) 14 mi

Why visit Clare

Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 20 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Ideal Theatre, Clare Downtown Historic District, Barnes Island Park and Brookwood Park.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 16°F.

About Clare

Clare is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located near the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the city is located mostly in Clare County, while a small portion extends south into Isabella County. The city had a population of 3,254 at the 2020 census.

From the Wikipedia article Clare, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

Ideal Theatre

Cinema and theater · 0.5 mi

607 North McEwan Street, Clare

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Museums and landmarks2

Clare Downtown Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi

Historic district in Clare, Michigan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Clare Depot

Museum · 0.7 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds8

Barnes Island Park

Park · 0.4 mi

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Brookwood Park

Park · 1.0 mi

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Clare City Park

Park · 0.7 mi

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Pettit Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Shamrock Park

Park

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Stamina Stadium Park

Park · 0.5 mi

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Emerald Isle Recreation Complex

Park · 1.3 mi

303 Pinecrest Street, Clare

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Clare Union Railroad Depot Park

Park · 0.7 mi

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Restaurants and cafes20

Leprechaun Lounge

Restaurant · Sandwich, Burger, Regional · 0.5 mi

604 North McEwan Street

Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 989-386-3441

Whitehouse Restaurant

Restaurant · American, Burger · 0.5 mi

613 North McEwan Street

Mo-Su 07:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-989-386-9551

Cops & Doughnuts

Bakery · 0.6 mi

521 North McEwan Street, Clare

Mo-Su 05:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 989-386-2241

Ruckle's Pier

Restaurant · 0.7 mi

405 North McEwan Street, Clare

Mo-Th 10:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-14:00; Su 11:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-989-386-9531

Herrick House & The Mulberry Cafe

Restaurant · Coffee Shop, Sandwich · 0.5 mi

120 East 5th Street

Open in Google Maps · +1 989-386-6120

Ponderosa Steakhouse

Restaurant · American, Steak, Buffet · 1.0 mi

10306 South Clare Avenue, Clare

Open in Google Maps · +1-989-386-7017

Timeout Tavern

Diner · American · 0.5 mi

601 North McEwan Street

Open in Google Maps · +1 989-424-6077

Big Boy

Restaurant · Burger · 1.1 mi

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Biggby Coffee

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.7 mi

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The Evening Post Bar and Grill

Bar and pub · 0.6 mi

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Arby's

Fast food · Sandwich · 1.0 mi

10207 South Clare Avenue, Clare

10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 989-386-2161

Burger King

Fast food · Burger · 1.1 mi

10210 South Clare Avenue, Clare

Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 989-266-8229

8 more on the map.

History

Clare was founded with the coming of the Pere Marquette Railroad in 1870. It was named after the county, which was named after County Clare in Ireland. The Clare post office opened on January 20, 1871. It incorporated as a village in 1879 and as a city in 1891.

Cops & Doughnuts is a bakery that opened in 2009 in the former Clare City Bakery that dates back to 1896.

From the History section of Clare, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay3

Churches and places of worship11

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Shopping3

Gas and EV charging9

Schools, colleges and libraries8

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Healthcare2

Map of Clare

67 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 2.1 in of rainFebruary: 1.7 in of rainMarch: 1.9 in of rainApril: 3.6 in of rainMay: 3.7 in of rainJune: 3.9 in of rainJuly: 3.2 in of rainAugust: 3.8 in of rainSeptember: 2.8 in of rainOctober: 3.5 in of rainNovember: 2.8 in of rainDecember: 2.4 in of rainJanuary: 30°FFebruary: 32°FMarch: 43°FApril: 56°FMay: 69°FJune: 80°FJuly: 84°FAugust: 82°FSeptember: 74°FOctober: 60°FNovember: 46°FDecember: 35°FJanuary: 16°FFebruary: 16°FMarch: 24°FApril: 34°FMay: 46°FJune: 56°FJuly: 61°FAugust: 59°FSeptember: 51°FOctober: 40°FNovember: 31°FDecember: 22°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRain
Jan30°F16°F2.1 in
Feb32°F16°F1.7 in
Mar43°F24°F1.9 in
Apr56°F34°F3.6 in
May69°F46°F3.7 in
Jun80°F56°F3.9 in
Jul84°F61°F3.2 in
Aug82°F59°F3.8 in
Sep74°F51°F2.8 in
Oct60°F40°F3.5 in
Nov46°F31°F2.8 in
Dec35°F22°F2.4 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Central Michigan Univ Hcn (17 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$41,226median household income
$134,600median home value
$822median monthly rent
43.9median age
21.9%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
59.3%of homes are owner-occupied
26.7 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1820%18 to 3422%35 to 6434%65 and over23%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Clare County has had 4 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.

  • 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
  • 2001-01-10: Snow (Snowstorm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.