Michigan Towns with Food Names (and Two Might Make You Hungry)

There aren't many Michigan towns whose names can make you want to eat. Oh, there are a few like Applegate, Concord, Fruitport, Maple Rapids, Newberry.....but there are only two Michigan towns – that when their names are mentioned – may make you think of seriously grabbing something to eat: those towns are Hamburg and Frankfort.

Burgers and hot dogs! Where can we pull over and get a bag full?

Hamburg sits in Livingston County and began in 1835 when E.F. Gay bought 30 acres of land and built a dam and sawmill. He sold out in 1837 and the new owners added a grist mill, hotel, and store. That same year, 19 men got together to determine the town name. The two choices were 'Knox' and 'Steuben' but in the end, they decided to let the three Germans (who basically built the town) name the community...they chose 'Hamburg' after their hometown of Hamburg, Germany.

Through those early years the town name was spelled (and called) various ways: Hamburgh (1837), North Hamburgh (1852), back to Hamburgh (1852), and finally to Hamburg in 1894.

Take a look at the gallery for photos – old and new – of Hamburg, followed by info and photos of Frankfort!

Photos of Hamburg, Michigan

The other town that makes me hungry – yearning for a coney or chili dog – is Frankfort in Benzie County. Yeah, I know the hot dog is spelled as “FrankFURT”, but it sounds the same anyway. Frankfort was settled in 1850 and didn't start its growth until 1859 when development began.

The post office opened in 1860, closed in 1865, and re-opened in 1868. A resident claimed that the area reminded him of his old hometown: Frankfort, Germany, so that became the name.