Culture & Lifestyle Residents here enjoy a high quality of life in a dozen thriving cities and villages where costs are lower and the pace of life is perfect, and with vibrant, meaningful arts and cultural experiences available at: The Shiawassee Art Center where popular activities include monthly art exhibitions and “meet the artist” events and year-round multi-media arts classes for children and adults. The historic Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts, now nearly a century old, presenting four crowd-pleasing musicals and two plays each season. Nearly a dozen annual events and festivals celebrating the area’s heritage and talents, from art walks to bike races to the annual North Pole Express, the historic steam train ride that delights every child rider and the child in every adult. Historic museums, bringing character and engaging history to the community. From the magnificent architecture of the grand Durand Union Station and Curwood Castle to the fascinating exhibits at the Steam Railroading Institute to the graceful carriages and sleighs at the DeVries Nature Conservancy, there’s always something to learn and enjoy. Family hiking Family feeding farm animals Golfing event Outdoor recreation: Sparkling water, radiant beauty, revved up fun. Sometimes translated as “sparkling water” in English, Shiawassee is an appropriate name for the county-spanning 110-mile Shiawassee River, considered one of the healthiest warm-water rivers in the State. Canoeing and kayaking are superb here, thanks in part to the Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail, which began as a 7-mile trail but now extends more than 85 miles. More water fun is just next door in Clinton County, where the Sleepy Hollow State Park offers more than 2,500 acres of woodland and wildlife, including the man-made Lake Ovid. However, you don’t need an oar or a paddle, or to travel at all, to enjoy spectacular great outdoors, with seven municipal parks, five located on the Shiawassee River, rolling out more than 200 acres of beautiful woodland and prairie, providing all-season recreation ranging in styles from kids’ wonderland to the majestic Curwood Castle Museum and Park. Set against the bank of the Shiawassee River, the golden yellow Curwood Castle was modeled after Norman chateaus and served as the home and writing retreat for adventure novelist and early conservationist James Curwood. The Castle, now a museum and park, is only one of 45 places on the National Register of Historic Places in Shiawassee County including residential, downtown and industrial districts. History and heritage in Shiawassee are woven into the very fabric of local cityscapes. And while spectators thrill to the record-breaking speeds of the drivers on the Owosso Speedway, one of the oldest speedways in Michigan, community members also stop to sample the abundance and make neighborly connections at the Farmer’s Market. Your perfect pace is here in Shiawassee County. Cost of Living Shiawassee County has a cost of living well below the national average. Rated at an 80.9 cost of living (against national benchmark of 100), our residents can take advantage of an exceptional value of place. Median home price in Shiawassee County is $157,400 in 2023 compared to a national average of $412,000.
