Does The Mason-Arenac Line Mark ‘Up North’ In MI?

Where does “Up North” begin in Michigan? Many believe it’s at the Mason-Arenac Line, but locals are divided.

What is The Mason-Arenac Line?

One thing I have heard my whole life, living in Michigan, is family, friends, and neighbors saying they're going up north for the weekend. Living in Holly, which is in Oakland County, going north may mean going to Gladwin or further up. People living in Niles might consider going to Grand Haven as going up north.

Recently, Michiganders have posted online that the boundary for what is considered up north is the Mason-Arenac Line on the DNR map above. Despite the name, this line isn’t connected to Mason or Arenac counties because it's the name of a boundary created in the 1800s that marked where the bulk of state lands began.

Read More: Where to Find U.P.’s Tastiest Pasties, According to Locals

I have always felt that 'Up North' begins at M-82 on the west side and M-46 on the east side.

Many Michiganders Say Up North Begins at the Mason-Arenac Line

The Michigan Reddit page has a post that marks the Mason-Arenac Line as where up north begins in the Lower Peninsula. Below are a few comments on what people had to say about that line.

West Branch is where the Mason-Arenac Line is located.

I don't think this poster understands that Cadillac is almost straight across the state from West Branch.

This post may have thrown a wrench into the whole thread, but it makes an excellent point.

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The debate of where 'Up North' begins in Michigan will continue until the end of time. To see what I mean by that, click here.

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