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is an unincorporated community in Cheboygan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes and is not legally recognized as a municipality. The population was 2,008 at the 2000 census.
Because it is not an incorporated municipality, the boundaries were defined by the U.S. Census Bureau in consultation with local organizations and officials. However, the area included within the CDP may not exactly correspond with the area which locals recognize by that name. The CDP includes the eastern portion of Tuscarora Township and the western part of Koehler Township. The Indian River ZIP code 49749 includes most of the CDP as well additional areas of both Tuscarora and Koehler townships and portions of Burt Township, Mullett Township, and Aloha Township to the north and Mentor Township and Ellis Township to the south. The southeast portion of the CDP is served by the Wolverine ZIP code 49799.
Indian River is situated at the point where the Sturgeon River flows into Burt Lake and where the Indian River flows out of Burt Lake into Mullett Lake. I-75 passes though the area with two interchanges nearby. Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge are about 25 miles to the north and Gaylord is 28 miles to the south. Cheboygan is about 21 miles to the northeast on M-27. M-68 connects with US 31 at Alanson, 11 miles to the west and with M-33 about 9 miles to the east. The Indian River provides a navigable channel between Burt and Mullett lakes.
Burt Lake State Park is included within the CDP and the park, which draws a large number of tourists each year, assists the local economy, part of which is reliant on the influx of summer travelers who take part in the watersports, camping facilities, and other attractions around Indian River. The North Central State Trail goes through the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 20.3 square miles (52.7 km²), of which, 12.8 square miles (33.3 km²) of it is land and 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²) of it (36.84%) is water.