Ida is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Michigan.

[1] The rural community of Ida is located in central Monroe County about 12 miles (19 km) north of the Ohio state line.

The community is located about 10 miles (16 km) west of the city of Monroe and sits at an elevation of 640 feet (200 m) above sea level.

[4][5] The community is served by Ida Public Schools, which contains three schools–elementary, middle, and high school–on one main campus just east of Lewis Avenue.

In 1825, the Wayside Inn opened as the first business in the area to serve travelers along the treacherous roadway that consisted of very poor Indian trails.

All of the first settlers in the area were farmers, who even earned extra money by helping travelers who became stuck in the muddy trails.

The Michigan Southern Railroad first constructed railway lines through the area by 1839, which led to the growth of the community.

The community of Ida was formally established with a post office on July 11, 1844 with William Riggs serving as the first postmaster.