[5][6] The land on which Kalkaska sits has long been territory under the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi.

[11] In 1916, noted author Ernest Hemingway visited and fished in Kalkaska, and later immortalized the town in his story "The Battler".

[12] A historical marker has been placed at the nearby Rugg Pond, on the Rapid River, where Hemingway reportedly fished one night from the power house.

[13] On July 10, 1951, the Kalkaska State Bank was robbed by an armed man, who fled and later attempted to escape on foot through a nearby swampy area.

After three days of what was termed the largest manhunt in Northern Michigan history, involving the FBI and local and state authorities, the gunman, Raymond J. Turcotte, who had a long string of prior convictions, including manslaughter, was captured south of the town.

Turcotte confessed to the bank robbery and served 18 years in the Michigan State Prison in Jackson, including a term for escape in 1961.

[14] In 1993, the Kalkaska schools made national headlines when a financial crisis resulted in a two-month-long closure.

Subsequent funding reform improved the outlook for Kalkaska and similar small rural districts in Michigan.

The Record Eagle reported in 2019 that Kalkaska was poised for substantial growth due to housing shortages in the Traverse City area.

This stream also flows into the Grand Traverse Bay, although it is part of the Chain of Lakes watershed.

Kalkaska offers two major festivals, the National Trout Festival held at the end of April to honor the opening of trout season, and the Kalkaska County Agricultural Fair, held the first week of August, to showcase local livestock from 4-H youth clubs, handicrafts from residents, and entertainment.

Kalkaska hosts the starting line for a 27.2-mile off-road biking race that runs from the western edge of the village to Traverse City along the VASA Trail.

The turnout for the race very easily doubles the population within the village, numbering in the several thousands.

Marijuana, service, oil and gas, manufacturing, and tourism are important industries in the village and surrounding county.

[24] The Kalkaska area is known as a fishing destination with inland lakes and the Boardman, Rapid, and Manistee Rivers.

The New York Times featured author Jim Harrison wrote about the festival in his 1991 book Just Before Dark: Collected Non-fiction.