The first mention of any settlers in the area later to become Flat Rock was made by a French priest, Father Jean Dilhet. In describing his parish in 1798 he included "Grosse Roche", referring to a settlement named after the outcropping of limestone rock on the south side of the Huron River.
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\nThe first European-American settlers in Flat Rock were Michael Vreeland and his five grown sons between 1811 and 1820. Michael had been captured by British Rangers during the Revolutionary War and released after American independence. The family purchased 800 acres (3.2 km2). The town was called the Village of Vreeland until 1838 when the Vreeland family sold off the majority of the land and relinquished control of the area. The Vreeland families built the first grain and lumber mill, having brought the grinding stones from New York. Descendants of Michael Vreeland still live in the town and attend Flat Rock public schools, being the seventh generation to reside in the town their family founded.
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\nBy 1828 the village of Flat Rock had four stores, two saw mills, a wool carding mill, a flour mill, and 250 inhabitants - serving as a center mainly for farmers who lived in the area immediately surrounding the settlement.
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\nThe village of Flat Rock was platted and recorded in 1838 by the Gibraltar and Flat Rock Land Co. They were attempting to build a canal to connect Lake Erie with Lake Michigan. This effort ultimately failed.
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\nThe first European-American settlers in Flat Rock were Michael Vreeland and his five grown sons between 1811 and 1820. Michael had been captured by British Rangers during the Revolutionary War and released after American independence. The family purchased 800 acres (3.2 km2). The town was called the Village of Vreeland until 1838 when the Vreeland family sold off the majority of the land and relinquished control of the area. The Vreeland families built the first grain and lumber mill, having brought the grinding stones from New York. Descendants of Michael Vreeland still live in the town and attend Flat Rock public schools, being the seventh generation to reside in the town their family founded.
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\nBy 1828 the village of Flat Rock had four stores, two saw mills, a wool carding mill, a flour mill, and 250 inhabitants - serving as a center mainly for farmers who lived in the area immediately surrounding the settlement.
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\nThe village of Flat Rock was platted and recorded in 1838 by the Gibraltar and Flat Rock Land Co. They were attempting to build a canal to connect Lake Erie with Lake Michigan. This effort ultimately failed.
The history of Riverview reaches into the history of its neighbor to the south, the Village of Trenton and Monguagon Township. One of the key reasons Trenton was settled in the first place was because it was the highest ground between the Downriver area and Toledo. In a region comprised largely of swamps, high ground was valuable ground. As Trenton became more and more settled, the lumber in what was known as the "river view" section of Monguagon Township became an important resource. An even bigger resource was discovered later in the form of limestone, which was mined from a quarry that still operates near Sibley and Fort Street. Originally owned by F.B. Sibley, the limestone quarry directly led to jobs and other industries; such as Quarry Lumber and a quarry store. By the 1920s, Riverview extended only from what is now West Jefferson to the west of the railroad tracks. The section from the tracks to what would become Fort Street was known as "Wyandotte Heights." While the area had a quarry, it lacked city water which played an obvious limiting factor in the growth of the region. As a result, to reach a critical mass necessary to bring water to the area, the areas merged and in 1923, the Village of Riverview was incorporated. Sam Vreeland was elected first village president with a population of 704.
The Village of Riverview remained intact until the late 1950s, when a resident drew up petitions to become a city. As the move would have left only a small section of Monguagon Township unincorporated, residents living there also opted to become part of Riverview. But, the change was not without conflict. At the same time, Trenton officials were trying to annex Riverview to become part of their own city. When the two community groups bearing petitions left for Lansing in 1958, they arrived only an hour apart. Riverview's documents were submitted first. "If we had lost that (race)," Perry said, "Trenton would have followed up and we would now be part of Trenton." That same year, a change was also made to the volunteer Fire Department. For the first time, one man, on a rotating basis, was on duty at all times. Over time, the number of people on duty gradually increased, but that change created the permanent part-time department, which still exists today.
Riverview officially became the City of Riverview on March 24, 1959.
The Village of Riverview remained intact until the late 1950s, when a resident drew up petitions to become a city. As the move would have left only a small section of Monguagon Township unincorporated, residents living there also opted to become part of Riverview. But, the change was not without conflict. At the same time, Trenton officials were trying to annex Riverview to become part of their own city. When the two community groups bearing petitions left for Lansing in 1958, they arrived only an hour apart. Riverview's documents were submitted first. "If we had lost that (race)," Perry said, "Trenton would have followed up and we would now be part of Trenton." That same year, a change was also made to the volunteer Fire Department. For the first time, one man, on a rotating basis, was on duty at all times. Over time, the number of people on duty gradually increased, but that change created the permanent part-time department, which still exists today.
Riverview officially became the City of Riverview on March 24, 1959.
Allen Park, no information
The region now known as Brownstown was, like surrounding areas in Michigan, once a part of the French Province Quebec. The area eventually fell into hands of the British and finally came under American rule in the 18th century. The original 43-square-mile (110 km2) area of land south of Detroit was designated a township by the Michigan Territorial Commission on April 5, 1827, when Moses Roberts was elected its first supervisor. This made Brownstown one of Wayne County's nine original townships.[5]
Research from local historians have found that the township was named for Adam Brown, who was kidnapped by the WyandotIndians. Brown was raised by the Wyandots, married a native woman and grew to become a tribal leader. As time passed, settlements spread out from the lakeshore to begin changing the swampy, sand-hill countryside into productive farm land.
Research from local historians have found that the township was named for Adam Brown, who was kidnapped by the WyandotIndians. Brown was raised by the Wyandots, married a native woman and grew to become a tribal leader. As time passed, settlements spread out from the lakeshore to begin changing the swampy, sand-hill countryside into productive farm land.
In the 1836 after the community became part of the United States and settled by more English speakers, it was named Grand Port, but remained unincorporated within Ecorse Township.[9] The settlement was incorporated as the village of Ecorse in 1903.[9] Ecorse became a significant economic force in the region when its first steel mill, Michigan Steel Mill, began operation in 1923. The village incorporated as a city in 1942.[8]
Since the later 20th century, the city, like most other industrial inner-ring suburbs, has fallen into economic decline. In December 1986, the Wayne County Circuit Court issued a court order appointing a receiver for the bankrupt city. The receivership would last until August 1990, but the city's finances were monitored by the state for another ten years.
Since the later 20th century, the city, like most other industrial inner-ring suburbs, has fallen into economic decline. In December 1986, the Wayne County Circuit Court issued a court order appointing a receiver for the bankrupt city. The receivership would last until August 1990, but the city's finances were monitored by the state for another ten years.
