Michigan History

The following important events in the history of Michigan affected political jurisdictions, record keeping, and family movements.

1668:  Sault Ste. Marie, the oldest community in Michigan, was founded by the French. Detroit was founded in 1701.

1763:  The British took possession of the area but discouraged settlers.

1787: Michigan became part of the U.S. Northwest Territory, but the British still controlled Detroit and Mackinac.

1796: The British withdrew from their remaining posts, including Detroit.

1800:  The area became part of the Indiana Territory.

1805:  Congress created Michigan Territory.

1818–1832:  Settlement was encouraged by improvements in transportation, including the establishment of steamship operation on the Great Lakes from Buffalo to Detroit in 1818, and the completion of the Erie Canal to Buffalo in 1825. The Chicago Road linking Detroit to Chicago was completed in 1832.

1835:  As a result of the Toledo War with Ohio, Michigan lost land along its southern border to Ohio and gained the Upper Peninsula.

1837:  Michigan became a state.

1861–1865:  90,000 men served the Union in the Civil War. Of these, 14,000 died in the war.

1900:  All of Michigan's 83 counties had been settled by 1900.

Local histories for most counties in Michigan are available at the Family History Library and other major libraries with Michigan collections. These will help you understand the settlement and growth of each area. They often include biographical information about residents. The following are other useful guides:

Callard, Carole, ed. Sourcebook of Michigan Census, County Histories, and Vital Records. Lansing, Michigan: Library of Michigan, 1986. (FHL book 977.4 A3sm; fiche 6101261.)

Welch, Richard Warren. County Evolution in Michigan, 1790–1897. Lansing, Michigan: Department of Education, 1972. (FHL book 977.4 A1 no. 7; film 896902 item 3.)

Lanman, Charles. The Red Book of Michigan: A Civil, Military, and Biographical History. Detroit, Michigan: E. B. Smith, 1871. (FHL book 977.4 H2Lr; film 1425611 item 1.)