Frontier, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frontier, Michigan
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Looking west along E. Montgomery Road
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 Frontier, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Frontier, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Hillsdale |
| Township | Woodbridge |
| Settled | 1834 |
| Established | 1851 |
| Elevation | 1,030 ft (310 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | |
| Area code(s) | 517 |
| GNIS feature ID | 626516 |
Frontier is a small, unincorporated community in Hillsdale County, Michigan. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that don't have their own local government. It's part of a larger area called Woodbridge Township.
Even though Frontier doesn't have official borders or population numbers, it does have its own post office. This post office uses the 49239 ZIP Code, mainly for post office box services.
Contents
Where is Frontier Located?
Frontier is in the northeastern part of Woodbridge Township. This area is in southern Hillsdale County. It's about 40 miles (64 km) south of the city of Jackson.
The community is also very close to the state border with Ohio. It's about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Ohio, near Michigan's southernmost point.
Nearby Towns and Cities
The closest city to Frontier is Hillsdale, which is about 11 miles (18 km) north. Other nearby villages include:
- Montgomery to the west
- Camden to the southwest
- Reading to the northwest
- Waldron to the southeast
The Ohio village of Pioneer is located to the south.
Transportation and Services
Frontier isn't on any major highways, train lines, or near airports. However, M-99 is a state highway about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east. You can reach it using East Montgomery Road.
The community is served by Camden–Frontier Schools. These schools are located south of Frontier in Amboy Township. The local government office for Woodbridge Township and the fire department are also in Frontier. They are found along East Montgomery Road.
The Frontier post office is at 2342 East Montgomery Road. While it uses the 49258 ZIP Code for post office boxes, mail delivery for the surrounding area often uses the Hillsdale 49242 ZIP Code. Some areas to the southwest might use the Camden 49232 ZIP Code.
A Look at Frontier's History
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Frontier was first settled in 1834 by the William Saxton family. This was just one year before Hillsdale County was officially set up. The Saxton family moved from New York and bought 160 acres (65 ha) of land. They built a log cabin and started their new life in this undeveloped area.
More settlers and family members moved to the area in the following years. By 1839, several families lived there. Woodbridge Township was officially established in 1840.
How Frontier Got Its Name
The community became known as Frontier when it was organized in 1851. It was given this name because it was the last Michigan settlement before you reached the Ohio state line. It was truly on the "frontier."
In 1855, the people of Frontier built the Woodbridge Township Hall. It cost $260, which was a lot of money back then!
The Post Office and Growth
A post office opened in Frontier on January 30, 1857. Benjamin Duealer was the first postmaster. It closed briefly but reopened on November 9, 1861, and has been open ever since. The current post office building was built in 1869.
Old maps from 1857 show the homes of the Saxton and Duealer families. Frontier grew as a stopping point along the route between Amboy and Hillsdale.
By 1879, Frontier had about 150 people. It had two general stores, a sawmill, a factory that made wooden barrel parts (a stave factory), and several small mechanic shops. An Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge, a type of community club, was built in 1912.
In 1957, the township bought land to build its own fire department. This fire department now helps several nearby townships. In 1975, the Woodbridge Township Hall was recognized as the oldest operating township hall in Michigan.
