Grosse Ile (Michigan) facts for kids
Aerial view of Grosse Ile in January 2016
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 Grosse Ile
Location in Wayne County, Michigan
Grosse Ile
Location in Michigan
Grosse Ile
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Detroit River |
| Coordinates | 42°07′48″N 83°09′37″W / 42.13000°N 83.16028°W |
| Area | 9.60 sq mi (24.9 km2) |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Wayne |
| Township | Grosse Ile |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
Grosse Ile (pronounced "grows EEL") is a large island in Michigan, a state in the United States. It's located in Wayne County, right in the Detroit River, near the border with Canada. Grosse Ile is the biggest island in the Detroit River and has more people living on it than any other island in Michigan! It's managed by a local government called Grosse Ile Township.
Contents
The Story of Grosse Ile
The island was first explored by French adventurers. They named it Grosse Île, which means "large island" in French. Before the French arrived, Native American tribes lived on the island.
Early Inhabitants and Ownership
In 1776, the Potawatomi people, a Native American tribe, gave the island to the early French explorers. The Potawatomi called the island Kitcheminishen. Later, two brothers named William and Alexander Macomb, who were merchants and fur traders, took over the island. They were the first European-American owners.
Becoming a Township
The Macomb brothers had the island mapped out in 1819. In 1829, it became part of Monguagon Township. For many years, only a few people lived on the island, and it was its own small community. Grosse Ile officially became its own township on October 27, 1914. Today, Grosse Ile is known as a well-off area in the Downriver community, just south of the city of Detroit.
Exploring Grosse Ile's Geography
Grosse Ile is surrounded by water. The Trenton Channel is on its west side, and the Livingston Channel is on its east side. The island itself has two canals that divide it.
Key Areas of the Island
The northern part of the island is called Hennepin Point. This area is mostly undeveloped, meaning it doesn't have many buildings. It's also home to a historic lighthouse. The Grosse Ile Municipal Airport is located at the very southern end of the island. Grosse Ile is also a central part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which protects many animals and plants.
Nearby Islands
Many smaller islands are located around Grosse Ile. To the southwest, you'll find Calf Island, Swan Island, Celeron Island, and Round Island. To the southeast are Meso Island, Hickory Island, and Sugar Island. To the east, there are Elba Island, Fox Island, Powder House Island, and Stony Island. You can also see Bois Blanc Island, which belongs to Canada.
Connecting to the Mainland
Even though Grosse Ile Township includes many smaller islands, most people live on the main Grosse Ile island. Local residents sometimes call it the Big Island or The Island to tell it apart from the other smaller islands in the township. Grosse Ile is connected to the mainland by two bridges: the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge and the Wayne County Bridge. Both bridges connect to West Jefferson Avenue.
