List of lost cities, towns, and counties of Michigan facts for kids

Have you ever heard of a "lost city"? In Michigan, it's a bit different from ancient ruins found in jungles! Here, "lost towns" are places that once had their own names and identities, but over time, they either faded away or became part of bigger towns nearby. People still live in these areas, but the old name might only be found on old maps or in local memories.

This list explores some of these interesting places in Michigan that have changed their names or been absorbed into larger communities. It's like they've gone through a big transformation!

Michigan's Lost Towns: Where Did They Go?

This section lists some of Michigan's communities that are no longer known by their original names. We'll look at where they were and what happened to them.

Monroe County's Vanished Villages

Monroe County, in southeastern Michigan, is home to several places that once had their own village names.

Grape: A Village by the River Raisin

• Former Name: Village of Grape
• Location: Raisinville Township, Monroe County. It was on the north side of the River Raisin, about 6 miles west of today's Monroe, Michigan.
• What Happened: This small village eventually became part of the surrounding area.

Steiner: Near the Railroad Tracks

• Former Name: Village of Steiner
• Location: Frenchtown Township, Monroe County. You would have found it where the Norfolk Southern Railway crosses Steiner Roads, about 4 miles north-northwest of Monroe.
• What Happened: Like Grape, Steiner was absorbed into the growing communities around it.

Stoney Creek: East of I-75

• Former Name: Village of Stoney Creek
• Location: Frenchtown Township, Monroe County. It was about 4 miles north of Monroe, east of where Interstate 75 now crosses Stoney Creek.
• What Happened: This village also became part of the larger Monroe area.

Kent County's Communities That Grew Up

In Kent County, some communities didn't disappear but rather became official parts of bigger cities.

Standale: Now Part of Walker

• Former Name: Standale
• Location: Kent County, near the intersection of M-45 and M-11 in Walker.
• What Happened: Standale was once an important independent community. In the 1960s, Walker Township became the City of Walker. Standale was then included within the new city limits. Even today, many local businesses and churches still use the name "Standale." Many people who live there still call it Standale, not Walker!

Kelloggsville: A School District's Legacy

• Former Name: Kelloggsville
• Location: Kent County, near 44th Street and Division in the suburbs of Grand Rapids.
• What Happened: Kelloggsville was a significant community with its own school district, which still exists today as Kelloggsville Public Schools. It was located partly in Paris Township and partly in Wyoming Township. When these townships became the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, Kelloggsville's official name was no longer used for the area. However, like Standale, some churches still carry the name, and many locals still refer to the area as Kelloggsville.

Antrim County's Railroad Town: Chestonia

Some towns grew because of railroads, and when the railroads left, so did the towns.

Chestonia: A Railroad's Rise and Fall

• Former Name: Chestonia
• Location: Jordan Township, Antrim County, at the intersection of M-66 and East Old State Road.
• What Happened: Chestonia started in 1899 around a depot (a train station) for the Detroit and Charlevoix Railroad. It once had a post office and nearly 100 residents. It was even a junction where two railroads met! But when the last train tracks were removed in 1962, the depot and post office closed. The town quickly faded away. Today, you can only find some old cement foundations where the town used to be.

Macomb County's Forgotten Disco

Sometimes, a community is planned but never quite takes off.

Disco: A Name on Old Maps

• Former Name: Disco
• Location: What is now the junction of 24 Mile Road and Van Dyke Road. It was planned in 1849.
• What Happened: Disco was never officially incorporated as a city or village. It did have a high school called the "Disco Academy" and a post office from 1854 to 1906. Today, only a few homes remain, and its name can be found on old county road maps. It's a reminder of a community that was once hoped for but never fully developed.