Newton Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newton Woods |
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 Newton Woods
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Cass County, Michigan |
| Nearest city | Dowagiac |
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Designated: | 1976 |
Newton Woods is a special forest in Cass County, Michigan. It covers about 40-acre (16 ha) of land. This forest is known as an oak-hickory forest, which means it has many oak and hickory trees.
In 1976, the United States Department of the Interior named Newton Woods a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural area that should be protected. The woods are part of a larger area called the Fred Russ Forest Experiment Station. This station is a research forest run by Michigan State University (MSU) and also a park for Cass County. The whole station is about 580-acre (2.3 km2). You can find it where the Marcellus Highway crosses Dowagiac Creek, about 8 miles (13 km) east of Dowagiac.
Nature in Newton Woods
Newton Woods is a very old and natural forest. Experts at Michigan State University say it's "virtually undisturbed." This means people haven't changed it much over the years. It's a great place to see what a forest looked like a long time ago.
Special Trees
The larger Fred Russ Forest and Park area is famous for its amazing trees. You can find many black walnuts and tulip trees here. One of the tulip trees is super tall! It's believed to be the tallest tulip tree in Michigan, standing about 180 feet (55 m) high.
History of the Area
Right next to the Fred Russ Forest and Park, there used to be a small town called Volinia. It was around from 1834 until 1902. The town was located where the Marcellus Highway meets Gards Prairie Road.
Who was George Newton?
The Newton Woods are named after a man named George Newton. He was a leader who represented Volinia and other nearby towns in the Michigan General Assembly. This is where laws are made for the state of Michigan.
George Newton's old house, called the George Newton House, is still standing near the woods on Marcellus Highway. It's a beautiful old Victorian-style home. In 1974, it was named a registered Michigan historic site, meaning it's an important place from the past. A special marker was put up to tell its story.
