Warren Township, Macomb County, Michigan facts for kids

Warren Township was a special kind of area in Macomb County, Michigan. Most of this township later became the city of Warren. Think of a township as a smaller part of a county, like a neighborhood or a district.

History of Warren Township

The land that became Warren Township was first part of Clinton Township. This was back when Clinton Township was called "Huron Township."

How Warren Township Was Formed

On March 11, 1835, the Michigan government decided to create two new townships. These were called Hickory and Orange. Hickory Township was almost all of what we now know as Warren Township. A small part, the eastern edge, became part of Orange Township. Orange Township later changed its name to Erin Township. That area is now home to cities like East Detroit, Roseville, Fraser, and St. Clair Shores.

Name Changes Over Time

Hickory Township didn't keep its name for long. On April 2, 1838, its name was changed to "Aba." Sometimes people spelled it "Alba." Then, on March 26, 1839, the name changed again to "Warren."

The township was named "Warren" to honor General Joseph Warren. He was a hero who died during the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Early Settlements and Growth

People started settling in the area around 1830. This was even before Warren Township was officially formed. The first settlement was known as "Beebe's Corners." It was named after John L. Beebe, who ran a toll gate there. A toll gate collected money from people using a special road.

One of the first landowners to live there was Charles Groesbeck, around 1830. His brother Louis, who was the father of Michigan Governor Alex Groesbeck, also moved there. Charles Rivard was another early settler.

An early type of railroad, called a "strap iron railroad," connected the settlement. It went north to Utica and south to Detroit. This settlement was located where Chicago Road and Mound Road are today.

Becoming a City

In 1893, a part of northern Warren Township became a village. This was the Village of Warren. By 1920, Warren Township had about 3,564 people living there.

Another settlement grew a few miles south of the Village of Warren. This area became the village of Center Line in 1925. Even with Center Line becoming its own village, Warren Township kept growing. By 1930, its population had jumped to 14,269 people.

Center Line became a city in 1936. This meant it was no longer part of Warren Township. Despite this, Warren Township continued to grow. In 1940, it had 22,126 people. By 1950, the population reached 42,653.

Finally, on October 27, 1956, Governor G. Mennen Williams signed a document. This document officially made the rest of the township, including the Village of Warren, into the city of Warren. The new city of Warren officially started on January 1, 1957.

Communities Within the Township

Base Line Community

Base Line was a one-square-mile area. It was located along the southern edge of the township. It got its name from Base Line Road, which is now known as 8 Mile Road. This area was planned out in 1860. It even got its own post office in 1927.