White Rock, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
White Rock, Michigan
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 White Rock, Michigan
Location in Michigan
White Rock, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Huron |
| Township | Sherman |
| Elevation | 722 ft (220 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48441 (Harbor Beach)
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| Area code(s) | 989 |
| FIPS code | 26-73160 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1616331 |
White Rock is a small place in Huron County, Michigan, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a city or town. White Rock is part of Sherman Township.
You can find White Rock on M-25 where it meets White Rock Road. It's about three miles north of Forestville. It's also about nine miles south of Harbor Beach.
Contents
Why is it Called White Rock?
The community gets its name from a very large white rock. This boulder sits in Lake Huron just offshore. Long ago, this special rock was used as a boundary marker. It helped define the land that Native American tribes gave up in a treaty.
The Treaty of Detroit (1807)
The white rock was an important part of the Treaty of Detroit in 1807. This treaty was an agreement between the United States and several Native American tribes. These tribes included the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot, and Potawatomi.
The treaty described a line that marked the land. This line started at the Maumee River in what is now Toledo, Ohio. It then went north to a point near Lake Huron. From there, the line went northeast directly to the White Rock in Lake Huron. After that, it went east to the international border. This border was with what was then called Upper Canada (now part of Canada).
A Look Back: White Rock's History
White Rock has a long and interesting history. It was one of the first places settled by non-Native Americans in Huron County.
Early Settlers and Growth
The first white settler in Huron County was Edward Petit. He opened a trading post near White Rock. A trading post was a place where people could trade goods. Later, he moved his post right to White Rock. Some old maps even show it as "White Rock City."
By the mid-1830s, White Rock was a busy village. It even got its own post office in 1859. This meant people could send and receive mail there.
The Great Fire of 1871
In 1871, a huge fire swept through the area. This event is known as the Great Fire of 1871. It destroyed many parts of Michigan. White Rock was badly damaged by this fire.
Even though the town was destroyed, people worked hard to rebuild it. White Rock never became a large city after the fire. However, it continued to be a small, important community.
White Rock Roadside Park
Today, visitors can enjoy the White Rock Roadside Park. The Michigan Department of Transportation built this park. Construction started in 2000 and finished in 2003.
The park is located along M-25. It offers a place for people to stop and relax.
Park Features
- A parking lot for cars
- Outhouses (restrooms)
- A historical marker that tells about the area
- Picnic tables for outdoor meals
- A scenic overlook with views of Lake Huron
- Public access to the beach
Scenic Overlook Stairs
The stairs at the scenic overlook were a popular feature. However, for safety reasons, these stairs have been permanently removed. This happened on August 12, 2018.
