Historical Markers in
Lenawee County, Michigan

A Bench By The Road A Tribute to Sage Union Adrian & The Republican Party Adrian Civil War Memorial Adrian College Adrian College Veterans Memorial Adrian Fire Department / Adrian Engine House No. 1 Adrian Monthly Meetinghouse / Raisin Valley Friends Church Adrian Union Hall Adrian's Governors Adrian's Prominent Leaders Al Meyers Airport All Gave Some - Some Gave All American Patriots Memorial An Gorta Mor An Gorta Mor Armistice (Veterans) Day Bertha Lapointe - Carriage Stone Birth Place of Will Carleton Blissfield Hotel Blissfield Veterans Memorial Camp Williams / Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Carpenter House Charles Miller Croswell Civil War Soldiers' Monument Clayton Veterans Memorial Clearwater Beach Entrance Clinton / Site of the Clinton Inn Clinton Downtown Historic District Clinton Falls Festival Veterans Memorial Bench Clinton Schools Clinton War Memorials Clinton Woolen Mill Cooley Law Office County Courthouse Davenport House Deerfield Township Unknown Dead Memorial Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad Erie and Kalamazoo Rail Road / Rail Road Evans House F-105G Thunderchief First Area In Lenawee County With A Civil War Monument First Presbyterian Church Fractional District No. 3 School Frank Navin & The Detroit Tigers G.A.R. Civil War Memorial George Deloss Bowman Memorial Bench Gerber Hill Park Gerber Hill Park, Lenawee County Governor Charles M. Croswell / Croswell House Grant B. Swift Hiram D. Ellis House History of Kiwanis Trail and Trestle Park History of the Adrian Kiwanis Club Irish Pioneers & Father Gabriel Richards Jasper Veterans Memorial Jira Payne House / The Smith-Kimball Family La Plaisance Bay Pike Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway / Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Bridge Laura Haviland Laura Smith Haviland Lenawee County Fairgrounds Lenawee County Korean War Memorial Lenawee County Spanish War Memorial Lenawee County Vietnam War Memorial Lenawee County World Terrorism Veterans Memorial Lenawee County World War Honor Roll Lenawee County World War II Memorial Lester D. Proctor Memorial Bench Location of First House in Lenawee County Macon Civil War Memorial Maple Grove Cemetery Veterans Memorial Bench Maple Lane Manor Morenci Civil War Memorial Morenci Veterans Memorial Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge / Taft Memorial Highway Oakwood Cemetery Ogden Evangelical Church Ogden Township Civil War Memorial Ogden Township Veterans Memorial Palmyra Presbyterian Church Professional Baseball in Adrian Ramsdell Nature Park Ray Wesley Herrick Ridgeville Veterans Memorial Riga Township Veterans Memorial Riverside Mortuary Chapel / Wirt Rowland Robertson Building Rollin Township Veterans Memorial Rome Center Veterans Memorial Sacred Heart Hall Saint Joseph Bell Saint Joseph Rectory Saint Joseph School Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library Second Baptist Church South Hall Bell Spirit of Cooperation St. John's Episcopal Church St. John's Lutheran Church St. Joseph Hospital and Home for the Aged St. Joseph Shrine St. Joseph's Catholic Church St. Joseph's Church / St. Joseph's Shrine St. Michael and All Angels Church Tecumseh Historical Mural Tecumseh World War Memorial The Antislavery - Underground Railroad Movement The Cane Ceremony The Centennial Mall The First House Built in Adrian The Gerber Oaks The Old Town Clock The Thinker This Limestone Cross U.S.S. Maine Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Bench Vietnam Veterans Memorial War Memorials War On Global Terrorism Memorial Wisner Wooden Stone School Woodstock Manual Labor Institute
The name "Michigan" comes from the Ojibwe word "mishigamaa," which means "large water" or "large lake." This refers to Lake Michigan, which is one of the five Great Lakes that border the state.
Michigan random facts
Lenawee County, located in southeastern Michigan, has a rich and diverse history. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi and Shawnee. European settlers arrived in the late 18th century, with the first permanent settlement established in 1824. The county was named after an Ottawa word meaning "man," paying homage to the Native American heritage.

In the 19th century, Lenawee County developed rapidly thanks to the construction of the Erie Canal, which provided a transportation route for settlers and goods. Agriculture played a crucial role in the county's early development, with farmers producing wheat, corn, and other crops. The county seat, Adrian, was founded in 1826 and quickly became a center for trade and commerce.

The mid-1800s saw the establishment of several educational institutions in Lenawee County. Adrian College was founded in 1859 and still operates as a liberal arts college today. The area also saw significant involvement in the Underground Railroad, with abolitionists helping to guide fugitive slaves to freedom.

In the 20th century, Lenawee County continued to thrive and diversify. Industries such as manufacturing and automobile production brought economic growth and increased employment opportunities. The county's agricultural sector also evolved, with an emphasis on dairy farming and fruit production. Today, Lenawee County is known for its scenic beauty, historic charm, and thriving communities, offering a combination of rural and urban amenities that attract residents and visitors alike.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Lenawee County, Michigan.

  • 1822: Lenawee County is officially organized and established.
  • 1827: Adrian, the county seat, is founded and established.
  • 1830: The Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad reaches Adrian, providing a significant boost to the local economy.
  • 1847: The first newspaper in the county, "The Lenawee Democrat," is published in Adrian.
  • 1861-1865: Lenawee County actively participates in the American Civil War, with many residents serving in Union forces.
  • 1912: The Adrian Training School for Feeble-Minded Children (later known as the Adrian State Home) is established.
  • 1925: Adrian College, a private liberal arts college, is founded.
  • 1959: Devils Lake State Park is officially dedicated, becoming a popular recreation area in the county.
  • 1969: The Croswell Opera House, a historic theater dating back to 1866, is reopened after restoration efforts.
  • 2001: The Michigan International Speedway, a NASCAR racetrack, hosts its first race in Lenawee County.