A PEEK AT THE PAST...
Michigan Facts
by Leonard DeFrain

The state of Michigan is 9,745 square miles larger than the state of New York; 13,700 larger than Pennsylvania; 17,855 larger than Ohio; 22,565 larger than Indiana; and 2,265 larger than Illinois.

It has a coastline of 1,600 miles - more than half the distance between New York and Liverpool.

When the state of Michigan was admitted into the Union, it ranked 23rd in population. In 1883, it ranked ninth.

Huron Peninsula

The Huron Peninsula is that fertile stretch of land projecting into the waters of Lake Huron on the east and north, with Saginaw Bay upon its western boundary. The peninsula is known as the “Thumb of the Michigan Mitten.” The rich and beautiful rural district, with its undulating surface, its extensive coastline, its numerous safe harbors, beautiful rivers, gurgling springs and healthful climate render it a section of growing interest to the crowded denizens of the older states and neighboring provinces.

In brief, the peninsula possesses all the advantage of older sections, foremost in its schools, educational facilities and churches, dotted with live, rapidly growing villages, enjoying the most ample mercantile facilities and with every advantage in lines of railroad, steam and sailing vessels, and close proximity to the leading markets. Indeed the Huron Peninsula has a water shed distinct from that of the rest of the state. The central portion of the peninsula is an elevated plateau rising some 400 feet in Sanilac and Tuscola Counties, and extending into a range of hills in the southern portion of Huron County.

Huron County consists of 27 organized townships, and is the extreme northern portion of the peninsula, with an area of 480,000 acres, of which 60,081 were improved. There was a population of 20,084 and 1,882 farms at the taking of the 1880 census.