Livingston County
History
Livingston County has not developed overnight.
Centrally located within one hour of the major metropolitan
areas of Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Lansing, early
settlers were attracted to the Livingston County area
not because of its location (as is the case today) but
rather because of the opportunity to receive free land.
Following the war of 1812, the Federal Government provided
any veteran of that war with 160 acres of free land
in Michigan. However, surveyors indicated that the land
in and around Livingston county was extremely wet and
poorly suited for farming. Since this caused many of
the soldiers to accept free land in Missouri rather
than in Michigan, the Governor requested a new survey.
This second survey found much of the rolling hills and
sparsely wooded land well suited for agricultural uses.
Rather than give this exceptional land away, the State
began to sell the originally free section parcels for
$2.00 to $3.00 per acre.
The territory was originally part of Shiawassee and
Washtenaw counties until 1833 when an act of the state
legislature provided for the establishment of Livingston
County. Named after Edward Livingston, the Secretary
of State under President Andrew Jackson, the County
began its slow settlement during the early 1830's in
the areas now known as Green Oak and Hamburg Townships.
Coincidently, these communities are now two of the fastest
growing and most heavily populated in the county. As
indicated by the second survey, the soils were excellent
for farming. The land was also abundant with fish and
game, including bear and wolf. It is interesting to
note that both Chippewa and Pottawatamie Indians were
seen on occasion. However, there is no recorded history
of violence between the settlers and the Indians.
Indian trail ways through Livingston County formed
some of the major transportation corridors of today,
including Grand River Avenue and White Lake Road. The
development of the Grand River Trail from Detroit to
Lansing proved to be an impetus for growth. Livingston
Center, now known as the city of Howell, was centrally
located between the two cities, as on the stagecoach
route connecting the cities, and was a natural rest
stop for travelers making the long trip by foot and/or
by horseback. As was the case one hundred years ago,
the location of Howell and its surrounding communities
combine with the natural rolling hills and lakes to
continue to draw settlers to the County.
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