How Many Villages Named ‘Washington’ Were Once in Michigan?

There are numerous places across the country named after our first president...too many to mention. And Michigan is no slouch when it came to using the name on various locations.

Aside from the streets, roads, and businesses, there were a handful of communities in our state that sported that name.

1) The current village of Washington in Macomb County was founded in 1821 by Asahel Bailey who was the first person to buy land in that area. A post office soon followed in 1826. The township was organized later that year as ‘Washington’ in 1837, and the community so named itself after the township.

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2) The Washington in Sanilac County does not exist anymore. The first settler was a trapper by the name of John Jones (the original “Trapper John”?) followed by more hunters and outdoorsmen in 1850. A schoolhouse was built in 1852, Washington Township was organized in 1855, and a sawmill was constructed in 1857 by George Pack. The community was called “Pack’s Mill” after the sawmill owner but later changed to ‘Washington’ after the township.

Other ‘Washingtons’ in Michigan include Washington Heights in Calhoun County. It didn’t get a chance to become a village of its own as it became swallowed up iand a part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area.

One other is Washington Harbor, found at John’s Island on Isle Royale. Although the island is still listed on maps, the name of the harbor has been ignored for years and doesn’t seem to be listed anymore.