Situated on both sides of the Saline River, Milan is mostly in Milan Township in Monroe County, although a portion of the city extends north into York Township in Washtenaw County, in the southeastern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
The chief route through the Milan is US-23, which runs generally north-south through the eastern portion of the city. Other routes include Carpenter Road (Dexter Street), Mooreville Road (West Main Street), Plank Road (East Main Street), Platt Road (Platt Street), Redman Road, North Sanford Road, and Wabash Road (Wabash Street).
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Milan include Saline, Dundee, Maybee, Britton, Ypsilanti, Petersburg, Ann Arbor, Clinton, Carleton, Tecumseh, Belleville, and Deerfield. Azalia and Cone are nearby unincorporated communities.
John Marvin became the first settler in the area that was to become Milan when he came in 1830, building a log cabin that served both as his home as well as a general store, serving travelers along a plank road that connected Monroe to Saline.
A tollgate was placed along the road at Milan. Each traveler was stopped at the toll booth in Milan and was required to pay five cents.
Bethuel Hack and Harmon Allen came to the area shortly after John Marvin. These men formed the nucleus for the town, although neither of them platted a townsite. Others soon followed, building houses along wagon trails, which were themselves built along Native American trails. By the spring of 1833, there were enough people there to justify the establishment of a post office, and Bethuel Hack became the first postmaster on March 27, 1833.
Originally, the post office was known as Farmersville, but when Henry Tolan, the town's first druggist, served as postmaster between 1834 and 1836, he renamed the post office Tolanville, for himself. On April 21, 1836, the post office took on the name of Milan, although the town was unofficially known as Woodward's Mills, for David A. Woodward, a mill owner, up until about 1860.
For a time, the town was known as Farmersville, Tolanville, Woodward's Mills, and Milan at the same time, depending on who was asked, and this resulted in some problems for the postal service. Despite a resolution from the Postmaster General on April 21, 1836, that mail to the town be directed to the post office of Milan, a lot of people were resistant to change, so it wasn't until the Civil War that Milan became generally accepted.
Milan was incorporated as a village in 1885, and it became a city in 1967.
The Toledo, Ann Arbor, and North Michigan Railroad established a station in Milan in 1878, and the Wabash Railroad further linked the community with other cities and villages in 1880, when its tracks intersected the Toledo, Ann Arbor, and North Michigan Railroad. Rail traffic continues to pass through Milan, although there is no longer a station in the city.
In addition to the sawmill and flour mill that were built in the mid-1830s, additional mills were opened in Milan, most of them operated by steam and water power made possible by the Saline River. In 1936, the Ford Motor Company purchased all of the remaining mills, and others along the river west of Wabash Road, so that the company could raise the water level of the river in order to create more power for the Ford Motor Company. This endeavor created Ford Lake and rerouted the river east of Wabash. In 1937, the Ford Motor Company, with the cooperation of the village, state, and federal governments, built a new dam and the Wabash Bridge at its current location. Ford operated plants there until 1947, at which time the company's holdings were sold to the City of Milan.
Several small schools were opened in 1837 but replaced by a large school at the corner of Hurd and Ferman in 1862. This school was destroyed by fire in 1900, but replaced, operating until the school district was consolidated in 1954. Currently, Milan Area Schools serves Lenawee, Monroe, and Washtenaw counties through four campuses: Paddock Elementary School (PK-2), Symons Elementary School (3-5), Milan Middle School (6-8), and Milan High School (9-12), all of which are located within the city limits.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the city of Milan, Michigan. Online resources for the city and any other governmental entities within the city, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities, are appropriate for this category.
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Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the low-security Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan features a detention center for male offenders. The address, driving directions, and policy information on visiting inmates in the facility are set forth, along with instructions for sending things to inmates, an admissions and orientation handbook for inmates, and other documents and reports. Job vacancies are posted, and an email address, phone number, and fax number are included.
https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/mil/
Based in the city of Milan, Michigan, the business offers a variety of services to its clients, including branding consultancy, digital marketing, and design. An overview of its responsive web design services and design capabilities, social media management services, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM) services, digital public relations (PR) campaigns. Some of the firm's clients are listed, and an online contact form is included.
https://www.milanmila.com/
Opened by David M. Frye, DVM, in 2003, the veterinary hospital offers full examinations and diagnostics, vaccinations, surgeries, stem-cell therapy, laser therapy, digital dental x-rays, microchipping, prescription diets, parasite control, and other services. Its location, a map, office hours, appointment policies, and an introduction to its staff are set forth, phone and fax numbers are posted, and informational articles on topics such as animal parasites, are included.
https://milanareaanimalhospital.com/
Milan Area Chamber of Commerce
Led by a volunteer board, the membership organization offers leadership opportunities to its members, marketing, and a variety of events that engage the public for the purposes of promoting commerce, making connections, and improving the community. Member benefits are listed, and a membership application may be completed online. Other resources include a business directory, a calendar of chamber and community events, a press kit, a photo gallery, announcements, and a newsletter.
https://milanchamber.org/
Organized in 1887, the department offers a wide range of public services, including emergency medical response, motor vehicle response, including extrication, as well as search and rescue, ice rescue, and hazardous materials response, as well as fire suppression services. Its coverage area, apparatus, firefighters, and employment opportunities are posted, along with a history of the department, a schedule of fire board meetings, and access to various documents, graphics, and applications.
http://www.milanareafire.com/
Situated south of Milan, the privately-owned beach resort is open to the public through a membership program that absolves Milan Beach from responsibility for damages while visiting the beach. Summer memberships are free for active military, law enforcement, and firefighters, while admission is free for senior citizens, handicapped persons, and children under twelve. Park rules are published on the site, including a list of prohibited items. Employment opportunities are posted on the site.
https://www.milanbeach.net/
Situated on Wabash Street in Milan, Michigan, the library offers a variety of in-house and online resources, many of which may be borrowed or downloaded. A catalog of books and other resources may be viewed, sorted by subject and genre, and its programs and services for children, teens, adults, and others are set forth, along with the library's policies for obtaining or renewing a library card. Its policies, location, hours of operation, and a calendar of events are included.
https://milanlibrary.org/
Settled in the early 1830s, Milan was incorporated as a village in 1885, and as a city in 1967. The official municipal website introduces the mayor, city council, boards, and commission members, along with meeting agendas and minutes, public notices, and departmental contacts. City ordinances, administrative contacts, press releases, and videos are published on the site, tax payments may be made online, and employment applications may be downloaded from the site.
https://milanmich.org/
The hotel is situated on Dexter Street in Milan, Michigan, just minutes from Milan Dragway. Its location is shown on a map, and an overview of area attractions is included, along with a description of the facilities, its meeting and event spaces, a list of amenities, and guest reviews. Its check-in and check-out times, phone and fax numbers, and pet policies are posted, and reservations may be made online, by telephone, or through a downloadable mobile application. Discounts may apply.
https://www.choicehotels.com/michigan/milan/sleep-inn-hotels/mi187
Chartered by the Milan American Legion Post 268, the troop meets on Tuesday evenings at the Marble Memorial United Methodist Church in Milan, Michigan. Associated with the Boy Scouts of America youth organization, the programs of the troop are led by the Boy Scouts, while adult leaders are present and involved in a support and guidance role. A profile of the troop is set forth, adult leaders are identified, and a photo gallery and links to BSA resources are included.
https://www.troopwebhost.org/Troop449Milan/
