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The City of Hudson, Michigan borders Pittsford Township in Hillsdale County on the west, but is otherwise surrounded by Hudson Township in Lenawee County.

Hudson is situated along US-127 (South Meridian Road), which forms the city's western border. Other routes to and from the city include Carleton Road (East Main Street), Hudson Road (West Main Street), Cramer Highway (Church Street), Foster Highway (South Wood Street), Maple Grove Highway (North Maple Grove Avenue), Munson Highway, and Cadmus Road, which forms the city's northern border. Hudson Road and Carleton Road are also known as M-34.

Cities and villages within twenty miles of Hudson include Clayton, Addison, Waldron, Morenci, North Adams, Adrian, Onsted, and Hillsdale, in Michigan, as well as the Ohio cities of Fayette, Alvordton, and Chesterfield.

Bean Creek flows through the center of town, and forms a small portion of the city's northwestern border.

The first European-American settlers came to the area that became Hudson in the early 1830s. Acknowledged as the community's first settler, Hiram Kidder came with his wife and family in 1833. As others came, the new community was first known as Bean Creek, for the stream that flowed through it.

A post office was established on April 19, 1836, and named Lanesville for Beriah H. Lane, a principal landowner, and the first postmaster. However, in 1840, the townspeople voted to change the community's name to that of the township, which Hiram Kidder had named for Dr. Daniel Hudson, one of the town's first landowners. Its post office was renamed Hudson on April 27, 1840.

The Southern line of the State of Michigan Railroad was the first to come through in the 1850s and was purchased by the Michigan Southern Railroad. It later became the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and, in 1916, it became part of the New York Central system. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern built a stone depot with conical roofs and a tower. Later, the Cincinnati Northern established an eight-track yard in Hudson that included water and coaling facilities. The CN was a north-south track that crossed over the top of the LSMS on a small bridge, but there were no physical connections between the two railroads, which both eventually became part of the New York Central system.

Hudson was incorporated as a village in 1853 and became a city in 1893. In its early years as a city, Hudson was a significant commercial center for Hillsdale and Lenawee counties, and several impressive buildings were built during this time, many of which are now within the Downtown Hudson Historic District, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

William McKendree Carleton, Poet Laureate of Michigan, was born just east of Hudson in 1845, where he returned in 1907 and was buried upon his death in 1912.

Although the city has experienced several decades of decline, they alternated with periods of population increases, so its population has remained relatively stable since 1870 when its population was 2,450. Its peak population was 2,618 in 1970, and its population in 2010 was 2,307.

The focal point of this category is on the City of Hudson, Michigan. Topics related to the city government, or to any individuals, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, or events within the city, are appropriate for this guide.

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