Manchester, Michigan is in southwest Washtenaw County, in the southeastern portion of the Lower Peninsula.
The village is in northeastern Manchester Township, with which the village shares much. The River Raisin flows through the center of the village.
The only incorporated city or village within ten miles of Manchester is Clinton, about eight miles to the north-northwest. Others within twenty miles of the village are Chelsea, Tecumseh, Saline, Brooklyn, Grass Lake, Adrian, Britton, Onstead, and Dexter.
The area that was later to become Manchester was acquired by the United States government through the 1807 Treaty of Detroit with the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandotte, and Potawatomi Native American tribes, although European-Americans did not immediately settle the area.
The first documented European-Americans to come through the area of the current village were John Mudget Mack, Hosey Harris, and Oliver Parker, who completed the land survey for Manchester Township in 1824. John Gilbert, manager of the Pontiac Land Company, acquired 80 acres in the area in 1826, and another 160 acres north of his original River Raisin frontage in 1831. However, he didn't settle there.
In the spring of 1833, he arranged to have a dam, mill race, bridge, and grist mill built, with Emanuel Case as the general contractor and mill operator, and William S. Carr and Elijah Carr preparing timber for the mill. His son, Harry S. Gilbert, came to the area as overseer and carpenter. That same year, Gilbert had the townsite platted by Hiram Burnham. By 1835, he owned 440 acres in Manchester.
In November of 1835, Gilbert sold all of his Manchester holdings to Stephen Fargo, who brought his brother James, wife Eliza, and Shepherd and Catherine Knapp in as co-owners.
Built in 1832, the Manchester Mill operated as a grist mill until 1981. Although no longer in operation, the building still sits along the River Raisin, next to the dam that powered it. Stephen and James Harvey Fargo opened the Fargo & Fargo General Store in 1833, with James operating the business. Originally situated within the flour mill structure, it was moved to its own building opposite the mill in 1835.
While some histories of the village hold that the Manchester was named for Manchester, New York, as that was the hometown of some of its original settlers, while others claim that it was named for Manchester, England, an acclaimed center of water-powered manufacturing at the time. Likely, both played into the choice of the name.
Although the village has experienced population declines in 1910 and 1920, likely due to the downturn of the timber industries, and a slight decline in 2010, its history has mostly been one of steady growth. Manchester first appears on a census roll in 1880 with a population of 1,156, its current population is just above 2,100.
Today, the village is largely residential, with single-family detached homes making up the majority of its housing, and more than 60% of the homes in the township are located within the village, which also includes a mix of duplexes, multi-unit apartments, townhouses, and mobile homes.
The village's commercial area is concentrated in a two-block area along Main Street, for the most part, although a second commercial area is west of the central business district along Austin Road. Industrial properties are concentrated along M-52 and Austin Road, in the southern part of the village.
The focus of this category is on the village of Manchester, Michigan. Appropriate topics include online resources for the municipal or township governments, as well as local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, sporting activities, and recreational or entertainment venues.
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Recommended Resources
The apartment community in Manchester, Michigan offers one, two, and three-bedroom apartment units for rent. Its floor plans are published on the site, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, monthly rent, deposit requirements, square footage, and other details, including a photo tour of the property. The office location, hours, and phone and fax numbers are provided, along with a list of amenities, and directions. Applications may be made online, and residents have a private login.
https://www.manchesteraptsmi.com/
Manchester Community Resource Center
The CRC was organized in the late 1980s when a large manufacturer in Manchester closed, leaving several families in need. The CRC works to provide solutions to community problems by mobilizing people and resources. Board members, meeting schedules, and annual reports are posted on the site, along with contacts, office hours, and contacts, information about its services, its food pantry, and ways in which interested people can help. Upcoming events and notices are posted to the site.
http://manchestercrc.org/
Situated in Manchester, Michigan, the public school district serves southwest Washtenaw County, offering a K-12 curriculum, as well as art education, physical education, voice, and instrumental music, business and technology courses, career and technical training, athletics, foreign languages, and advanced placement courses. The district operates an early childhood program, Luther. C. Klager Elementary School, Riverside Intermediate School, and Manchester Junior/Senior High School.
https://www.manchesterschools.us/
Located on West Main Street in Manchester, Michigan, the market offers an artisan bakery, butchery, farmers market, cafe, and authentic Italian gelato. Its suppliers and partners are acknowledged, several photographs of the market are provided, along with an informational video, and its address and location, hours of operation, and telephone number are published on the site. Career information includes employment opportunities, job descriptions, wage information, and other data.
https://manchestermarketmi.com/
One mile west of the village of Manchester, Michigan, the membership organization operates a gun range, and offers a variety of programs, including a youth trap program, a youth pistol and rifle program, hunter safety courses, a trap league, pellet league, 3-D archery league, and others. Membership levels and policies are defined, along with annual work requirements, range rules, a club calendar, facility rental information, a photo gallery, a list of officers, and contact information.
http://www.manchestersportsmanclub.net/
Established in 1837, the civil township is in the southwestern corner of Washtenaw County. The official township website features the address of the township offices in the village of Manchester, office hours, and contacts are included. The township board, planning commission, board of review, board of appeals, and joint planning commission are introduced, and meeting agendas and minutes, tax data, ordinances, zoning documents, and a guide to township facilities and services are included.
https://twp-manchester.org/
Locally owned and operated, the Manchester, Michigan store offers a variety of products, including antiques, vintage farmhouse items, home decor, local art, candles, soaps, gifts, and others. Its location and a map showing its location are displayed, as well as its store hours, telephone number, email address, and an introduction to the proprietors. Interested people may subscribe to the store's newsletter that includes updates about the business. Several photos of the interior are included.
http://www.riverraisinantiques.com/
Supported by several arts programs and councils, Riverfolk Music & Arts was organized in 2004, and operates year-round with a free Gazebo series, and ticketed Blacksmith Shop series in the fall/winter season, as well as sponsoring an after-school string program for youth, and a partnership with the county parks to offer a Summer Music Camp for youth and adults. Its regular programs and events are highlighted, a calendar of events is posted, and its educational programs and projects are noted.
https://www.riverfolkmusicandarts.org/
Village of Manchester, Michigan
The official municipal website features the history and a profile of the village, along with community demographics, and a guide to village parks and facilities, recreational programs, and civic organizations. Contacts for the village administrative offices, departments, councils, and commissions are provided, along with meeting agendas and minutes, ordinances, election data, tax information, and public notices. Various forms and documents may be downloaded from the site.
https://vil-manchester.org/
