Bordered on the south by Ohio, Morenci is the southernmost city in Michigan. In Lenawee County, it is otherwise bordered by Medina and Seneca townships.
The Tiffin River begins as Bean Creek, which enters the city in the northwest, flows south through the city, where it becomes the Tiffin River, which continues south into Ohio. The Tiffin River is joined by Silver Creek, which enters the city from the east, flowing southwest to drain into the Tiffin River near the state line. Carter Drain enters the city in the northeast, flowing south to join Silver Creek shortly after the creek enters the city.
The chief route through the city are M-156, which begins at the Ohio state line with Star Route 108, and runs north to M-34 in Clayton. Other routes include Morenci Road (Main Street), Weston Road, and Yankee Road (Coomer Street). Sims Highway forms the city's western boundary, and Fay Highway forms a portion of its eastern border.
Michigan cities and villages within twenty miles of Morenci include Clayton, Waldron, Hudson, and Adrian, while the unincorporated communities of Canandaigua and Medina are within ten miles, as are the Ohio localities of Oakshade, Royalton, and Fayette.
Although its population has declined slightly during three of the last five decades, Morenci has mostly experienced steady growth, with a population above two thousand.
European-Americans began settling the area of Morenci in the early 1830s, mostly along Bean Creek. The virgin forest supplied timber and the creek furnished water power for grist mills and sawmills. In 1836, William Sutton opened a tavern, and Japheth Whitman opened a general store. A post office was established on October 12, 1838, with Japheth Whitman as postmaster. The post office was named Morenci, although the origins of the name are disputed.
The first hotel in the community was known as the Morenci House, and a furniture store and undertaking parlor were opened in 1851 by Silas A. Scofield. Franklin Cawley, who had come to the community in 1836, made the first plat of the townsite in 1852, naming it Brighton. However, as there was already another Brighton in Michigan, the village retained the name of Morenci.
Morenci became home to two railroads. The first was an interurban line that operated under several names, including the Ohio and Morenci. The O&M was created in 1833 to purchase the Toledo & Western Railroad along the Michigan and Ohio border. It operated from Allen Junction in Ohio to Morenci, Michigan, handling freight and passenger traffic. Its freight operations continued even after its interurban service was eliminated. The company went bankrupt several times. Passenger service was discontinued in 1933. The other was the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern/New York Central Railroad (LSM/NYC). Planning to reach Chicago from Canada, the Canada Southern got as far west as Fayette, Ohio, where it stopped and became the Fayette Branch of the LSM/NYC. Later, it truncated back to Morenci, and the line was served by a turn from Adrian to Fayette or Morenci, which returned back to Adrian.
Morenci was incorporated as a village in 1871 and became a city in 1934.
At one time, Morenci had more than seventy business and three schools, as well as doctors and law offices. Although it was never a large town, it served as the commercial center for a much larger area. Besides the railroad, a couple of stage lines served the town.
The first child born in Morenci was Mariette Beckwith, who later became the mother of E.D. Stair, who contributed money to build the Stair Auditorium, Stair Gymnasium, Stair Public Library, and for other causes. Unfortunately, many of Morenci's historical structures were demolished in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Morenci Fire Department began in the 1870s as the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 and a Fire and Bucket Brigade. Its first motorized fire engine was acquired in 1914, the second in 1924, and the third in 1934. Today, the Fire Department is a paid-on-call department that covers the city, Seneca and Medina townships, and Chesterfield Township in Ohio.
Morenci Area EMS provides emergency medical services to the city, as well as Medina and Seneca townships in Lenawee County, and Chesterfield Township in Fulton County, Ohio.
The Morenci Area School District serves Morenci, and parts of Medina, Seneca, Dover, Hudson, and Fairfield townships, operating an elementary school, and a combined middle and high school.
The city maintains twenty-eight acres of park and recreation property within the city limits, including Wakefield Park, Stephenson Park, Riverside Natural Area, and the sports facilities of the school district.
Morenci has a traditional downtown district, which contains the majority of the city's commercial businesses, although others are scattered throughout the city.
The focus of this category is on websites of businesses within the city.
 
 
Recommended Resources
Sharing a border with Ohio, Morenci is in Lenawee County, Michigan. The official municipal website publishes a municipal calendar, meeting agendas, minutes, and public notices, as well as several downloadable documents. Included is a guide to the city offices, departments, public safety services, community facilities and services, cemeteries, schools, and economic development and planning resources and information. Live feeds of city council meetings are also available.
https://www.cityofmorenci.org/
The Morenci, Michigan construction company offers renovations and remodeling services, kitchen and bathroom remodel, installation of windows, doors, and hardwood flooring, and custom woodworking. Several examples of the company's past work are illustrated in photographs and descriptions, and the company's office address, telephone number, email address, and social media contacts are posted. An online contact form is available for specific services, or for general inquiries.
https://www.thegenerationbuilders.com/
The public school system provides a PK-12th-grade through Morenci Elementary School and Morenci Middle and High School, which are featured here, along with a district calendar, elementary school calendar, and a middle/high school calendar. Contacts for school and district administrative offices, as well as the bus garage, are set forth, along with its athletics programs, cafeteria menus, parent and student portals, and staff contacts. Various applications and forms may be downloaded.
https://www.morencibulldogs.org/
Morenci Church of the Nazarene
Affiliated with the global Church of the Nazarene, the largest Wesleyan-Holiness denomination, the Morenci, Michigan congregation meets at its facilities on North Summit Street. Its Sunday and Wednesday service and program schedules are posted, along with a calendar of events, and contacts, as well as an introduction to the church for those who may be attending for the first time. Its small group programs are outlined, and links to its sermon archive are provided.
http://morencinazarene.com/
Organized in 1882, the congregation's first church burned in 1913 and was rebuilt as the Union Church of Seneca. The church closed between 1920 and 1940, and was reopened in 1947. Its history, a statement of beliefs, and an introduction to the church's pastor are posted, along with information about its ministries, events, missionaries, and global outreach activities. Service schedules are posted, recent sermons may be viewed online, and services are also live-streamed.
https://www.senecacommunitychurch.org/
Serving the City of Morenci and portions of Medina and Seneca townships in the Morenci Area School District, the library is on West Main Street in Morenci, Michigan. The library board of trustees is identified, staff contacts are posted, and its hours of operation and contacts are included. Its programs and resources for children and teens, its research facilities, virtual events, and a community calendar are set forth. Interlibrary loan requests and other online resources are posted.
https://www.stairlib.org/