Newport, Michigan is an unincorporated community in Berlin Charter Township, Monroe County, in the southeast segment of the Lower Peninsula.
As an unincorporated community, Newport has no officially defined boundaries, but it is centered around Swan Creek Road, and includes the intersection of I-75 and I-275, extending north along both interstates, and on both sides of I-75, east to the mouth of Swan Creek, near its connection with Lake Erie.
Routes to and from the community include I-75, I-275, Swan Creek Road, and North Dixie Highway, as well as Armstrong Road, Brandon Road, Newport South Road, and Post Road.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Newport include South Rockwood, Estral Beach, Rockwood, Flat Rock, Carleton, Monroe, Gibraltar, Woodhaven, Trenton, Maybee, Riverview, Southgate, Luna Pier, Wyandotte, Taylor, Romulus, Grosse Ile, and Allen Park, while the unincorporated communities of Woodland Beach, Steiner, Detroit Beach, Golfcrest, Grafton, Pointe aux Peaux, and Stony Point are within ten miles.
While the unincorporated community of Old Port, to the east along Swan Creek Road, at its intersection with North Dixie Highway, is often recognized as a distinct location, the area is commonly referred to as part of Newport today, and we will include it in this portion of our guide.
Sometimes written as Oldport, Old Port was first known as Newport, but when the railroad came through about a mile west of the settlement, the railroad station was called Newport so, to avoid confusion, the older settlement took the name of Old Port, around 1836.
The first European settlement of the Newport area was by the French sometime before 1830. They named it Rivière aux Signes (Swan Creek). European-Americans began coming in the early 1830s. Within a few years, there were several sawmills in operation along the creek, one of which was built by William White in 1836.
When Michigan became a state in 1837, Newport was part of Ash Township, but the eastern part of the township and Newport were reorganized into Berlin Township in 1867.
A post office was established on August 16, 1836, with Safford Hopkins as postmaster. The post office was closed on July 1, 1841, but restored on August 16, 1842, with William White as postmaster. Today, the Newport post office is a branch of the Monroe postal service.
A Catholic mission was established in Newport in the late 1830s, and the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church was established in 1882. Located on Swan Creek Road, near North Dixie Highway, it is still in operation. The Catholic Church in Newport has two cemeteries, although the small earlier cemetery is no longer active. The older cemetery was formally established in 1851, although it has a grave that dates to 1802. It is likely that it was established on the grounds of an early French Catholic gravesite.
Newport once had a railroad depot that was used by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, the Michigan Central Railroad, and the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line Railroad. Although the depot is no longer in operation, two railroads continue to run through the community. The Norfolk Southern Railroad operates a single line, while the Canadian National Railway operates a dual-line. The original railroad depot was moved and restored, currently used as an educational building by the Newport Community Church.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the unincorporated community known as Newport, Michigan. Websites representing local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, sports programs, and recreational opportunities are appropriate resources for this category.
Recommended Resources
Organized from the eastern portion of Ash Township in 1867, Berlin Charter Township includes the village of South Rockwood, the village of Astral Beach, and the unincorporated communities of Newport and Oldport. The official township website posts directions to the township offices in Newport, council meeting dates and minutes, administrative and departmental contacts, public notices, and online payments of water or tax bills. Links to other local resources are included.
http://www.berlinchartertwp.com/
A working farm since 1866, the Newport, Michigan farm also offers scenic hayrides, fall corn mazes, evening campfires, pumpkins, and other fall activities and produce. Its prices and policies on group discounts, school visits, and private reservations are discussed, along with its normal hours of operation, special activities and events, telephone numbers, and an email address. Although these may differ from year to year, its fall produce includes pumpkins, Indian corn, and various gourds.
http://www.jwebbfarm.com/
Situated along Swan Creek Road in Newport, Michigan, the grocery store is open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week. Its telephone number and a contact form are set forth on the site, along with a link to its site where several varieties of beef jerky may be purchased online. Its catering services are outlined, special offers are highlighted, and its catering services, catering menus and prices, tent rentals, and party rentals are featured, and a gallery of photographs is included.
https://www.leesmarketrentalcateringmi.com/
Newport Firefighter's Association
The non-profit organization helps to support the Newport Volunteer Fire Department, as well as local schools and charitable organizations in Newport, Michigan, and the surrounding region. Its address, contacts, and a calendar of upcoming events are published on the site, as well as an overview of its main fundraiser, the annual Firefighter's Homecoming Festival, which is held each June. The organization also has a 10-acre facility that may be rented for various functions.
https://newportffa.com/
Located in Newport, Michigan, the elementary school is part of Airport Community Schools. The school site includes a parent-student portal, a school calendar, school menu, meal prices, and an application for free or reduced meals. Other resources include a staff directory, notifications, demographics, a photo gallery, office hours, and contacts, as well as a parent-student handbook, student registration schedules, and a downloadable registration form.
https://nce.airportschools.com/
The Roman Catholic parish is a continuation of Catholic ministries that began in the early 1800s, with its first building constructed in 1838. A timeline of parish history is displayed, regular mass schedules, seasonal and Holy Days schedules, and a calendar of upcoming events are published on the site, along with youth and adult formation schedules, and an overview of the church's ministries. Sunday offerings, special collections, and other contributions can be made online.
http://stcharlesnewport.org/
