Situated in north-central Riga Township, in southeastern Lenawee County, Riga, Michigan is southwest of US Highway 223, along Riga Highway and its intersections with Cemetery Road, Wegner Road, and East Horton Road.
As an unincorporated community, Riga does not have defined boundaries, although it is the only named locality in the township.
Michigan cities and villages within twenty-five miles from Riga include Blissfield, Deerfield, Petersburg, Adrian, Britton, Tecumseh, Dundee, Luna Pier, Clinton, and Morenci, as well as the Ohio localities of Richfield Center, Amboy, Sylvania, Harding, Ottawa Hills, Fulton, Holland, Swanton, Monclova, and Swan Creek.
Riga Township is largely rural and agricultural, with scattered forest areas. The most intensive areas of development are near the village, although pockets of residential developments can be found along some of the township roads.
The small, residential community has just a few businesses serving local residents and passersby along US-223.
The first European-American settler is believed to have been John Knight, who took a land claim in 1844, and when the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway came through, a station was established as Knight's Station. Later, the railroad was operated by the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad, and then the Toledo & Western Railroad.
Later, the Reverend Kroenke had the name changed to that of the German hometown of his college roommate, and a post office was established as Riga on February 12, 1851, with Roswell W. Knight as postmaster.
Subject matter for this portion of our guide is focused on the Riga, Michigan community, including local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, and recreational opportunities.
Recommended Resources
Owned and operated by a father-daughter team, Paradise Farms breeds and raises Arabian horses, including award-winning performance horses, and is a founder of the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Association, and an Arabian Horse Association Discovery Farm. Its site features legacy animals, and highlights its mares, and horses available for sale, displaying several photographs. The owners, Frank Szymanski and Jessie Szymanski-Hoag, may be contacted through the site, and the address of the farm is posted.
https://paradisefarmsarabians.com/
Situated along Cemetery Road in Riga, Michigan, the cemetery serves the village and township. The Find a Grave website features photographs of the grounds, as well as the headstones of people interred within the facilities, and other details, such as the dates of birth and death, cross-references with interred family members, a map showing its location, and links to nearby cemeteries. Visitors to the site may upload photographs, memorials, and additional information for inclusion.
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1484/riga-cemetery
The civil township in Lenawee County includes the unincorporated village of Riga, situated in the north-central portion of the township. The official township website features a schedule of upcoming events, past and proposed master plans, maps, tax and zoning data, election information, hall rental policies, and employment opportunities, as well as announcements, township meeting agendas and minutes, permit applications, ordinances, and policies. Contacts are also posted.
http://www.rigatownship.com/
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Founded in 1900, St. John's was an independent Lutheran church, with pastors supplied by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), until 1976, when it was officially affiliated with the Wisconsin Synod. Located in Riga, Michigan, the congregation is made up of residents from Riga, as well as Adrian, Blissfield, Britton, Palmyra, or Toledo, some of whom drive a half hour to attend services at St. John's. Service schedules, an event calendar, and an overview of its ministries are set forth.
https://www.stjohnsriga.net/
