The unincorporated community of Sodus is the only named community in Sodus Township, Berrien County, in the southwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
Although the community is located in the northeast portion of the township, the township is small so anything within the township can be considered to be in Sodus.
Except for a small portion in the northwest, where the township's western boundary is M-139, most of its western, as well as its southern boundary, is formed by the St. Joseph River.
On the other side of the river is Royalton Township. Sodus Township shares a short western border with the unincorporated community of Fair Plain in Benton Charter Township, north of the St. Joseph River. Benton Township is also its northern neighbor, with Brainbridge Township to the northeast, Pipestone Township to the east, Berrien Township to the southeast, and Oronoko Charter Township to the south.
A new portion of US-31 rerouted the highway through Sodus Township, while I-94 crosses the northwest corner of the township, within the Sodus community.
Incorporated cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Sodus include Eau Claire, Benton Harbor, Berrien Springs, St. Joseph, Stevensville, Shoreham, Coloma, Baroda, Watervliet, Dowagiac, Niles, Buchanan, Bridgman, Hartford, Cassopolis, and Galien, while the unincorporated communities of Fair Plain, Spinks Corners, Millburg, Benton Heights, Hollywood, and Buckhorn are within ten miles.
From 1891 to 1990, the Tabor Farm Summer Resort was a large resort along the St. Joseph River in Sodus Township, but it closed in 1990. In the past, the township has had others, but the only retail establishment currently in operation in the township is one of several GreenMark Equipment branches, a John Deere dealership on Tabor Road.
It is likely that the first European-American business in Sodus was a sawmill built by James LaRue, a New Jersey native. He purchased land around the river to power his mill in 1835. The first permanent settlers, however, were two brothers, William and David Rector, who also came in 1835. The Rectors named the new community for Sodus, New York, where they had come from.
A flour mill was built along Pipestone Creek by Joab Enos in 1853. In 1891, Ernest Tabor established Tabor Farm Summer Resort on the banks of the river. Open during the summer months, it hosted reunions, conventions, and banquets. From 1961 to 1983, the resort was owned and operated by Alma and Valdas Adamkus, who later became President of Lithuania.
A post office was established on April 13, 1892, with Francis Finnegan as postmaster.
In this portion of our guide, we are focused on the community of Sodus, Michigan, although resources from anywhere in Sodus Township are appropriate for this category, including the official township website and any businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, recreational opportunities, and informational resources.
Recommended Resources
Chapel Hill United Methodist Church
The UMC congregation in Sodus, Michigan has its roots in United Brethren Classes that were organized in a local school as far back as 1861, originally established through the union of the Sodus and Shanghai United Brethren Classes in 1869, forming Chapel Hills, which united with the Naomi Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1966. Its history, location, church office hours, and contacts are posted, along with a calendar of events, a statement of beliefs, and volunteer opportunities.
https://chapelhillmethodist.org/
References to River School owning property for a school lot are found as far back as 1835, although there is no direct evidence of just when the original school was built, although a one-room school existed in 1862. After several additions were added, it was destroyed by fire in 1927, but replaced by a two-room school later that year. The school's location is on River Road in Sodus, Michigan, where it serves students in grades K-8, as one of the smallest school districts in the state.
https://riverschoolk8.org/
The civil township is in Berrien County, in the southwestern portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Its only named settlement is the unincorporated community of Sodus. The official township website includes a profile and brief history of the township, along with the location of the township offices, office hours, and contacts. Township meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are posted, along with contacts for the township departments, public notices, and links to other online resources.
https://sodustwp.org/
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Established in 1916, the congregation is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Located along Naomi Road in Sodus, Michigan, the church meets on Sundays for worship and Sunday School, Mondays for Bible Information Class, Wednesdays for Bible Study, Thursdays for Confirmation, and for other programs on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Its location, a map, staff contacts, a calendar of events, live streaming of Sunday services, and announcements are included.
https://www.stpaulsodus.com/
In business since 1995, the Sodus, Michigan company is a member of the Textile Bag and Packaging Association. Serving the food, chemical, landscaping, pharmaceutical, agricultural, environmental, retail, government, and other industries, the company can handle small specialty orders or larger, more complex, orders for durable bags. Its products include bulk bags, polyethylene bags, TELLAP, woven polypropylene bags, paper, and multi-wall bags, and other packaging products.
https://www.suncoastpkg.com/
