Situated in Vermontville Township, east Eaton County, in the south-central portion of the Lower Peninsula, the Village of Vermontville, Michigan is concentrated at the intersection of Vermontville Highway (West Main Street, East Main Street) and Ionia Road (North Main Street, South Main Street).
Other routes include Allegan Road and Round Lake Road.
The Paul Henry-Thornapple Rail Trail, commonly known as the Thornapple Trail or the Paul Henry Trail, forms the village's southernmost boundary. When completed, the trail will be forty-two miles long, running from Vermontville to Grand Rapids, closely following the original route of the Grand River Valley Railroad, which ceased operations in 1983. The trail will connect with the Frederik Meijer Trail and the East-West Trail, both in Kentwood, while a section of the trail from Irving to Middleville is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Vermontville include Nashville, Sunfield, Woodland, Charlotte, Bellevue, Potterville, Lake Odessa, Hastings, Mulliken, Olivet, Dimondale, Portland, Grand Ledge, Eaton Rapids, Freeport, Clarksville, and Eagle, while the unincorporated communities of Chester, Gresham, Stalls Corner, Little Venice, Shaytown, and Carlisle are within ten miles.
Most of the homes in Vermontville are single-family residences. Most of these are stick-built, with very few modular structures. Other than agriculture, there are few industries in the village, largely due to its distance from an interstate highway system and limited public water and sewer facilities. The central business district in Vermontville is along South Main, at the intersection of North and South Main.
One of the larger employers in the village is Maple Valley Schools, with Maple Elementary School situated within the village limits. Other significant employers are Michigan Magnetics, Citizens Elevator, and the Non-Ferrous Company.
At one time, the surrounding region was the primary maple syrup-producing area in the state. Commemorating this, the village hosts an annual Maple Syrup Festival each spring.
As of the 2020 census, Vermontville has a population of 716. Its peak population was 857 in 1970, but it has declined each decade since, except for a slight increase in 2000.
European-American settlement of the area was made possible by the Treaty of Saginaw, in which the Ojibwe were required to cede a large tract of land that included all of Eaton County. Construction of the Erie Canal also brought people to Michigan from the Eastern states.
Although there were a few settlers in the early 1830s, the area began to grow into a settlement in 1835 when the Rev. Sylvester Cochrane came and decided to found a Congregationalist colony in the area. When he learned that there were only a few scattered settlers, he returned to Vermont that winter and began to organize Congregationalists to settle the area in what was to be called the Union Colony.
The following spring, the Congregationalists came, acquired land, and settled on it. Among the leaders of the Union Colony were S.S. Church, William G. Henry, Walt J. Squire, and Colonel J.B. Scovill. After acquiring land, they laid out the village, one mile long east and west, and a half-mile north and south, according to plans that had been determined in Vermont. In addition, farm lots were located in the area surrounding the village.
The new town was organized in 1837, and a post office was established on June 13, 1840, with Dr. Dewey H. Robinson as postmaster.
The Congregational Church and a school was organized in 1838. The first class was taught in a private home, but a log schoolhouse was constructed that fall. In 1843, a new Congregational Chapel was built on the northwest corner of the square to be used for both the church and school. Still standing, both it and the original Congregational Church are registered as state and federal historic buildings. The current Congregational Church was built in 1862, and the Methodist (United) Church was moved to the Public Square in 1877.
Today, Vermontville is largely a residential community. Agriculture continues to play a part in the village's economy, with agricultural land taking up a significant part of Vermontville's total land area.
The village has three public parks. The Public Square is in the center of the village and includes a Vietnam Veteran's memorial, as well as playground equipment and picnic tables. The Water Tower lot on Third Street has a Pee-Wee ball field, a T-ball field, a basketball court, playground equipment, and a pavilion. East First Street park is used by a youth baseball league during the summer months and is available for public use the rest of the time.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the Village of Vermontville, Michigan. Topics relating to the village or entities within the village are appropriate.
Recommended Resources
Maple Valley is a Class C school district of approximately a thousand students in grades pre-school through the twelfth grade, operating Fuller Street Elementary School, Maplewood Elementary School, Maple Valley Junior/Senior High School, and Pathways High School, each of which is featured here. District and campus office hours and contacts are posted, along with daily schedules, a calendar of upcoming events, lunch menus, transportation information, and volunteer and visitor assessments.
https://mvs.k12.mi.us/
Affiliated with IFCA International, the church is located on North Main Street in Vermontville, Michigan. Office contacts and contacts for the church's pastor are set forth, along with a statement of beliefs and purpose, and an introduction to the pastor. Its congregational and community ministries and missions are outlined, and a weekly bulletin, links to its sermon archive, a photo gallery, and a calendar of upcoming programs and events are published on the site.
https://www.vermontvillebiblechurch.com/
Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival
The original maple syrup festival in Michigan came about in 1940 when Vermontville syrup producers gathered together to discuss a way to increase sales of their product. Held during the last full weekend in April, the festival weekend features carnival rides, a talent show, arts and crafts events, a flea market, parades, a petting zoo, a princess pageant, games, free entertainment, a pancake derby, arm wrestling, and various displays. Directions, schedules, and contacts are included.
https://www.syrupfest.org/
Organized in 1837 out of Bellevue Township, the civil township is in Eaton County, Michigan. The official township website explains the difference between general law (civil) and charter townships and features contacts for the township offices, clerk's hours, treasurer's hours, and a list of township officials. Also included are meeting schedules, public notices, and information about the township fire department, library, and cemetery. Tax data is also available.
https://vermontvilletownship.org/
Situated in Vermontville Township, Eaton County, the village is home to the annual Maple Syrup Festival. The official municipal website publishes public notices, village ordinances and zoning information, policies and procedures, a village street map, and the village's master plan. Other resources include a guide to local churches, businesses, and municipal facilities and services. Information about wireless Internet at the Community Building is included.
https://vermontville-mi.gov/
