Milan is a charming small city located 16 miles from Ann Arbor and 37 miles from Toledo. The area’s early growth was due to excellent farmland and power available from the Saline River, in addition to the railroad passing through. Today Milan is known for its tree-lined streets, historic neighborhoods, unique downtown businesses, and excellent schools. With a strong sense of community and connection, Milan residents enjoy the advantages of small-town life, including public parks, recreational opportunities for kids and adults, and downtown events such as Third Thursdays, parades, car shows, and more.
Although there is evidence of humans in the area that would become Milan as far as 11,000 years ago, the first officially recognized inhabitants of the southern Michigan area were Native Americans from the Miami and Potawatomi tribes. In the wilderness, they hunted wild game and fished in the nearby river. They also grew their food, including corn, squash, beans, rice, and tobacco. From the sap of maple trees, they made sugar, and in the forest, they held large gatherings.
The Treaty of Detroit was signed in 1807, transferring a large chunk of land from the Native Americans to the government, including Milan. Later, that same land was resold in pieces to early settlers from eastern states and Europe. By the 1830s, many Native Americans were being pushed west by the government as pioneers were buying land and building settlements in the area. An early timeline, up to the 2020s, traces some of the major developments of Milan that forged the thriving city it has become today.
1830s
In 1831, John Marvin settled in the area that would become Milan. He built a log cabin that housed both his living quarters and a general store to help travelers and homesteaders in the area. That same year, farmers Bethuel Hack and Harmon Allen arrived as well. These three men and their families would form the core of the future village.
In 1833, there were enough settlers in the area to justify the need for a post office. The United States Postmaster General appointed Bethuel Hack as the first postmaster. At that time, the post office was designated as Farmersville because it was primarily an agricultural settlement.
In 1834, a grist mill was established by David A. Woodard.
In 1834, David A. Woodard, operator of the local mill, became postmaster. He renamed the post office, Woodard Mills, in honor of himself and as a way to give his business free advertising. In the years between 1834 and 1836, Henry Tolan, operator of a small drug store, became postmaster and renamed the post office Nolanville. Meanwhile, during these same years, some members of the community referred to the town as Milan, as the town was located in Milan Township. The name Milan was chosen by Italian immigrants in honor of one of the main cities in their homeland. It is also said that the name Milan was given to that township by French explorers who hoped to turn the area along the River Raisin and Saline River into a wine-growing region like Milan in Italy. Needless to say, there was some confusion in mail delivery at this time, due to the many name changes.
In 1836, the Postmaster General decreed that all mail to the village be directed to the post office of Milan. However, it took several more years for the name confusion to die down and the name Milan to be used by all residents.
In 1837, the first school opened in the village. It was built of logs and was located in the 100 block of East Main Street.
1840s
In 1845, Elijah Ellis built the Ellis building, one of the first stores downtown.
In 1848, John Spaulding donated one acre of land to Milan Township for a public cemetery, known as Spaulding Cemetery. The last known burial at the cemetery was held around 1916.
1850s
In the 1850s, John McLaren and Thomas Wilson operated a flour mill. In the 1850s, William Haywood and John Smith ran a general store and sawmill.
1860s
In the 1860s, several Milan residents served in the Civil War, including Ira F. Bortles, John Burnham, Lyman Burnham, Richard Callis, James Colf, and George H. Culver. They are buried in Marble Park Cemetery.
In 1867, Milan Township’s population was 1,100 and they received four mail deliveries per week.
1870s
In the 1870s, the railroad came through Milan.
In 1877, the population of the village of Milan was approximately 250. Because the soil was rich, many farmed the land. Also, a machine shop, cider mill, grist mill, sawmill, and hoop factory were operated at this time.
1880s
In 1881, the Milan Morning Sun, a newspaper, was established by Galen Oderkirk.
In 1882, a brick school building was built on the corner of Hurd Street and Ferman Avenue, one block north of Main Street.
In 1885, Milan was officially established as a village, with a Village President and Village Council.
In 1887, a Civil War Memorial was erected in Marble Park Cemetery.
In 1887, with the railroad crossing and increased manufacturing and shipping opportunities, Milan expanded. Among the manufacturing enterprises were a roller process flouring mill, two steam sawmills, two stave factories, cider and planing mills, a foundry, an Alden evaporating works (for preserving fruits), and extensive brick and tile works.
In 1888, the Hack House was built by Olive Friend. Olive built this house, on land she purchased from her Uncle Henry Hack, as a place to take refuge after being involved in a stock scandal in New York City. The home is now owned by the Milan Historical Society and on the National Register of Historic Places.
1890s
In 1891, a fire broke out downtown, destroying several businesses and two barns.
In 1896, Joel L. Marble and his wife Florence founded Marble Park Cemetery.
In 1896, the Milan Leader, a weekly newspaper, was published by A.B. Smith.
In 1897, the Old Milan Fire Barn was built. It was used as a fire station until 1979.
1900s
In 1900, the schoolhouse burned down and was replaced by a larger, more modern building.
In 1900, the first official Fire Company was formed and a new hose cart was purchased.
In 1901, the Stimpson Hotel was built by Walter Stimpson. It was an Italianate, brick building later named the Danube Inn.
In 1903, pipes were laid and two fire hydrants were installed in the village.
In 1904, the village installed a bell in J.F. Dexter’s shop to be used as a fire alarm.
In 1907, a tower on the back of the Fire Barn was completed, to be used for drying hoses. That same year, electricity was available to pump water to the hydrants when necessary.
1910s
In 1917, the Fire Department had grown to 16 men. Some of these men were George Steidle, Chief, and Squires, Blanck, Luxton, and Barnes as firemen. A fire ladder was purchased and the position of the caretaker was abolished. The firemen took care of the equipment and hall.
1920s
In 1924, George Ellis Bassitt started operating the Bassitt Five Cents to Five Dollars Store on Main Street.
In 1926, after much deliberation, the Village Council purchased an American LaFrance Model “T” Fire Truck for $3,050. It was delivered to the town by the railroad.
In 1927, the school received an addition that included a gymnasium/auditorium and several additional classrooms.
1930s
In 1933, the Federal Correctional Institution, Milan, was opened. At that time it was referred to as a “Federal Detention Farm.” From 1933
to 1939, it housed female inmates. Legend has it that Helen Gillis and Evelyn Frechette, the wives of notorious bank robbers Baby Face Nelson and John Dillinger, served one-year sentences there in the mid-1930s after being convicted of aiding their husbands in evading authorities. The institution is currently a low-security facility for male inmates.
In 1935, as part of his Village Industries program, Henry Ford purchased the Wilson Mills complex and converted it into a plant for processing soybeans, used to make automotive paint. Ford also built a new hydro plant building, bridge, and dam. The dam created Ford Lake. He also added a barn to the site from Highland Park because it utilized flow-through ventilation.
In 1936, Henry Ford was in town and noticed the Model “T” fire truck. He wanted to use it in his new museum at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, so he offered the village a new fire truck in exchange for the Model “T”. They accepted this offer and received a new fire truck in the fall of 1938.
From 1938 until 1946, Henry Ford used the hydro plant and former gristmill for soybean storage and processing, used to make automotive paint and plastic parts for automobiles.
In 1939, Schultz Bottled Gas Company was established. This is the oldest continuously operated family retail business in Milan.
1940s
In 1944, Civil War Veteran George H. Culver died at the home of his son, Willis Culver, in downtown Milan. At the time of his death, he was the only surviving Civil War Veteran in Washtenaw and Monroe Counties. He is buried in Marble Park Cemetery.
In 1947, Henry Ford died and in 1948, the soybean processing buildings were sold. The former gristmill is now the historic Community House and the former power plant houses Milan City Hall and the Milan Public Library.
1950s
In 1954, the Milan Area School District was established, when the surrounding school districts of Washtenaw, Monroe, and Lenawee Counties reorganized.
In 1957, there were 320 students attending the Vern Paddock Elementary School. Due to population growth and transportation issues, three new outlying elementary buildings were constructed.
In 1958, there were 475 students attending the new Milan High School, located at 920 North Street. Over the years, the high school had several additions.
1960s
In 1960, Milan’s well-known “crooked tree” died and had to be removed. The tree was located on the corner of Dexter and County streets.
In 1963, Milan Dragway was founded. This is a half-mile NHRA sanctioned straight drag strip and home to many racing events.
In 1967, Milan became incorporated as a city.
In 1969, a new middle school was built on Platt Road.
1970s
In 1972, the Milan Historical Society was established. The mission of the Society is to educate, collect, and preserve data relating to the City of Milan and the surrounding areas.
In 1979, the fire department moved to a new location on Wabash Street.
1980s
In 1983, the city donated the Old Fire Barn to the historical society, and a committee was formed to raise money for the restoration of the building.
In around 1984, the Milan News-Leader began, published by the Heritage Newspapers.
In 1988, the Milan Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established.
1990s
In 1991, the Hack House was honored with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1997, Milan High School underwent an important addition, with a new competition gym and the Librarium (Library/Auditorium).
2000s
In 2002, the restored Old Fire Barn building was dedicated. The DDA and the Chamber of Commerce now lease space on the first floor of the building, while the second floor offers a pleasant meeting room for use by the DDA, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Milan Area Historical Society.
In 2003, Milan’s new high school opened at 100 Big Red Drive.
2010s
In 2010, the Milan Seniors for Healthy Living (MSHL) was founded. This is a non-profit organization committed to providing activities, programs, services, and referrals designed to enhance the quality of life and encourage aging with independence and dignity in the Milan area.
In 2011, the Milan Veterans Wall of Honor was dedicated. Milan residents Tom Dupuis and Michael Armitage came up with the idea of building a Veterans’ wall of honor in Milan, with the Blue Star and World War II memorial. The City of Milan, the Milan Garden Club, VFW, Beautification Commission, Parks, and Recreation Commission, American Legion, and Moving Milan Forward provided additional support. This wall is unique and includes the names of not only those that are deceased but anyone from Milan who has honorably served in the military.
In 2011, the Danube Inn burned down.
In 2013, Milan High School was honored by the Michigan Department of Education as a Reward School for being among the top 5% in academic improvements compared to all other schools
in the state.
2020s
In 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, students at all Michigan schools, including Milan schools, spent several weeks doing their learning via online methods, in order to slow the spread of the virus. Even after students returned to in-person learning, they were required to wear masks at school and quarantine at home if exposed to the virus.
In 2021, the Milan Dragway closed until further notice.
Milan Today
Milan is a well-rounded city that offers its residents a high quality of life. With a thriving downtown, historic buildings, top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods, and beautiful parks, there is something for everyone. While the close proximity to larger cities like Ann Arbor, Toledo, and Detroit offers big-city opportunities, the small city charm of Milan welcomes residents and visitors to a slower pace, a strong sense of community, and rich recreational opportunities.
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