Shiawassee County
MICHIGAN
Township Histories

In 1822, the U.S. Government employed Joseph Wampler, William Brookfield and parties to survey what is now known as Shiawassee County. Once the survey was completed, the land description was recorded at the U.S. Land Office in Detroit. This opened the way for land purchases. When the land for the county was originally laid out in 1823, it included parts of present day Livingston, Ingham and Genessee counties. The present day boundaries were established on March 23, 1836. At that time, an Indian Reservation covered parts of NW Burns Township, Antrim, Vernon and Shiawassee Townships.

The county received it's name from the Indians. It is said that the first fur trapper asked Indians for directions to the reservation and they answered in their own language "Shiawassee." It meant " the river straight ahead."

The Shiawassee River has been called by this name since. The first pioneer families sent agents or family members ahead to purchase their land. They later travelled here in small groups along the Shiawassee and Maple Rivers. As they travelled from Oakland county to their new lands they built roads. Travel was difficult and all who were able too walked. Life was very hard for the pioneers. They often built a large cabin to share until each family could build it's own. Many lives were lost to the harshness of the wilderness. One by one the townships were established as more people came to settle in Shiawassee. The county seat is located in Corunna, Michigan and the largest city is Owosso. Some of the early villages and towns no longer exist. Those that survived are mainly small towns and villages, that serve a farming community or have become bedroom communities to Flint, Saginaw and Lansing.