Cherry Valley Township 49623

Cherry Valley Township Population: 2000(368) 1990(248) Change(120)

Cherry Valley Township is located on the southeast border of Lake County. Its bottom border is US-10, which runs to Baldwin westward 4 miles, and Reed City eastward 8 miles. This area is highly wooded; over three fourths of the township are included in the Pere Marquette State Forest. The pristine waters of the Baldwin River begins here, fed by fresh water swamps and Sanborn Creek. The river can be accessed on Forman Road, the west boundary line of the township, about 2 miles north of US-10.

A thriving lumber community once existed here at the junction of US-10 and King�s Highway. It was founded in 1874 by Darwin Knight who discovered a large tract of premium white pine in the area. Fond of Oriental religion, he registered the town under the name of Nirvana, Buddhist for "highest heaven." He also built a hotel here called the Indra House, named after the principal god of the Ayran-Vedic religion. At the peak of its existence, the town had eleven saw mills, with the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad running through to the north. Following the lumber boom, the town disappeared. Today, it is a small community of houses, along with the Township hall located on King�s Hwy. just north of 10.