Cement City, Michigan - 49233

Photos courtesy of:
Ken Huisjen

Cement City is situated in the northwest corner of Lenawee County in Woodstock Township, a couple of miles north of the junction of US-127, US-223 and US-12. It was originally named Woodstock by Charles M. McKenzie, who came here from Woodstock, Vermont in 1838. It was nicknamed "Kelly’s Corners" after Orson Kelly, a local landowner. In 1901, investor William Cowhan built a cement company here, and had the town renamed Cement City.

Today the cement plant is gone, but its ruins can be seen southwest of town, on the shore of Goose Lake, a scenic area which marks the beginning of what is known in Lenawee County as the "Irish Hills." The town functions primarily as a bedroom community to the greater Jackson and Adrian metro areas, which both are about ten miles from there. It also has a few small businesses and its own school system.