Milan, Michigan

48160

Photos courtesy of:
Ken Huisjen

Milan is located in the northwest corner of Monroe County, right on the Washtenaw County border, with the city split in half between the two counties by the Saline River. Its economy is supported by several large businesses and manufacturing facilities, including tool and die, auto parts and container products. A picturesque park lies along the river, overlooking the new city hall to the south and the downtown area to the north, which has retained much of its old turn-of-the-century architecture.

Milan was first settled in 1831 by John Marvin. His brother-in-law, Henry Tolan, built a potash factory here. The community began under the name of Farmersville. It later changed to Tolanville, and later to Woodward’s Mills, after David A. Woodward built a mill here and became the town’s first postmaster. In 1836, it was renamed Milan, after Milan, Italy, because of the large number of grapes that grew in the area. It eventually was incorporated as a village in 1885, and later as a city in 1967.

Milan, Michigan

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Milan, Michigan

48160

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